The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation is a private family foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1992 by Thomas D. Cabot and Virginia Wellington Cabot, it describes its primary purpose as fostering family-wide philanthropy and teaching future generations to be effective and innovative givers.
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation at a glance
In short: The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation gave $2.1M across 108 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), top state Massachusetts. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,063,223
- +9.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 108
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,104
- +15.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $44,937,726
- +4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (35 of 108, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Grant requests are by invitation only and must be sponsored by a family member. The foundation’s website describes Matching Grants, Jimmie Grants, and Discretionary Grants. For Jimmie Grants, the maximum is $10,000; proposals may be for one organization or divided among several, with awards of at least $2,500 to each. The website directs applicants to refer to its grant-making guidelines for materials. Grants promoting a particular religion or political party are not allowed.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists application deadlines of February 23 and August 10. The website’s 2026 schedule lists a March 6 deadline for the May Jimmie Grants meeting and a September 10 deadline for the November Discretionary Grants meeting; both deadlines had passed as of October 2, 2026. The website also lists an October 31, 2026 deadline for Matching Grants.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists application deadlines of February 23 and August 10.
- Contact
Application contact: Heidi Heinlein
Mailing address: 2 Liberty Sq Ste 500, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 391-3073
Email: hheinlein@gmafoundations.com
Website: HTTPS://APPLY.VWCFOUNDATION.ORG/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tides Foundation ($133K). Together the top 10 received $624K.
Grant Size Distribution
588 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 564 grants of 588 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Massachusetts (19%), California (12%), Maine (10%), New York (9%), and the District of Columbia (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 108 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 35 of 108 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 49% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $2.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 108 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tides Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Exempt Purpose | $133,151 |
| Vinfen Corporation Brookline, MA | Exempt Purpose | $70,000 |
| Hurricane Island Foundation Rockland, ME | Exempt Purpose | $65,900 |
| Safety Team Inc Burlington, VT | Exempt Purpose | $59,000 |
| Greenwich Academy Inc Greenwich, CT | Exempt Purpose | $55,564 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Exempt Purpose | $55,000 |
| Hanley Center Foundation West Palm Beach, FL | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Tuba City Humane Society Flagstaff, AZ | Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Multifaith Alliance New York, NY | Exempt Purpose | $45,000 |
| Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Camden, ME | Exempt Purpose | $40,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $44,937,726 | $863,422 | $2,816,427 | $2,063,223 | 108 | $2,460,370 | $3,730,147 | $2,261,803 |
| 2023 | $43,142,424 | $2,079,694 | $2,678,025 | $1,880,110 | 114 | $2,319,449 | $3,347,034 | $2,072,675 |
| 2022 | $41,116,756 | $808,907 | $3,081,024 | $2,256,435 | 124 | $2,658,881 | — | $2,203,227 |
| 2021 | $53,324,195 | $3,306,360 | $2,376,114 | $1,841,464 | 134 | $2,029,454 | $5,827,651 | $2,585,065 |
| 2020 | $46,181,054 | $1,146,235 | $1,803,646 | $1,247,221 | 108 | — | $2,222,541 | $2,127,459 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to benefit mankind through responsible philanthropy and to inspire, educate, engage, and unify the descendants of Tom and Virginia Cabot in that work.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Tides Foundation says it makes grants to community-led organizations; Vinfen Corporation says its services promote recovery, resilience, habilitation, and self-determination; and the Hurricane Island Foundation says it integrates scientific research and education to develop leaders prepared to address environmental issues. Other 2024 recipients included organizations whose stated missions address violence prevention, education, land and water conservation, addiction, and support for the Syrian people.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 108 grants totaling $2,063,223. Grant amounts ranged from $400 to $133,151, with a median of $15,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $133,151 to Tides Foundation, $70,000 to Vinfen Corporation, $65,900 to the Hurricane Island Foundation, $59,000 to Safety Team Inc., and $55,564 to Greenwich Academy Inc. The foundation also reported grants of $55,000 to The Nature Conservancy, $50,000 to Hanley Center Foundation and $50,000 to Tuba City Humane Society, and $45,000 to Multifaith Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Albert Maximilian Cabot Alletzhauser, Daniel Domoney, Maya Cabot, Tamsin Myers, Gulrez Arshad, Aidan Fitzgerald, Fiona Scanlon-Black, Alexander Black, Pere Selles, and Heather Cabot as trustees. It notes that Aidan Fitzgerald’s trustee service ended in May 2024. The foundation’s website identifies Heidi Heinlein as executive director.
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation is led by Peter Myers, Chairperson of the Board since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter Myers
Chairperson of the Board
Chairperson → Chairperson of the Board, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fiona Scanlon-Black
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gulrez Arshad
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pere Selles
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Cabot
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maya Cabot
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Albert Maximilian Cabot Alletzhause
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Black
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Domoney
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tamsin Myers
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sophie Dickson
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan M. Whelton
Secretary
Executive Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Aidan Fitzgerald (2020–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Ended 52024
- Former: Moors Myers (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nate Bulich (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Max Alletzhauser (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sandor Black (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Diane Scanlon (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Suzanne Cabot (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Bryan McCarthy (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Christina Cabot-Jones (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
How much does The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation give each year?
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation gave $2.1M across 108 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 114 grants.
What is The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's typical grant size?
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $19,104, across 108 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation give grants?
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (12%) and Maine (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Boston, MA (7 grants), Patagonia, AZ (5 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Who are The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's largest grantees?
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tides Foundation ($133,151), Vinfen Corporation ($70,000) and Hurricane Island Foundation ($65,900), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation?
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation reported $44.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to benefit mankind through responsible philanthropy and to inspire, educate, engage, and unify the descendants of Tom and Virginia Cabot in that work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's EIN?
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6728351. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Virginia Wellington Cabot 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-virginia-wellington-cabot-foundation-morg_fbba7f77526b42e2a7bb1fd48f5cb5e0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046728351_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-virginia-wellington-cabot-foundation-morg_fbba7f77526b42e2a7bb1fd48f5cb5e0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Virginia Wellington Cabot 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.
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