Foundations in Boston, Massachusetts

1,502 foundations$21.4B annual giving$178.9B in assets$17K median grant

Home to The Boston Foundation and 1,501 other grantmaking foundations, Boston has $21.4B in combined annual giving. The median grant from Boston foundations is $17K.

Also browse all foundations in Massachusetts

Featured Community Foundation

Boston Foundation Inc

Assets:$2.1B
Annual Giving:$228.4M

We are committed to closing the gaps on this region’s greatest disparities. Through our resources and relationships we work to open pathways to opportunity and build and sustain vital, prosperous and equitable communities.

Key Focus Areas

Child well-beingHealth careEarly educationMental and behavioral healthEducation-to-career pathways
View full profile

Boston Grantmaking at a Glance

Foundations Headquartered Here

1,502

Total Annual Giving

$21.4B

Total Assets

$178.9B

Median Grant Size

$17K

Largest Foundations in Boston, MA

FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$15.1B

Total Assets

$86.3B

Median Grant

—

S500unknown
BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FUND C/O BNY MELLON NA

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$720.2M

Total Assets

$2M

Median Grant

$18K

T30National
Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc

Boston

Annual Giving

$273.6M

Total Assets

$2.6B

Median Grant

$25K

T700Regional
THE US CHARITABLE GIFT TRUST

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$231.4M

Total Assets

$2.2B

Median Grant

$12K

T122National
Boston Foundation Inc

Boston

Annual Giving

$228.4M

Total Assets

$2.1B

Median Grant

$25K

T310Regional
FIDELITY FOUNDATION

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$156.2M

Total Assets

$5B

Median Grant

$500

Y12National
FIDELITY NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$135.2M

Total Assets

$2.6B

Median Grant

$525K

S500Regional
BARR FOUNDATION

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$123.2M

Total Assets

$1.9B

Median Grant

$63K

T22Regional
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$109.8M

Total Assets

$9.3B

Median Grant

$110K

B43National
THE JEREMY AND HANNELORE GRANTHAM ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST

BOSTON

Annual Giving

$94.9M

Total Assets

$467.7M

Median Grant

$1.8M

T20National

Funders That Give to Boston

These foundations have made grants to recipients in Boston, regardless of where the foundation is headquartered.

MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED & AFFILIATES GROUP RETURN

SOMERVILLE, MA

Grants to Boston

293

Total Given

$3.1B

FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

BOSTON, MA

Grants to Boston

2,488

Total Given

$1.5B

NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST

JENKINTOWN, PA

Grants to Boston

748

Total Given

$906.3M

BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

SEATTLE, WA

Grants to Boston

507

Total Given

$612M

DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Grants to Boston

1,374

Total Given

$361.5M

VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

SOUTHEASTERN, PA

Grants to Boston

893

Total Given

$339.4M

MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED

SOMERVILLE, MA

Grants to Boston

127

Total Given

$317.6M

GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC

NEW YORK, NY

Grants to Boston

317

Total Given

$303.1M

President and Fellows of Harvard College

CAMBRIDGE, MA

Grants to Boston

160

Total Given

$298M

Boston Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

Grants to Boston

1,943

Total Given

$270.1M

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Grants to Boston

173

Total Given

$227M

DECHOMAI FOUNDATION INC

JACKSONVILLE, FL

Grants to Boston

10

Total Given

$166.6M

Feeding America

Chicago, IL

Grants to Boston

5

Total Given

$164.8M

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

Grants to Boston

273

Total Given

$164.6M

Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc

Boston, MA

Grants to Boston

627

Total Given

$156.8M

THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION

PRINCETON, NJ

Grants to Boston

374

Total Given

$146M

AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC

NEWARK, DE

Grants to Boston

1,725

Total Given

$141.7M

THE BROAD INSTITUTE INC

CAMBRIDGE, MA

Grants to Boston

54

Total Given

$135.1M

FIDELITY NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION

BOSTON, MA

Grants to Boston

82

Total Given

$131.3M

BARR FOUNDATION

BOSTON, MA

Grants to Boston

759

Total Given

$117.5M

What Gets Funded in Boston

Top Cause Areas

Philanthropy & Voluntarism669 · $4.7B
Mutual & Membership Benefit192 · $345.5M
Education104 · $278.2M
Health Care45 · $157.1M
Human Services39 · $61.6M
Arts, Culture & Humanities36 · $18.4M
Community Improvement24 · $15.3B
Environment20 · $42M
Medical Research19 · $44.7M
Housing & Shelter18 · $53.5M

Frequently Asked Questions About Foundations in Boston

How many foundations are in Boston?
There are 1,502 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
What is the largest foundation in Boston?
The largest foundation in Boston by annual giving is FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND at $15.1B per year. Other major foundations include BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FUND C/O BNY MELLON NA and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc.
How much do Boston foundations give annually?
Foundations headquartered in Boston distribute a combined $21.4B in grants annually. The median grant size is $17K.
What causes do Boston foundations fund?
The most common focus areas among Boston foundations are Philanthropy & Voluntarism, Mutual & Membership Benefit, Education. See the full breakdown above for the complete distribution across all cause areas.
How do I find grants in Boston?
Kindora's free funder database includes 1,502 Boston foundations with IRS 990 data, grant history, and geographic focus. Use the table above to browse and filter. You can also explore all foundations in Massachusetts or sign up for a free account to access AI-powered funder matching.

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