The Fledgling Fund
The Fledgling Fund is a private, family-run foundation based in Hyannis, Massachusetts. It supports initiatives to improve the health of communities in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and also describes a special-projects program for mission-driven organizations outside those core geographies.
The Fledgling Fund at a glance
In short: The Fledgling Fund gave $986K across 55 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), top state Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $985,828
- +8.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 55
- +7.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,924
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,755,053
- -18.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Fledgling Fund
- Contact
Application contact: Shiela Morris
Mailing address: 500 Ocean Street Suite 26, Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: (508) 737-7754
Email: shiela.morris@thefledglingfund.org
Website: https://thefledglingfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Fledgling Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Martha's Vineyard Hospital ($100K). Together the top 10 received $546K.
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 109 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Palm Beach County and Martha’s Vineyard as its core geographic areas. Its website dates work in Palm Beach County to 2004–present and work on Martha’s Vineyard to 2002–present. It lists Bandwidth Creation as 2023–present and Special Projects as serving organizations outside the core geographies.
In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were distributed as follows: Florida 29%, New York 28%, Massachusetts 25%, California 7%, and Washington, D.C. 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Fledgling Fund gives
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $851K (2021) to $1.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 55 grants totaling $986K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Martha's Vineyard Hospital Oaks Bluffs, MA | Support Charitable Activity | $100,000 |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | Support Charitable Activity | $82,000 |
| The Lord's Place West Palm Beach, FL | Support Charitable Activity | $65,000 |
| Acumen Fund Inc New York, NY | Support Charitable Activity | $50,000 |
| King Baudouin Foundation United States New York, NY | Support Charitable Activity | $50,000 |
| Families First of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL | Support Charitable Activity | $40,000 |
| Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of PBC West Palm Beach, FL | Support Charitable Activity | $40,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL | Support Charitable Activity | $40,000 |
| Everglades Foundation Palmetto Bay, FL | Support Charitable Activity | $40,000 |
| Hispanic Society of America New York, NY | Support Charitable Activity | $39,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,755,053 | $977,770 | $1,450,841 | $985,828 | 55 | $985,828 | $893,898 |
| 2023 | $3,376,631 | $26,036 | $1,299,128 | $910,875 | 51 | $910,875 | $23,295 |
| 2022 | $4,757,405 | $83,582 | $1,323,871 | $998,058 | 1 | $998,058 | $16,002 |
| 2021 | $5,609,826 | $1,946,472 | $1,078,056 | $851,395 | 1 | $851,395 | $16,389 |
| 2020 | $5,907,929 | $303,325 | $2,127,341 | $1,761,272 | 1 | — | $11,384 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated focus is improving community health in Palm Beach County and Martha’s Vineyard. It offers grants and no-interest loans to community-based organizations in those areas. Its website identifies homelessness, affordable housing, the environment, and food security among the issues addressed by local initiatives.
The 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. The Lord’s Place describes its mission as breaking the cycle of homelessness through services for men, women, and children. Island Housing Trust says it develops and maintains affordable housing on Martha’s Vineyard, while the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation works to conserve the island’s landscape. Families First of Palm Beach County describes its work as building stronger families and communities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a separate list of fund priorities.
The foundation also lists Bandwidth Creation grants for innovation, and special-project grants, loans, or investments for mission-driven organizations outside its core geographies.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 55 grants totaling $985,828. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $100,000 to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, $82,000 to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, $65,000 to The Lord’s Place, and $50,000 each to Acumen Fund and King Baudouin Foundation United States. Other grants included $40,000 each to Families First of Palm Beach County, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of PBC, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, and Everglades Foundation. The listed purposes for these grants were “support charitable activity.”
Community Health grants and no-interest loans are by invitation. Special Projects awards are also by invitation. Bandwidth Creation grants are described as annual awards of up to $40,000; the website still shows an outdated note that applications were closed until Fall 2024 and does not post a current cycle. The filing identifies Shiela Morris as the contact and directs applicants to the foundation’s website for forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Diana Barrett as president, director, and secretary; Christopher Vila as director and vice president; Robert Vila as director, vice president, and treasurer; and Susannah Vila as director and vice president.
The Fledgling Fund's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diana Barrett Foundation Source
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$135K (2023) → $135K (2024)
Susannah Vila Foundation Source
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
$20K (2024)
Christopher Vila Foundation Source
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Vila Foundation Source
Director, Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Christopher Vila (2020–2022) — Director & Vice President
- Former: Diana Barrett (2020–2022) — President & Director
- Former: Robert Vila (2020–2022) — Director & Vice President
- Former: Susannah Vila (2020–2022) — Director & Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $135K, to Diana Barrett Foundation Source (Pres., DIR., Sec.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Fledgling Fund
How much does The Fledgling Fund give each year?
The Fledgling Fund gave $986K across 55 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $911K across 51 grants.
What is The Fledgling Fund's typical grant size?
The Fledgling Fund's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,924, across 55 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Fledgling Fund give grants?
The Fledgling Fund's top state is Florida, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (28%) and Massachusetts (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (10 grants), West Palm Beach, FL (10 grants), Vineyard Haven, MA (7 grants) and Palm Beach, FL (4 grants).
Does The Fledgling Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on The Fledgling Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Charitable Activity" (55 grants).
Who are The Fledgling Fund's largest grantees?
The Fledgling Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Martha's Vineyard Hospital ($100,000), The Metropolitan Museum of Art ($82,000) and The Lord's Place ($65,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Fledgling Fund?
The Fledgling Fund reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $978K.
What does The Fledgling Fund fund?
The foundation’s stated focus is improving community health in Palm Beach County and Martha’s Vineyard. It offers grants and no-interest loans to community-based organizations in those areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Fledgling Fund?
The Fledgling Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thefledglingfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Fledgling Fund's EIN?
The Fledgling Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2450707. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Fledgling Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fledgling-fund-morg_fd43063c216a432480b551bcaf045f65
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202450707_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Fledgling Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fledgling-fund-morg_fd43063c216a432480b551bcaf045f65},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Fledgling Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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