The Mugar Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2010 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.7M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$848K
-6.1% YoY
Grant Count
15
-21.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
+18.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mugar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $483K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Cancer research, particularly lung cancer research
Grantmaking
The foundation's grant-making priorities emphasize education, science education, and medical research, with particular strength in supporting early-career researchers and innovative research initiatives.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Massachusetts and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets: $9,662,307 (2024)
- Total giving: $847,858 (2024)
- Revenue: $10.5M (2023)
- Expenses: $910K (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,662,307 | $10,023,672 | $477,307 |
| Revenue | $499,457 | $10,456,163 | $1,063 |
| Expenses | $860,822 | $909,798 | $598,466 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $848,908 | $909,798 | $598,458 |
| Net Investment Income | $499,457 | $425,478 | $1,063 |
| Distributable Amount | $482,795 | $471,716 | $41,868 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Clark University ($250,000), Belmont Hill School ($100,000), Belmont Hill School ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARMENIA TREE PROJECT WOBURN, MA | GIFT TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT'S TREE PLANTING, WORK AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. | $5,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF COTUIT MOQUITO YACHT CLUB INC COTUIT, MA | GIFT TO HELP FUND NONPROFIT | $5,000 |
| BELMONT HILL SCHOOL BELMONT, MA | BELMONT DAY ANNUAL FUND | $5,000 |
| BELMONT HILL SCHOOL BELMONT, MA | GIFT TO SILEN FAMILY AND MUGAR FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF THE SCHOOL. | $100,000 |
| BELMONT HILL SCHOOL BELMONT, MA | LANDAU GALLERY FUND | $100,000 |
| BOSTON 4 CELEBRATIONS FOUNDATION INC BOSTON, MA | GIFT TO FUND FIREWORKS ON THE 4TH OF JULY AT SYMPHONY HALL | $100,000 |
| BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | GIFT TO FUN STUDENT'S EDUCATION, HEALTH, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING | $25,000 |
| CLARK UNIVERSITY WORCESTER, MA | UNDERGRADUATE HONORS PROGRAM - YEAR 2 OF 4 YEAR $1,000,000 PLEDGE | $250,000 |
| CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION BETHESDA, MD | GENERAL GIFT TO SUPPORT PROGRESS IN THE TREATEMENT OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS | $10,000 |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE BROOKLINE, MA | DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE TO SUPPORT LUNG CANCER RESEARCH AND PATIENT CARE. | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALAN W ROTTENBERG | INVEST. COMMITTEE TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| JENNIFER E MUGAR | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| PETER S MUGAR | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| JONATHAN WG MUGAR | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 116 Huntington Ave, Suite 504 Boston, MA 02116-5749
Telephone: 617-267-3000
EIN: 80-0638652
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mugar Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Cancer research, particularly lung cancer research
How do I apply for a grant from The Mugar Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$250,000 • Total giving (2024): $847,858 • The foundation has made significant commitments to specific research initiatives, including a $500,000 commitment to support the Mugar Family Fellowship in Lung Cancer **Focus:** The foundation's grant-making priorities emphasize education, science education, and medical research, with particular strength in supporting early-career researchers and innovative research initiatives.
Where does The Mugar Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Massachusetts and Maryland.
What size grants does The Mugar Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mugar Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $848K — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mugar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mugar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $483K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Mugar Foundation's EIN?
The Mugar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0638652. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Mugar 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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