Thee Mustard Seed Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 2014. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a grantmaking foundation supporting philanthropic initiatives across the United States and internationally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.9M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-17.9% YoY
Grant Count
15
-34.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$152K
+25.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thee Mustard Seed Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a substantial annual giving program. In 2024, the foundation awarded approximately $2.3 million to $2.8 million in grants across 23 grants. Recent grantees have included Ron Burton Training Village ($380,000), Urban Impact of Black Rock Incorporated ($350,000), and Corey C Griffin Charitable Foundation ($275,000).
Grant Range
s typically range from approximately $3,120 to $493,435, with a median grant amount of $95,000. The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a diverse geographic footprint across the United States and internationally. Documented funding locations include Alpharetta, Chicago, Edinburgh, and Kumasi. Funding extends across multiple states including Alabama, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $29.9 million (2024)
- Total revenue: $3.86 million (2024)
- Total expenses: $2.57 million (2024)
- Net income: $1.29 million (2024)
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $2.78 million
- Investment income and dividends: $590,768
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $590,569
The foundation maintains an expense ratio of 72.4% of total revenue spent on programs, indicating a substantial portion of resources directed toward grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,945,052 | $28,658,678 | $27,550,239 |
| Revenue | $3,860,508 | $4,015,324 | $-15,112 |
| Expenses | $2,574,070 | $2,906,844 | $1,851,000 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,319,159 | $2,797,749 | $1,616,993 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,729,974 | $3,293,370 | $282,913 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,112,801 | $2,095,092 | $2,190,658 |
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
79 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Urban Impact ($493,435), Jaco Booyens Ministries ($403,462), Ron Burton Training Village ($373,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $200,000 |
| CAMPAIGN FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS BRAINTREE, MA | GENERAL FUND | $14,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL (GHANA) | GENERAL FUND | $95,369 |
| CHILL FOUNDATION BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL FUND | $45,000 |
| ELEVATE NEW ENGLAND INC LOWELL, MA | GENERAL FUND | $125,000 |
| HEART OF THE FATHER MINISTRIES ARDMORE, PA | GENERAL FUND | $13,695 |
| JACO BOOYENS MINISTRIES ARLINGTON, TX | GENERAL FUND | $403,462 |
| PINE STREET INN BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUND | $185,000 |
| RON BURTON TRAINING VILLAGE HUBBARDSTON, MA | GENERAL FUND | $373,000 |
| ST ANDRE BESSETTE PARISH LACONIA, NH | GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Arthur S. Demoulas serves as Director of the foundation and provides support without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTHUR S DEMOULAS | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 38 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116-3210
Phone: 617-262-5979
EIN: 26-0873247
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Thee Mustard Seed Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with a substantial annual giving program. In 2024, the foundation awarded approximately $2.3 million to $2.8 million in grants across 23 grants. Recent grantees have included Ron Burton Training Village ($380,000), Urban Impact of Black Rock Incorporated ($350,000), and Corey C Griffin Charitable Foundation ($275,000). Grant sizes typically range from approximately $3,120 to $493,435, with a median grant amount of $95,000. The foundation appears open to ne…
Where does Thee Mustard Seed Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports a diverse geographic footprint across the United States and internationally. Documented funding locations include Alpharetta, Chicago, Edinburgh, and Kumasi. Funding extends across multiple states including Alabama, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas, and Vermont.
What size grants does Thee Mustard Seed Foundation award?
In 2024, Thee Mustard Seed Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $152K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Thee Mustard Seed Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thee Mustard Seed Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Thee Mustard Seed Foundation's EIN?
Thee Mustard Seed Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0873247. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thee Mustard Seed Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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