Trustees of Boston University
The Trustees of Boston University is a public charity based in Boston, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1869 to establish and oversee Boston University, it supports the University’s research and other programs; its 2025 filing reports 268 grants totaling $109,777,861.
Trustees of Boston University at a glance
In short: Trustees of Boston University gave $109.8M across 268 grants in 2025 (avg $410K), top state Massachusetts. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $109,777,861
- +19.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 268
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $409,619
- +17.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $125,223
- Total assets
- $9,263,866,015
- +9.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (41 of 264, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Trustees of Boston University
- Contact
Mailing address: 881 Commonwealth Ave 4Th Fl, Boston, MA 02215-1303
Phone: (617) 353-2290
Website: https://bu.edu
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Trustees of Boston University funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Day Zero Diagnostics Inc ($5.3M). Together the top 10 received $37.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,386 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 455 grants of 1,386 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, Massachusetts accounted for 33% of grant dollars and California for 24%. New York and Texas each accounted for 5%, and Illinois accounted for 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 268 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Trustees of Boston University open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 41 of 264 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $133K; repeat grants $468K. How we count
Medians: $52K first-time, $134K repeat.
- 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−20%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $76.8M (2019) to $141.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 268 grants totaling $109.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Day Zero Diagnostics Inc Boston, MA | Research | $5,338,365 |
| The General Hospital Corporation Boston, MA | Research | $5,102,054 |
| Cellics Therapeutics Inc San Diego, CA | Research | $4,970,180 |
| President & Fellows of Harvard Coll Boston, MA | Research | $4,382,219 |
| Locus Biosciences Inc Morrisville, NC | Research | $3,757,563 |
| Visby Medical Inc San Jose, CA | Research | $3,625,868 |
| Boston Medical Center Boston, MA | Research | $2,960,015 |
| Avails Medical Inc Menlo Park, CA | Research | $2,742,781 |
| Regents Univ of CA Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Research | $2,406,437 |
| The Regents of the University of CA Los Angeles, CA | Research | $2,203,113 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,263,866,015 | $3,513,830,353 | $3,419,039,088 | $109,777,861 | 268 | $198,978,438 |
| 2024 | $8,486,418,500 | $3,257,563,350 | $3,195,959,811 | $91,969,796 | 263 | $117,067,805 |
| 2023 | $8,318,947,751 | $3,310,909,056 | $3,006,440,897 | $106,314,989 | 296 | $125,603,011 |
| 2022 | $8,017,718,487 | $3,129,652,283 | $2,838,264,646 | $136,897,135 | 270 | $157,220,154 |
| 2021 | $8,292,157,093 | $2,827,583,539 | $2,471,119,524 | $141,098,511 | 289 | $254,740,425 |
| 2020 | $7,207,997,851 | $2,615,858,845 | $2,505,252,148 | $91,086,663 | 275 | $83,863,541 |
| 2019 | $7,019,919,366 | $2,661,508,568 | $2,428,902,662 | $76,758,766 | 241 | $141,935,457 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The 2024 filing describes research at Boston University as emphasizing interdisciplinary work in areas including neuroscience, clean energy, sustainability and the environment, health care delivery, and global health. It also describes auxiliary enterprises as providing services to the campus community, and lists libraries, academic services, student services, and external programs among other program services.
The 2025 grants include research awards to companies, hospitals, universities, and research organizations. Among the supported organizations, Boston Medical Center says its mission is to provide accessible health services to people in need regardless of status or ability to pay. The Broad Institute describes its mission as advancing biomedicine through research on disease and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. The Clinton Health Access Initiative says it works to improve health outcomes and strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trustees reported 268 grants totaling $109,777,861. Grant amounts ranged from $5,092 to $5,338,365, with a median of $125,223. The largest listed grants were for research, including $5,338,365 to Day Zero Diagnostics, $5,102,054 to The General Hospital Corporation, and $4,970,180 to Cellics Therapeutics.
Other notable recipients included President & Fellows of Harvard College ($4,382,219), Locus Biosciences ($3,757,563), Visby Medical ($3,625,868), Boston Medical Center ($2,960,015), and Avails Medical ($2,742,781). Boston Medical Center’s stated mission is to provide accessible health services to all in need. Other recipients included MIT ($1,959,038), the Broad Institute ($1,741,710), and the Clinton Health Access Initiative ($1,362,833).
Boston University’s Foundation Relations team describes its work as helping BU faculty and staff identify, pursue, secure, and steward support from private foundations and nongovernmental organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Melissa L. Gilliam as president, effective July 1, 2024. Listed trustees include Kevin E. Smith, Maureen Alphonse-Charles, Thomas J. Bickerton, Cassandra M. Clay, Cynthia R. Cohen, John D. Couris, Shamim A. Dahod, Nathaniel Dalton, and Ahmass L. Fakahany.
Trustees of Boston University is led by Robert A. Brown, Fmr President & Prof since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 14 of 52 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert A. Brown
Fmr President & Prof
President → Fmr President & Prof, 2025
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$1.5M (2019) → $1M (2025)
Kenneth W. Freeman
Fmr Int President & Prof
Interim President → Fmr Int President & Prof, 2025
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$972K (2024) → $1.1M (2025)
Gary W. Nicksa Fmr Sr Vp Cfo
Treasurer & Cons to President
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$751K (2025)
Melissa L. Gilliam
President
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$1.4M (2025)
Kevin E. Smith
Trustee & Professor
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$224K (2024) → $232K (2025)
Ahmass L. Fakahany
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia C. Mullen
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth C. Thors
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hugo X. Shong
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Z. Slater
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Merida
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malek Sukkar
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maurice R. Ferre
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathaniel Dalton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nina C. Tassler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter L. Wexler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rajen A. Kilachand
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ranch C. Kimball
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard C. Godfrey
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth A. Moorman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan K. Roth Gallo
Trustee
Trustee-Vchair → Trustee - Vice Chair, 2021
Trustee - Vice Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra A. Frazier
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sd Shibulal
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shamim A. Dahod
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen M. Zide
Trustee
Trustee → Trustee-Vice Chair, 2022
Trustee-Vice Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia R. Cohen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael D. Fricklas
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Antoinette R. Leatherberry
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Priester
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Norlander
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cassandra M. Clay
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Loscalzo
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Lin
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maureen Alphonse-Charles
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Hessler-Radelet
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Antonio G. Gomes
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric D. Muller
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John D. Couris
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Wendt
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Bickerton
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clarissa C. Hunnewell
Chief Investment Officer
Chief Investment Officer → CIO & Assistant Treasurer, 2023
CIO & Assistant Treasurer → Chief Investment Officer, 2024
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$1.1M (2019) → $1.5M (2025)
Erika Geetter
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Vice President, G C & Secretary → Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Board Secretary, 2020
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Board Secretary → Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$560K (2019) → $798K (2025)
Jean Morrison
Fmr Uni Prov & Prof
University Provost → Fmr Uni Prov & Prof, 2025
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$775K (2019) → $851K (2025)
Karen H. Antman MD
Med. Campus Provost
Medical Campus Provost → Med. Campus Provost, 2025
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$906K (2019) → $1.1M (2025)
Pushkar Mehra
Professor & Oral Surgeon
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$1.4M (2019) → $1.5M (2025)
Derek Howe
Senior Vice President Ops & Assistant Treasurer
Senior Vice President for Op → Senior Vice President Ops & Assistant Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$395K (2022) → $619K (2025)
Kenneth R. Lutchen
Int Uni Prov & Prof
Interim Uni Provost → Int Uni Prov & Prof, 2025
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$729K (2024) → $792K (2025)
Nicole K. Tirella
Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
55 hrs/week
$283K (2024) → $508K (2025)
Gloria Waters
University Provost
New on the 2025 filing
55 hrs/week
$715K (2025)
William Creevy
Professor & Physician
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Xinning Li
Professor & Physician
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Chadi Tannoury
Professor & Physician
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (34)
- Former: Gary W. Nicksa (2019–2024) — Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
- Former: Richard D. Reidy (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Sharon G. Ryan (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tony Tannoury (2019–2024) — Professor & Physician
- Former: Kimberly As Howard (2022–2024) — Trustee & Professor
- Former: David Coleman (2024) — Professor & Physician
- Former: Ca Lance Piccolo (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kenneth J. Feld (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Robert A. Knox (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Stephen R. Karp (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sudarshana Devadhar (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: William D. Bloom (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Eileen B. O'Keefe (2020–2023) — Former Trustee & Professor
- Former: Jane P. Moncreiff (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: M. Lee Pelton (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Carla E. Meyer (2019–2022) — Trustee-Vchair
- Former: J. Kenneth Menges Jr. (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: John P. Howe III (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Martin J. Howard (2019–2022) — Senior Vice President, CFO & Trs
- Former: Richard C. Shipley (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Todd L. C. Klipp (2019–2022) — Fmr Senior Vice President, Senior Counsel & Secretary
- Former: Allen I. Questrom (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Andrea L. Taylor (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Andrew R. Lack (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jonathan R. Cole (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Richard D. Cohen (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Carol N. Fulp (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Cataldo W. Leone (2019–2020) — Trustee & Prof
- Former: Jacques P. Perold (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Peter T. Paul (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Andrew Stein (2020) — Professor & Physician
- Former: Bippy M. Siegal (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Sungeun Han-Andersen (2019) — Trustee
- Former: William A. Kamer (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.5M, to Clarissa C Hunnewell (Chief Investment Officer). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Trustees of Boston University
How much does Trustees of Boston University give each year?
Trustees of Boston University gave $109.8M across 268 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $92.0M across 263 grants.
What is Trustees of Boston University's typical grant size?
Trustees of Boston University's median grant in 2025 was $125,223, and its average grant was $409,619, across 268 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Trustees of Boston University that year got $133K on average.
Where does Trustees of Boston University give grants?
Trustees of Boston University's top state is Massachusetts, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (24%) and New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (28 grants), Chicago, IL (10 grants), Los Angeles, CA (7 grants) and New York, NY (7 grants).
Does Trustees of Boston University give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 268 grants with a stated purpose on Trustees of Boston University's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (258 grants) and "Charitable Donation" (10 grants).
Who are Trustees of Boston University's largest grantees?
Trustees of Boston University's largest 2025 grantees include Day Zero Diagnostics Inc ($5,338,365), The General Hospital Corporation ($5,102,054) and Cellics Therapeutics Inc ($4,970,180), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Trustees of Boston University?
Trustees of Boston University reported $9.3B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5B.
What does Trustees of Boston University fund?
The 2024 filing describes research at Boston University as emphasizing interdisciplinary work in areas including neuroscience, clean energy, sustainability and the environment, health care delivery, and global health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Trustees of Boston University?
Trustees of Boston University has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bu.edu for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Trustees of Boston University's EIN?
Trustees of Boston University's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2103547. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Trustees of Boston University's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Trustees of Boston University funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/trustees-of-boston-university-morg_74e50d0fba4c48839ade168b29b59200
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_042103547_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Trustees of Boston University funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/trustees-of-boston-university-morg_74e50d0fba4c48839ade168b29b59200},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Trustees of Boston University'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.
Trustees of Boston University down — hundreds of funders to go?