Yawkey Foundation
The Yawkey Foundation is a private foundation based in Westwood, Massachusetts. It supports 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, including those using fiscal sponsors, through direct programs and services in six priority areas: health care, education, human services, youth and amateur athletics, arts and culture, and conservation and wildlife.
Yawkey Foundation at a glance
In short: Yawkey Foundation gave $2.9M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $112K), mostly in South Carolina. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,903,719
- +25.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $111,682
- +16.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $77,894,595
- +9.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (5 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (83% 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 Yawkey Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and **does not accept unsolicited requests**. Its current website describes an Eligibility Quiz followed by an Initial Proposal process for specific grant types.
- Review Cycle
- For 2026 Program & Small Capital Initial Proposals, listed periods are January 2–23 for Youth & Amateur Athletics; March 2–20 for Education and Conservation & Wildlife; June 1–19 for Human Services; and September 1–18 for Arts & Culture and Health Care. Strategic Investment Initial Proposals are listed for January 2–23 and June 1–19, 2026. Transformational Capital Initial Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year.
- Deadline
- For 2026 Program & Small Capital Initial Proposals, listed periods are January 2–23 for Youth & Amateur Athletics;…
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 Lowder Brook Drive 2800, Westwood, MA 02090
Phone: (781) 329-7470
Website: https://yawkeyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Yawkey Foundation
Yawkey Foundation: Program and Small Capital Grants - Arts & Culture
Yawkey Foundation
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Yawkey Foundation: Program and Small Capital Grants - Conservation & Wildlife
Yawkey Foundation
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Yawkey Foundation: Program and Small Capital Grants - Education
Yawkey Foundation
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Yawkey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 112 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation identifies Eastern Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina, as its primary geographic focus areas. Eastern Massachusetts includes Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Middlesex, and Essex counties. Its 2024 grant dollars were reported as 83% to South Carolina recipients, 13% to Massachusetts, 2% to Florida, 2% to Connecticut, and less than 1% to Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Yawkey Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 25 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $136K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $899K (2020) to $3.2M (2021). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Georgetown, SC | Ongoing support for capital, maintenance & education programs at tom yawkey wildlife ctr | $2,017,719 |
| Clemson University Foundation Clemson, SC | Nature & wildlife programs for conservation, protection & education | $111,000 |
| Bethel Institute for Community Development Jamaica Plain, MA | Education & Enrichment Opportunities for Underserved Youth | $100,000 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA | Health Care Access for Underserved Individuals & Communities | $100,000 |
| Allen-Chase Foundation Deerfield, MA | Scholarship Program | $50,000 |
| Lee Memorial Health System Foundation Inc Fort Myers, FL | Health Care Access for Underserved Individuals & Communities | $50,000 |
| Smith Medical Clinic Inc Pawleys Island, SC | Health Care Access for Underserved Individuals & Communities | $50,000 |
| Trustees of Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | Capital Renovations for Baseball & Sports Field Facilities | $50,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Scholarship Program | $50,000 |
| Allen-Chase Foundation Deerfield, MA | Support for School Facility Renovations | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Yawkey Foundation?
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 | $77,894,595 | $4,806,620 | $4,059,065 | $2,903,719 | 26 | $3,444,419 | $4,441,387 | $3,642,581 |
| 2023 | $70,897,133 | $2,962,419 | $3,518,096 | $2,309,001 | 24 | $2,988,622 | $2,395,043 | $3,244,839 |
| 2022 | $64,245,408 | $739,623 | $3,689,842 | $2,554,326 | 24 | $3,100,007 | $860,482 | $3,351,468 |
| 2021 | $79,901,804 | $8,131,065 | $4,519,794 | $3,213,666 | 24 | $3,732,153 | $7,025,545 | $3,693,947 |
| 2020 | $74,764,411 | $3,326,743 | $1,920,432 | $899,309 | 14 | — | $2,971,478 | $3,104,128 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Yawkey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities through direct programs and services. Its six Areas of Giving are Health Care, Education, Human Services, Youth and Amateur Athletics, Arts and Culture, and Conservation and Wildlife.
Examples of grantee work include Bethel Institute for Community Development, which says it provides services to positively redirect the lives of at-risk and high-risk youth in Boston, and Smith Medical Clinic, which says it provides free health care to low-income, uninsured adults in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Clemson University Foundation describes its mission as supporting Clemson University’s educational and scientific research purposes. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 26 grants totaling $2,903,719. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $2,017,719, with a median of $25,000.
The largest reported 2024 grant was $2,017,719 to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for ongoing support of capital, maintenance, and education programs at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. Other notable grants included $111,000 to Clemson University Foundation for nature and wildlife programs; $100,000 to Bethel Institute for Community Development for education and enrichment opportunities for underserved youth; and $100,000 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for health care access for underserved individuals and communities. The Foundation also reported $50,000 to Smith Medical Clinic for health care access and $25,000 to Children’s Recovery Center for capital support for a behavioral and mental health facility.
Program & Small Capital Grants support discrete, timebound program needs, small projects, or equipment, with grants of up to $100,000, most often paid over one year. Strategic Investment Grants are listed at $250,000–$1,000,000 and require a board-approved plan. Transformational Capital Grants provide up to $5 million for projects involving physical spaces; the Foundation requires a board-approved plan for these proposals. The Foundation says that applicants must complete an online Eligibility Quiz before submitting an Initial Proposal. Initial Proposal narratives may be up to 800 words and should describe the organization and its impact, the proposed project and anticipated outcomes, who will benefit, and how the work will be sustained. A detailed project or program budget using the Philanthropy MA Budget Template is required. Organizations may submit only one Initial Proposal per calendar year.
The Foundation lists as ineligible, among other things, requests for specific staff positions, stipends, consultants, or recruitment; scholarships; general endowments; and programs specific to individual public or charter schools, districts, cities, towns, or counties. It also excludes programs that are not primarily focused on baseball or softball under its athletics area.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include John L. Harrington, Board Chair and Trustee; William B. Gutfarb, Trustee; Maureen H. Bleday, Chief Executive Officer; Justin P. Morreale, Trustee; John M. Redmond, CFO and Treasurer; John A. DeSisto, Chief Investment Officer; Alicia K. Verity, CPO, CCO, and Board Secretary; and Maicharia Weir Lytle, CPO Elect.
Yawkey Foundation is led by Maureen H. Bleday, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 5 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Maureen H. Bleday
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $95K (2024)
John L. Harrington
Board Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin P. Morreale
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William B. Gutfarb
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia K. Verity
Cpo, CCO & Board Secretary
Chief Programs Officer & Secretary → Cpo, CCO & Board Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$45K (2020) → $69K (2024)
John A. Desisto
Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $44K (2024)
John M. Redmond
CFO & Treasurer
COO, CFO & Treasurer → CFO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $63K (2024)
Maicharia Weir Lytle
Cpo Elect
New on the 2024 filing
10 hrs/week
$37K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $95K, to Maureen H Bleday (Chief Executive Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Yawkey Foundation
How much does Yawkey Foundation give each year?
Yawkey Foundation gave $2.9M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 24 grants.
What is Yawkey Foundation's typical grant size?
Yawkey Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $111,682, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Yawkey Foundation that year got $35K on average.
Where does Yawkey Foundation give grants?
Yawkey Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Georgetown, SC (3 grants), Pawleys Island, SC (3 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and Deerfield, MA (2 grants).
Does Yawkey Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Yawkey Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health Care Access for Underserved Individuals & Communities" (6 grants).
Who are Yawkey Foundation's largest grantees?
Yawkey Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include South Carolina Department of Natural Resources ($2,017,719), Clemson University Foundation ($111,000) and Bethel Institute for Community Development ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Yawkey Foundation?
Yawkey Foundation reported $77.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.6M (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 does Yawkey Foundation fund?
The Foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities through direct programs and services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Yawkey Foundation?
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Yawkey Foundation's EIN?
Yawkey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2890749. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Yawkey 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Yawkey Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/yawkey-foundation-morg_c1f9b05746f64c82b982fa7d395811e8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132890749_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Yawkey Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/yawkey-foundation-morg_c1f9b05746f64c82b982fa7d395811e8},
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 Yawkey 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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