The Once Here Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in August 2018. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on providing accessibility modifications to the homes of needy disabled individuals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$52.8M
+28.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+4.8% YoY
Grant Count
14
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$196K
+12.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Once Here Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on improving accessibility for disabled individuals through home modifications. Its funding priorities span education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services, with particular geographic concentration in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Colorado.
Grantmaking
The Once Here Foundation is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity demonstrating broad support across multiple organizations:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Massachusetts, Ohio, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $52,841,531
- Total Revenues: $23,972,301
- Total Expenses: $2,807,715
- Total Grants, Contributions, etc.: $12,051,722
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $41.1 Million
- Total Revenue: $3.44 Million
- Total Expenses: $2.77 Million
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains zero liabilities and generates rental income from leasing property to 501(c)(3) organizations in furtherance of its exempt purposes.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,841,531 | $41,062,229 | $40,388,693 |
| Revenue | $23,972,301 | $3,439,034 | $13,506,322 |
| Expenses | $2,807,715 | $2,765,498 | $1,814,075 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,750,746 | $2,634,602 | $1,765,114 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,911,950 | $3,378,138 | $5,499,871 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,293,611 | $2,084,959 | $2,049,345 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($900,000), Harvard Divinity School ($225,000), Shooting Touch ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND CINCINATTI, OH | General Support | $900,000 |
| Concord Prison Outreach Inc Concord, MA | General Support | $125,000 |
| Curious Learning A Global Literacy Project Inc Amesbury, MA | General Support | $75,000 |
| Shooting Touch Boston, MA | General Support | $200,000 |
| Harvard Divinity School CAMBRIDGE, MA | General Support | $225,000 |
| Louis D Brown Peace Institute Corporation Dorchester, MA | General Support | $125,000 |
| Mothers for Justice and Equality Inc Roxbury, MA | General Support | $150,000 |
| Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program Lincoln, MA | General Support | $100,000 |
| United South End Settlements BOSTON, MA | General Support | $100,000 |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL BELMONT, MA | General Support | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARL BANDTEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| FARLEY URMSTON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Once Here Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on improving accessibility for disabled individuals through home modifications. Its funding priorities span education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services, with particular geographic concentration in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Colorado.
How do I apply for a grant from The Once Here Foundation?
The Once Here Foundation is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity demonstrating broad support across multiple organizations: **Recent Grants (2024):** • Shooting Touch: $200,000 (General Support) • Friends of Matenwa: $150,000 (General Support) • Mothers for Justice and Equality: $150,000 (General Support) • Camp Hale: Grant recipient (amount not specified) **Grant Characteristics:** • Total giving in 2024: $2,750,000 • Typical award range: $75,000–$900,000 • Made 16 grants in the mos…
Where does The Once Here Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Massachusetts, Ohio, and Colorado.
What size grants does The Once Here Foundation award?
In 2024, The Once Here Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $196K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Once Here Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Once Here Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Once Here Foundation's EIN?
The Once Here Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-7001052. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Once Here 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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