The Pacer Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Waltham, MA EIN: 77-0233360

The Pacer Foundation is a private foundation based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including education, health, and community services.

The Pacer Foundation at a glance

In short: The Pacer Foundation gave $154K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Massachusetts. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$154,000
+33.9% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
32
+6.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$4,813
+25.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$5,722,150
+6.6% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
28% first-time grantees (9 of 32, 2025)
Primary geography
Massachusetts (40% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Pacer Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: Co Fdc 1075 Main Street Suite 200, Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: (617) 423-3900

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Pacer Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Shore Country Day School: $15KShore Country Day School$15KThrive: $15KThrive$15KBrooks School: $10KBrooks School$10KHop on a Cure Foundation: $10KHop on a Cure Foundation$10KPark Community Foundation: $10KPark Community Foundation$10KSanta Barbara Middle School: $10KSanta Barbara Middle School$10KSt Jude Hospital: $10KSt Jude Hospital$10KMV Community Services: $8KMV Community Services$8KDirect Relief International: $6KDirect Relief International$6KCopley Hospital: $5KCopley Hospital$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Shore Country Day School ($15K). Together the top 10 received $99K.

Grant Size Distribution

181 grants across all recorded years

181<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 181 grants of 181 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Massachusetts received 40% of grant dollars, California 14%, Vermont 11%, Montana 10%, and Georgia 6%.

Grant Distribution by State

16states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.

Cities

Santa BarbaraBozemanBostonWashingtonMorrisvilleBeverlyElonKissimmeeMemphisNew YorkNewtonNorth AndoverPomfretProvidenceTallahasseeVineyard HavenAnacondaCambridgeLynnWaterville

Is The Pacer Foundation open to new grantees?

28%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 9 of 32 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 45% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K45 grants2020 40 grants2021 39 grants2022 40 grants2023 30 grants2024 32 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $113K (2022) to $154K (2025). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $154K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Shore Country Day School Beverly, MATo provide an education that encourages children to embrace academic challenge$15,000
Thrive Bozeman, MTTo provide children an opportunity to grow, succeed, and become valuable members of our community$15,000
Brooks School North Andover, MAProvide Education$10,000
Hop on a Cure Foundation Roswell, GATo improve health and lives of people affected by diseases$10,000
Park Community Foundation Unknown, MATo Provide High Quality of Education$10,000
Santa Barbara Middle School Santa Barbara, CAProvide Education$10,000
St Jude Hospital Memphis, TNTo advance cures & prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research & treatment$10,000
MV Community Services Vineyard Haven, MATo provide accessible education and health and human services of the highest quality$8,000
Direct Relief International Santa Barbara, CATo improve health and lives of people affected by poverty$6,000
Copley Hospital Morrisville, VTTo improve health and lives of people affected by poverty$5,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Pacer Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$5,722,150$594,504$240,917$154,00032$167,142$518,773$368,686
2024$5,368,563$3,362,892$138,256$115,00030$121,474$160,544$146,937
2023$2,143,927$64,333$170,289$138,25440$150,436$46,126$129,582
2022$2,249,883$86,430$131,852$112,50039$115,540$71,499$142,573
2021$2,295,305$161,215$133,999$113,50040—$144,624$135,864
2020$2,268,089$124,005$162,710$131,50045—$108,810$130,923

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pacer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $369K 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

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for schools and other educational organizations, health-related organizations, and community services. For example, Shore Country Day School describes its mission as providing an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages academic challenge; THRIVE Inc. says it seeks opportunities for all children to grow and succeed; and Copley Hospital says it aims to help people live healthier lives by providing care and access to affordable, high-quality health care.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $154,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, with a median of $5,000. Notable awards included $15,000 each to Shore Country Day School and THRIVE Inc.; $10,000 each to Brooks School, Hop On a Cure Foundation, Santa Barbara Middle School, and several other organizations; and $8,000 to MV Community Services.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Hugh K Foster Jr as president/director; Frank H Foster and Jennifer BF Walton as vice presidents/directors; Elizabeth G Woodard as treasurer/director; and Adelaide E Foster as secretary/director.

The Pacer Foundation is led by Hugh K. Foster Jr., President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Hugh K. Foster Jr.

    President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Adelaide E. Foster

    Secretary & Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth G. Woodard

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Frank H. Foster

    Vice President & Director

    V.p. & Director → Vice President & Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Bf Walton

    Vice President & Director

    V.p. & Director → Vice President & Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Barbara Hunter Foster (2020–2023) — Chairperson

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 Pacer Foundation

How much does The Pacer Foundation give each year?

The Pacer Foundation gave $154K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $115K across 30 grants.

What is The Pacer Foundation's typical grant size?

The Pacer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,813, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Pacer Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does The Pacer Foundation give grants?

The Pacer Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (14%) and Vermont (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (3 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Morrisville, VT (2 grants) and Burlington, VT (2 grants).

Does The Pacer Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on The Pacer Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide Education" (5 grants) and "To Provide High Quality of Education" (5 grants).

Who are The Pacer Foundation's largest grantees?

The Pacer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Shore Country Day School ($15,000), Thrive ($15,000) and Brooks School ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Pacer Foundation?

The Pacer Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $167K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $369K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Pacer Foundation fund?

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for schools and other educational organizations, health-related organizations, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Pacer Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Pacer Foundation's EIN?

The Pacer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0233360. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does The Pacer Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 10, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Pacer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.1B

Grants

4,316

Total Given

$1.2B

Boston Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$2.1B

Grants

2,375

Total Given

$228.4M

Eastern Bank Foundation

Wakefield, MA

Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$266.7M

Grants

1,786

Total Given

$19.0M

Barr Foundation

Boston, MA

The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.

Assets

$1.9B

Grants

903

Total Given

$123.2M

Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$46.1M

Grants

706

Total Given

$50.6M

Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)

Woburn, MA

Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$258.2M

Grants

658

Total Given

$38.2M

More similar funders

More Funders in Massachusetts

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Pacer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-pacer-foundation-morg_6d81c9cda0ff4d09ac79e5325ce05066

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770233360_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Pacer Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-pacer-foundation-morg_6d81c9cda0ff4d09ac79e5325ce05066},
  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 Pacer 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.

The Pacer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?