The Fletcher Foundation
The Fletcher Foundation is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Established in 1981, it is steered by businessman Allen W. Fletcher and family. Allen W. Fletcher worked as a general contractor, designer, and builder in Northern California before returning to Massachusetts, where he founded Worcester Publishing Ltd., a publisher of local newspapers and magazines. The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits public transparency about its grantmaking strategies and guidelines.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.6M
-7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
Grant Count
66
Avg Grant Size
$50K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fletcher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fletcher Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to:
- Education
- The Arts
- Community Development
- Health and Human Services
The foundation is known locally for taking significant risks and often provides seed funding for new initiatives, funding for facility improvements, and capital equipment upgrades. It is recognized as a good funding source for nonprofit needs that are frequently overlooked by other funders.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts grant applications, though it does not encourage contact and does not maintain a website with published guidelines. Applications are accepted as unsolicited one-time grants.
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Massachusetts (primary focus)
- California
- Maine
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2023: $34.3 million
- 2022: $35.9 million
- 2020: $37.4 million
- 2019: $39.7 million
Total Revenues (2022): $2,463,579
Total Expenses (2022): $3,776,230
Total Assets (2022): $34,317,301
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,619,521 | $32,932,561 | $34,317,301 |
| Revenue | $1,941,232 | — | $2,463,579 |
| Expenses | $3,913,094 | — | $3,776,230 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,530,050 | — | $3,247,715 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,492,041 | — | $1,967,702 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,408,407 | — | $3,119,003 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ecotarium ($500,000), Regional Environmental Council Inc ($410,000), Quinsigamond Community College ($253,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WORCESTER ROOTS INC WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $4,000 |
| NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL BOYLSTON, MA | GRANTS | $150,000 |
| ANNA MARIA COLLEGE PAXTON, MA | GRANTS | $150,000 |
| TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | GRANTS | $10,000 |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN MASS WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $5,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $55,000 |
| RACHEL'S TABLE WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $8,000 |
| WORCESTER CENTER FOR CRAFTS WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $100,000 |
| ECOTARIUM WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $500,000 |
| YWCA OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS WORCESTER, MA | GRANTS | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Warner S. Fletcher — Trustee, Treasurer, and Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLEN W FLETCHER | TRUSTEE/CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| WARNER S FLETCHER | TTEE/TREAS/SEC | 5 | — |
| MARY F FLETCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANDREW FLETCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ETHAN FLETCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JUSTIN FLETCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW FLETCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MEGAN FLETCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fletcher Foundation fund?
The Fletcher Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to: • Education • The Arts • Community Development • Health and Human Services The foundation is known locally for taking significant risks and often provides seed funding for new initiatives, funding for facility improvements, and capital equipment upgrades. It is recognized as a good funding source for nonprofit needs that are frequently overlooked by other funders.
How do I apply for a grant from The Fletcher Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • In 2023: 91 grants totaling $3.1 million • In 2022: 84 grants totaling $2.6 million • In 2020: 92 grants totaling $2.5 million • In 2019: 82 grants totaling $1.9 million **Grant Sizes:** • Median grant: $10,000 • Grant range: $2,000–$300,000 • Typical awards: $1,000–$500,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2022):** • Worcester Art Museum: $300,000 • Guild of St Agnes: $200,000 • Hanover Theatre and Conservatory Foundation: $200,000 • Preservation Worcester Inc.: $200,000 • Worc…
Where does The Fletcher Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts (primary focus) • California • Maine
What size grants does The Fletcher Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fletcher Foundation awarded 66 grants totaling $3.3M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fletcher Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fletcher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fletcher Foundation's EIN?
The Fletcher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6470890. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fletcher Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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