The Hopedale Foundation
The Hopedale Foundation is a private foundation based in Hopedale, Massachusetts. It makes grants to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational organizations, and provides loans to college students who graduated from Hopedale High School.
The Hopedale Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hopedale Foundation gave $806K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Massachusetts. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $805,528
- +83.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,851
- +83.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,691
- Total assets
- $13,685,666
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Hopedale Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request to Vincent J. Arone Jr. Grants to charitable organizations are restricted to those having an impact on the local area; student loans and scholarships are restricted to Hopedale High School graduates.
- Contact
Application contact: Vincent J Arone Jr
Mailing address: PO Box 123, Hopedale, MA 01747
Phone: (508) 473-2871
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hopedale Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hopedale Community House ($299K). Together the top 10 received $536K.
Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($265,148), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
142 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 130 grants of 142 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts. The foundation’s filing restricts grants to charitable organizations to those having an impact on the local area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Hopedale Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 15 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 146% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $439K (2024) to $981K (2021). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $806K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hopedale Community House Hopedale, MA | General Operations | $299,173 |
| Town of Hopedale Bright Beginnings Hopedale, MA | Building Improvement | $200,000 |
| 16 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $265,148 |
| The Claflin Hill Music Performance Found Inc Milford, MA | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Mayflower Council Boy Scouts of America Framingham, MA | Capital Campaign | $7,500 |
| Milford Salvation Army Milford, MA | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Whitin Community Center Whitinsville, MA | General Operations | $4,382 |
| New England Aquarium Boston, MA | General Operations | $2,625 |
| Hopedale Deca Hopedale Junior High School Hopedale, MA | Education Conference Attendance | $2,500 |
| Museum of Science Boston, MA | General Operations | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hopedale Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,685,666 | $710,863 | $882,194 | $805,528 | 30 | $882,194 | $519,556 | $603,725 |
| 2024 | $13,367,456 | $671,928 | $514,019 | $438,672 | 30 | $514,019 | $520,540 | $575,348 |
| 2023 | $11,495,876 | $671,096 | $540,655 | $472,524 | 28 | $540,655 | $520,266 | $531,922 |
| 2022 | $11,826,741 | $668,638 | $661,589 | $583,785 | 27 | $661,589 | $515,098 | $571,380 |
| 2021 | $13,891,461 | $1,022,167 | $1,051,928 | $981,331 | 27 | — | $874,313 | $607,895 |
| 2020 | $12,012,930 | $608,809 | $605,555 | $537,977 | 25 | — | $471,356 | $522,680 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hopedale Foundation reported a distributable amount of $604K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated activities include grants to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organizations and loans to college students who graduated from Hopedale High School. Its filing also identifies scholarships for Hopedale High School graduates.
Among the organizations it supported in 2025, the New England Aquarium describes its mission as advancing public engagement and education, marine animal conservation, scientific research, and ocean advocacy. The Museum of Science describes its mission as inspiring a lifelong love of science and making science and scientific thinking accessible, engaging, and relevant.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $805,528. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $299,173, with a median of $4,691. The largest grants were $299,173 to Hopedale Community House for general operations, $200,000 to Town of Hopedale Bright Beginnings for a building improvement, and $177,148 for education loans granted. The foundation also awarded scholarships, including five grants of $10,000 each to individual recipients.
Other 2025 grants included $10,000 to the Claflin Hill Music Performance Foundation for general operations, $7,500 to Mayflower Council Boy Scouts of America for a capital campaign, $2,625 to the New England Aquarium, and $2,500 to the Museum of Science.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists W. Gregory Burrill as chairman and trustee; Christine H. Burke as vice chairman and trustee; Vincent J. Arone Jr. as treasurer and trustee; Steven G. Ellis as secretary and trustee; and Alfred H. Sparling Jr., Edward J. Burt, and Peter S. Ellis as trustees.
The Hopedale Foundation is led by W. Gregory Burrill, Chairman & Trustee since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
W. Gregory Burrill
Chairman & Trustee
Vice Chairman & Trustee → Chairman & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alfred H. Sparling Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine H. Burke
Vice Chairman & Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chairman & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter S. Ellis
Trustee
Chairman & Trustee → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven G. Ellis
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincent J. Arone Jr.
Treasurer & Trustee
Treasurer & Trustee → Trustee Emeritus, 2022
Trustee Emeritus → Treasurer & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward J. Burt
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Vicent J. Arone Jr. (2020–2024) — Trustee & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Hopedale Foundation
How much does The Hopedale Foundation give each year?
The Hopedale Foundation gave $806K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $439K across 30 grants.
What is The Hopedale Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hopedale Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,691, and its average grant was $26,851, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Hopedale Foundation give grants?
The Hopedale Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hopedale, MA (6 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Milford, MA (2 grants).
Does The Hopedale Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of The Hopedale Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (15 grants).
Who are The Hopedale Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hopedale Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hopedale Community House ($299,173), Town of Hopedale Bright Beginnings ($200,000) and The Claflin Hill Music Performance Found Inc ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($265,148), which are not listed by name. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hopedale Foundation?
The Hopedale Foundation reported $13.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $882K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $604K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Hopedale Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated activities include grants to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organizations and loans to college students who graduated from Hopedale High School. Its filing also identifies scholarships for Hopedale High School graduates. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hopedale Foundation?
Submit a written request to Vincent J. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Hopedale Foundation's EIN?
The Hopedale Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6044779. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hopedale Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hopedale-foundation-morg_51ea4f6fcc7046e193b9f3fda0f6ba2f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046044779_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hopedale Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hopedale-foundation-morg_51ea4f6fcc7046e193b9f3fda0f6ba2f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Hopedale Foundation'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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