Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation Grant

The Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation supports tax-exempt organizations in the Greater Boston area, focusing on civic education, human development, music education, and public broadcasting. Their mission aims to empower disadvantaged individuals, promote civic engagement, and enhance access to the performing arts. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $20,000 and are awarded to organizations with specific, achievable proposals. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that foster community growth and self-sufficiency.

The Filene Foundation is a private family foundation that makes grants to tax-exempt organizations and institutions that provide services to individuals and localities.
The Foundation's major goals are:

• to enable those who are disadvantaged to help themselves and others;
• to reduce social conflicts and create harmonious communities;
• to encourage informed civic participation on local, state and regional levels; and
• to promote participation in the performing arts.
• Grant Programs

Lincoln & Therese Filene were innovators in Boston's early philanthropic community. Their interests spanned many areas of concern. Today, six generations of Lincoln and Therese's family continue the Foundation's grantmaking in four specific program areas, including:

• Civic Education

The Civic Education Committee considers grants to organizations that reinforce the values and responsibilities, as well as the privileges and opportunities, of American citizenship for natural-born and immigrant populations.
The Committee focuses on programs to encourage, engage, and inform citizens including programs that educate others (e.g. training teachers or student leaders).
Human Development & Self Sufficiency
It supports organizations dedicated to building equitable, safe and successful communities in the Greater Boston-area by providing pathways for disadvantaged individuals to become self-sufficient, valued, and productive members of their communities.
The Committee funds grants in areas including, but not limited to, services for domestic violence and human-trafficking survivors, homelessness prevention, job training and programs that enable youth to overcome obstacles to positive growth.
Music Education & Performing Arts
The Music and Performing Arts Committee determines funding levels for continuing programs at Wolf Trap Farm for the Performing Arts, including the Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts and the Opera Company, and the Filene Music Program at Skidmore College.
Other requests are considered on a limited basis, including initiatives that support Therese Filene’s lifelong effort to offer musical instruction and experiences to those who could otherwise not afford them.
Public Education & Broadcasting
The Public Education and Broadcasting Committee considers grants to organizations that create, distribute, or facilitate distribution of educational content to the general public in underserved communities. This may be achieved by traditional or new media, as well as by in-person programs, for learners of any age.
Guidelines
The Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations whose proposals are specific and achievable, and whose successes can be replicated by other organizations. Awards are granted generally in the $10,000 - $20,000 range.

Eligibility

Only not-for-profit organizations with Section 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status are eligible for grants. Grants are made primaily to organizations and institutions in Greater-Boston area. Our grantmaking is focused in the Greater-Boston area, with some exceptions. In order to submit an application, your organization must meet the following requirements:

• Massachusetts-based organization.It has 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and is not a lobbying, religious or political group.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not make grants in support of capital campaigns or general operating costs. The Foundation does not support individuals, organizations without Section 501 (c)(3) status, lobbying, religious or political groups.