The Lenny Zakim Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to supporting grassroots organizations working toward social, economic, and racial justice. Founded in 1995, the organization was established to honor the legacy of Lenny Zakim, a civil rights icon, and to ensure his commitment to social justice would endure. The Fund operates with a staff of 7 employees and maintains offices at 33 Arch Street, 26th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.2M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$620K
+3.8% YoY
Grant Count
55
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+3.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Lenny Zakim Fund works to develop deep relationships and build bridges among people and communities to advance social, economic, and racial justice. The organization listens to those most impacted by inequity and provides funding, essential resources, and support to create lasting change.
Core Values:
- Social Justice
- Grassroots Leadership
- Diversity and Belonging
- Learning
- Bridge Building
- Responsiveness
- Love
Primary Funding Areas:
- Access to Food, Housing, and Economic Support
- Social, economic, and racial justice initiatives
Grantmaking
The Fund provides general operating grants that are renewable for up to five years, empowering organizations to build strong partnerships and programs that dismantle inequity and nurture resilience.
Review Cycle
- Late October: Site Visit Notifications
Grant Types
Ready to take the next step with The Lenny Zakim Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Lenny Zakim Fund focuses exclusively on eastern Massachusetts, with approximately 90% of supported organizations based in Boston.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $9,152,375
- Total Revenues: $1,886,150
- Total Expenses: $1,287,401
- Total Giving: $632,554
Historical Impact: Over three decades of operation, the Fund has granted approximately $13 million to about 400 organizations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,194,278 | $9,152,375 | $7,761,593 |
| Revenue | $976,124 | $1,886,150 | $865,291 |
| Expenses | $1,402,213 | $1,287,401 | $1,548,538 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $367,499 | $244,782 | $314,285 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Lenny Zakim Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLISON E PICOTT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $160,940 |
| TIMOTHY JAMES | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL ECKTON | TREASURER, VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| FELICIA HEYWOOD | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JOSH ZAKIM | CLERK | 2 | — |
| JOA AHERN-SERONDE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NICK BATES | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MORIS CASTILLO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BEN ECHEVARRIA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARK IRVINGS | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| EMMANUEL OWUSU | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ERIKA RODRIGUEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEBORAH SEIDEL | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ROBERT SHERMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JILL SNIDER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LOREN VAN ALLEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| APRYLLE WALLACE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEENA ZAKIM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOYCE ZAKIM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHARI ZAKIM YACOUBY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The organization celebrated 30 years of supporting local nonprofits, marking three decades of commitment to grassroots organizations
Lenny Zakim Fund distributes $678K to 53 nonprofit organizations \u2013\2025: Distributed $678,000 to 53 nonprofit organizations
Lenny Zakim Fund distributes $678K to 53 nonprofit organizations \u2013\2026: Three Lowell organizations were honored by the Lenny Zakim Fund
Three Lowell orgs honored by Lenny Zakim FundThe Fund maintains an active newsletter and regularly highlights grantee partner events and accomplishments
Grantee Partners - The Lenny Zakim FundSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Lenny Zakim Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities