The Keel Foundation

BOSTON, MA EIN: 04-3166698

The Keel Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. It operates as an independent grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting charitable causes primarily in the Northeast.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.6M

+8.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$125K

-75.6% YoY

Grant Count

-16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-70.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Keel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary funding interests include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Boston Resiliency

The foundation provides general support funding to its grantees.

Grantmaking

The median grant size is approximately $20,000, with an average grant size of around $40,100.

Grant Range

is approximately $20,000, with an average grant size of around $40,100.

Average Grant

of around $40,100.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

Massachusetts
New York
New Hampshire

Grant Distribution by State

Massachusetts $887K (52%)

New Hampshire $418K (25%)

New York $295K (17%)

District of Columbia $33K (2%)

Pennsylvania $26K (2%)

California $10K (1%)

Connecticut $10K (1%)

Maine $10K (1%)

+2 more states

States

California Connecticut District of Columbia Georgia Massachusetts Maryland Maine New Hampshire New York Pennsylvania

Cities

AtlantaBostonCambridgeConcordDorchesterFitchburgFraminghamLaconia NhManchesterMeredithNatickNew YorkNewtonNewtonvillePhiladelphiaRockportSan FranciscoSilver SpringsSouthingtonSudbury

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $1,555,580
Total Revenues: $312,153
Total Expenses: $190,333
Investment Income and Dividends: $55,872

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $1,430,000
Total Revenues: $443,000
Total Expenses: $568,000

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$1,555,580	$1,434,207	$1,558,779
Revenue	$312,153	$442,983	$208,521
Expenses	$190,333	$567,591	$217,881
Qualifying Distributions	$152,205	$538,896	$186,548
Net Investment Income	$282,256	$412,900	$180,188
Distributable Amount	$181,008	$159,275	$171,932

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

82 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kerem Shalom ($18,000), Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra ($17,000), Clover Foundation Inc ($15,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CLOVER FOUNDATION INC CONCORD, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$15,000
OPEN TABLE INC CONCORD, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$15,000
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREATER BOSTON INC BOSTON, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$5,000
BUDDY DOG HUMANE SOCIETY SUDBURY, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$2,500
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY WALTHAM, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$10,000
KEREM SHALOM CONCORD, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$18,000
JEWISHGEN INC NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL SUPPORT	$3,600
HADASSAH NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL SUPPORT	$10,000
LAKES REGION SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MEREDITH, NH	GENERAL SUPPORT	$17,000
18 DOORS NATICK, MA	GENERAL SUPPORT	$1,800

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key leadership includes:

Barbara M Olsen, Trustee
Peter A Wilson, Trustee
Mark M Christopher, Trustee

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
BARBARA M OLSEN	TRUSTEE	5	—
PETER A WILSON	TRUSTEE	5	—
MARK M CHRISTOPHER	TRUSTEE	5	—
JAMES OLSEN	TRUSTEE	5	—

Contact Information

Address: 1 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-2106

Phone: 617-480-9594

EIN: 04-3166698

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Keel Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Boston Resiliency The foundation provides general support funding to its grantees.

How do I apply for a grant from The Keel Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,800 to $125,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 29 grants in 2024, with a total giving amount of $125,400. Recent grantees include: • Kerem Shalom ($18,000) • Open Table ($15,000) • Clover Foundation ($15,000) • Massachusetts General Hospital The median grant size is approximately $20,000, with an average grant size of around $40,100.

Where does The Keel Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts • New York • New Hampshire

What size grants does The Keel Foundation award?

In 2024, The Keel Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $125K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Keel Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Keel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.