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.
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
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded to preselected organizations at the discretion of the trustees.
Grant Range
$500–$15,000
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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 include New York Presbyterian Fund Inc ($15,000), The Westerly Hospital Foundation ($15,000), Memorial Sloan-kettering Cancer Center ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $2,500 |
| 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 |
| CITIZENS HOUSING & PLANNING COUNCIL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $7,500 |
| CITY HARVEST NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $2,500 |
| CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $2,500 |
| COLONIAL THEATRE OF RHODE ISLAND WESTERLY, RI | GENERAL PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| EAST BEACH ASSOCIATION WESTERLY, RI | GENERAL PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| ELIZABETH GLAZER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $2,500 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Activity:** • Distributes approximately $170,000–$172,000 annually • Makes 47–49 grants per year • Grant range: $500–$15,000 • Median grant size: $2,500 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded to preselected organizations at the discretion of the trustees. **Recent Grantees (2024):** • The Westerly Hospital Foundation ($15,000) • New York-Presbyterian Fund ($15,000) • The Watch Hill Conservancy ($10,000) • Hope For Kids Intern…
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.
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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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