The New England Foundation
The New England Foundation is a private family foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, also known as the McNay Family Foundation. Founded in 1987, it is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides philanthropic support to organizations across New England.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
-9.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$600K
+124.2% YoY
Grant Count
25
+66.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+34.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The New England Foundation reported a distributable amount of $317K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general welfare, education, religious, and medical initiatives. Its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking, and health care.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 15 grants in 2023. Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $6,064,324
- Total revenues: -$1,046,355
- Total expenses: $390,005
- Number of employees: 0
As of 2024 (most recent IRS 990 filing):
- Total assets: $5,480,583
- Total giving: $600,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,480,583 | $6,064,324 | $7,500,684 |
| Revenue | $102,219 | $-1,046,355 | $180,771 |
| Expenses | $685,960 | $390,005 | $1,626,910 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $608,453 | $282,991 | $1,436,170 |
| Net Investment Income | $92,047 | — | $10,031 |
| Distributable Amount | $316,613 | $258,376 | $418,006 |
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
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dartmouth College ($75,000), Yale University ($65,000), Yale School of Management ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIDWELL HOUSE MUSEUM MONTEREY, MA | GENERAL WELFARE | $25,000 |
| BOSTON BALLET BOSTON, MA | GENERAL WELFARE | $20,000 |
| BOSTON SYMPHONY BOSTON, MA | GENERAL WELFARE | $25,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER MANCHESTER, NH | RELIGIOUS | $30,000 |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE BOSTON, MA | MEDICAL | $40,000 |
| MSPCA - ANGELL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL WELFARE | $5,000 |
| NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL WELFARE | $25,000 |
| ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA CHURCH CHESTNUT HILL, MA | GENERAL WELFARE | $5,000 |
| TENACITY BOSTON, MA | EDUCATION | $17,500 |
| TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL WELFARE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH MCNAY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANNE MCNAY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| COLIN MCNAY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The New England Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds general welfare, education, religious, and medical initiatives. Its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking, and health care.
How do I apply for a grant from The New England Foundation?
The foundation made 15 grants in 2023. Recent grantees include: • Boston Symphony Orchestra ($70,924, General Welfare, 2023) • Pound Ridge NY Historical Society ($49,200, General Welfare, 2023) • Church of the Redeemer of Manchester ($32,500, Religious, 2023) Typical grant awards range from $500 to $410,000.
Where does The New England Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
What size grants does The New England Foundation award?
In 2024, The New England Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $600K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The New England Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The New England Foundation reported a distributable amount of $317K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The New England Foundation's EIN?
The New England Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2757391. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The New England 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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