The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation
The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1998 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation operates as a private independent foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking. The foundation is administered through Ropes & Gray LLP, a prominent law firm located at 800 Boylston, Boston, MA 02199.
Key facts about The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation
- EIN
- 04-3406251
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $171,750
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- Average grant
- $3,654
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 47, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,501,997
- Primary geography
- New York (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation's 47 itemized 2024 grants were New York (43%), Rhode Island (23%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (17 grants), Westerly, RI (12 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants) and Pasadena, CA (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 47 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 96% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 399% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation
- How to evaluate The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+713.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$172K
+0.6% YoY
Grant Count
47
-4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+4.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides general operating support across multiple cause areas. Awards are made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$500–$15,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its grantmaking in the following regions:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Rhode Island
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 47 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,501,997
- Total Revenues: $4,988,127
- Total Expenses: $182,999
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Annual Giving: ~$172,000
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $676,000
- Total Revenues: $167,000
- Total Expenses: $179,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,501,997 | $676,263 | $532,546 |
| Revenue | $4,988,127 | $167,188 | $161,187 |
| Expenses | $182,999 | $178,745 | $185,364 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $175,625 | $173,367 | $177,827 |
| Net Investment Income | $75,678 | $8,437 | $3,539 |
| Distributable Amount | $43,981 | $28,086 | $28,449 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
243 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include New York Presbyterian Fund Inc ($15,000), The Westerly Hospital Foundation ($15,000), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| THE WESTERLY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Westerly, RI | GENERAL PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER Hagerstown, MD | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| WATCH HILL CONSERVANCY Westerly, RI | GENERAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| CITIZENS HOUSING & PLANNING COUNCIL New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $7,500 |
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| SESAME WORKSHOP New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Peter Lamm (Founder)
- Deborah Lamm (Founder)
- Eric Lamm (Son)
- R. Bradford Malt
Founder Background: Peter Lamm is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Fenway Partners, a middle-market private equity firm founded in 1994. He has served as Chairman of the Board for UNICEF USA since 2005. He holds a BA in English Literature from Boston University and an MBA from Columbia University.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Lamm | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Deborah Lamm | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| R Bradford Malt | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
| Eric Lamm | Trustee | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: (617) 951-7000
- Address: c/o Ropes & Gray LLP, 800 Boylston, Boston, MA 02199
- Email: Not publicly available
- Website: None
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation fund?
The foundation provides general operating support across multiple cause areas. Awards are made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for a grant from The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses its grantmaking in the following regions: • Massachusetts • New York • Rhode Island • District of Columbia
What size grants does The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation award?
In 2024, The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $172K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation's EIN?
The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3406251. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Peter and Deborah Lamm Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.