Turning Leaf Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Natick, MA EIN: 04-3397818

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Natick, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $15.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $758K. Net investment income was $518K.

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Turning Leaf Foundation Inc gave $758K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $108K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$757,946
+41.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
7
+16.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$108,278
+21.0% vs 2024
Median grant
$100,000
Total assets
$15,234,857
-0.1% vs 2024
Primary geography
Massachusetts (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Turning Leaf Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2025

Massachusetts General Juvenile Batten Disease Reseach: $253KMassachusetts General JuvenileBatten Disease Reseach$253KPioneer Institute: $105KPioneer Institute$105KNantucket Atheneum: $100KNantucket Atheneum$100KPioneer Public Interest Law Center: $100KPioneer Public Interest LawCenter$100KBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: $100KBeth Israel Deaconess MedicalCenter$100KAlakra Ltd - Tanzania (Address Information Available Upon Request): $50KAlakra Ltd - Tanzania (AddressInformation Available Upon…$50KRoom to Read: $50KRoom to Read$50K

The largest 2025 recipient was Massachusetts General Juvenile Batten Disease Reseach ($253K). Together the top 7 received $758K.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K4$50–100K10$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 10 grants of 21 (48%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.

Cities

CambridgeBostonSan FranciscoNantucket

How Turning Leaf Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving grew 1526% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K3 grants2020 4 grants2021 2 grants2022 2 grants2023 6 grants2024 7 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2022) to $758K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $758K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Massachusetts General Juvenile Batten Disease Reseach Boston, MAMedical Research$252,831
Pioneer Institute Boston, MAEducation$105,000
Nantucket Atheneum Nantucket, MAEducation$100,000
Pioneer Public Interest Law Center Boston, MADonated Legal Assistance$100,000
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MAMedical Research$100,000
Alakra Ltd - Tanzania (Address Information Available Upon Request) Cambridge, MAEducation$50,115
Room to Read San Francisco, CAEducation$50,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Turning Leaf Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$15,234,857$794,400$815,733$757,9467$757,946$517,955$859,730
2024$15,256,190$3,892,957$583,012$537,0716$537,071$3,508,646$627,287
2023$11,946,245$345,037$220,065$118,0002$118,000$2,289,909$539,979
2022$11,821,273$9,564,403$54,819$46,6062$46,606$6,896,937$263,172
2021$2,311,689$1,528,723$201,726$199,9654$199,965$361,818$86,411
2020$984,692$189,083$95,260$94,1893—$4,273$42,380

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Turning Leaf Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $860K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc is led by Michael J. Jacobson, President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Michael J. Jacobson

    President, Secretary & Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Joseph C. Jacobson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy L. Jacobson

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas M. Vaubel

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Turning Leaf Foundation Inc

How much does Turning Leaf Foundation Inc give each year?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc gave $758K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $537K across 6 grants.

What is Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $108,278, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Turning Leaf Foundation Inc give grants?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants).

Does Turning Leaf Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (4 grants).

Who are Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Massachusetts General Juvenile Batten Disease Reseach ($252,831), Pioneer Institute ($105,000) and Nantucket Atheneum ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Turning Leaf Foundation Inc?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc reported $15.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $758K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $860K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is Turning Leaf Foundation Inc?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Natick, MA. It holds $15.2M in total assets as of 2025.

What is Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's EIN?

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3397818. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Turning Leaf Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts

Global Impact

Washington, DC

Global Impact funds a broad range of charitable and social-impact work, including global causes, social welfare, equity, refugee assistance, and nonprofit programs. In 2025, it reported 266 grants, with a median of $75,000 and awards ranging from $6,808 to $5.85 million; grants went mainly to U.S. organizations, especially in DC, California, and New York. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

International, Foreign Affairs & National Security

Assets

$283.6M

Grants

266

Total Given

$48.2M

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$12.3B

Grants

3,576

Total Given

$3.2B

Aetna Foundation Inc

Hartford, CT

Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.

Assets

—

Grants

65

Total Given

$7.2M

Greater Houston Community Foundation

Houston, TX

The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

1,724

Total Given

$232.3M

Boston Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$2.1B

Grants

2,375

Total Given

$228.4M

Karp Family Foundation Stephen R

Boston, MA

The Karp Family Foundation Stephen R. and supports charitable organizations in areas including education and human services, with most 2025 funding going to Massachusetts and New York. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$918K

Grants

31

Total Given

$2.0M

More similar funders

More Funders in Massachusetts

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Turning Leaf Foundation Inc'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.

Turning Leaf Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?