The William & Lia G Poorvu
The William & Lia G Poorvu Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1978 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The foundation reflects the philanthropic interests of William J. Poorvu and his wife Lia G. Poorvu, drawing on their combined 80 years of teaching experience in higher education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$129.3M
+0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.1M
+14.2% YoY
Grant Count
119
+9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$85K
+4.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William & Lia G Poorvu reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for higher education, with support also directed toward cultural programs, arts and culture, youth, and health initiatives. Grantmaking follows the family's personal interests and connections, with a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching and learning, particularly at institutions where the family has longstanding relationships.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public application process. Grantmaking operates on an invitation-only basis, with decisions made at trustee discretion. The foundation does not maintain a public website or formal application portal.
Grant Range
$1,000 - $2,500,000+
Average Grant
approximately $81,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Boston and Cambridge area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $129.3 million
- Revenue: $12.1 million
- Expenses: $11.8 million
- Net income: $217,887
- Total liabilities: $0
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $129.1 million
- Total revenues: $6.9 million
- Total expenses: $10.5 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $129,283,797 | $129,065,910 | $132,661,592 |
| Revenue | $12,052,682 | $6,897,979 | $12,137,564 |
| Expenses | $11,834,795 | $10,493,661 | $11,556,149 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,122,500 | $8,848,000 | $8,864,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,613,057 | $4,529,838 | $6,027,115 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,560,805 | $6,521,311 | $6,604,546 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ecoamerica ($1,100,000), Dana-farber Cancer Institute ($1,000,000), Brigham & Women's Hospital ($510,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2LIFE COMMUNITIES SERVICES BRIGHTON, MA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ACCELERATE CHANGE INC BOSTON, MA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF MA BOSTON, MA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ADOLESCENT CONSULTATION SERVICES CAMBRIDGE, MA | ENDOWMENT - PROGRAM AND OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ALEXANDER TWILIGHT ACADEMY BOSTON, MA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES CAMBRIDGE, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| AMERICAN ANCESTORS BOSTON, MA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION WASHINGTON DC, DC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | TRANSATLANTIC INSTITUTE | $25,000 |
| ARCHITECHTS FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- William J. Poorvu
- Lia G. Poorvu
Background: William J. Poorvu is the Class of 1961 Adjunct Professor in Entrepreneurship Emeritus at Harvard Business School, where he taught and was responsible for real estate courses for 35 years. He earned his B.A. from Yale University in 1956 and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1958. He co-founded Baupost Group and has served on the boards of multiple public real estate investment trusts, as well as serving as an independent trustee of the MFS Group of Mutual Funds for 22 years.
Lia G. Poorvu is a former French lecturer at Tufts and a Wellesley alumna.
The Poorvu family's philanthropic legacy continues through their children Alison Poorvu Jaffe '81 and Jonathan Poorvu '84, who carry forward the family's tradition of supporting education, arts, and healthcare institutions.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIA G POORVU | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| WILLIAM J POORVU | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Poorvu family was honored as 2024 Gala Honorees by the Gilder Lehrman Institute.
Bill & Lia Poorvu, 2024 Gala HonoreesThe Poorvu family endowed the Yale Center for Teaching and Learning, reflecting their commitment to excellence in teaching and learning across educational institutions.
Poorvu family endows Yale Center for Teaching and LearningFrequently Asked Questions
What does The William & Lia G Poorvu fund?
The foundation gives primarily for higher education, with support also directed toward cultural programs, arts and culture, youth, and health initiatives. Grantmaking follows the family's personal interests and connections, with a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching and learning, particularly at institutions where the family has longstanding relationships.
How do I apply for a grant from The William & Lia G Poorvu?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $8.8 million (2023) • Number of grants: 109 awards (2023) • Grant range: $1,000 - $2,500,000+ • Average grant: approximately $81,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public application process. Grantmaking operates on an invitation-only basis, with decisions made at trustee discretion. The foundation does not maintain a public website or formal application portal. **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: $1,000,0…
Where does The William & Lia G Poorvu make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the Boston and Cambridge area.
What size grants does The William & Lia G Poorvu award?
In 2024, The William & Lia G Poorvu awarded 119 grants totaling $10.1M — an average of about $85K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William & Lia G Poorvu required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William & Lia G Poorvu reported a distributable amount of $6.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William & Lia G Poorvu's EIN?
The William & Lia G Poorvu's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2651199. 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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