Boston Foundation

About Boston Foundation

Boston Foundation Inc moved $15,000,000 to The Miami Foundation as a transfer to a donor-advised fund, a sign of how much of its activity runs through philanthropic intermediaries as well as direct nonprofit support. The foundation also made repeated large operating grants to Boston-area institutions, including New Profit Inc at $1,925,000 in both 2023 and 2024, and Boston Ballet Inc at $1,882,256 in 2023 and $1,834,849 in 2024. That mix points to a funder that supports established organizations, capital needs, and long-term operating capacity. Across its recent grants, the foundation backs general operating support, capital campaigns, scholarship aid, immigrant and refugee support, and arts and culture. It also uses named funds and programs to direct money toward specific communities, including the Asian Community Fund, Latino Equity Fund, Equality Fund, and Safety Net Grants. Its stated purpose emphasizes closing gaps in regional disparities and building equitable communities, and its grants reflect that regional role. The foundation funds a wide range of institutions, from health and higher education to arts groups, legal advocacy organizations, and community intermediaries. It also makes program-related investments and funds individuals, broadening the ways it can support nonprofit work and related community capacity.

What Boston Foundation Funds

General operating support is a core part of the foundation’s grantmaking. It awarded $4,510,000 to Social Finance Inc for operating support and annual fund needs, and it made another large operating grant of $2,351,000 to Broad Institute Inc. Similar operating support appears across health, higher education, and social-sector organizations. The foundation also funds arts and culture through both institutions and program-specific vehicles. It gave $2,673,000 to City of Boston Trust Funds for arts, and it supports artist development through programs such as Live Arts Boston, Next Steps for Boston Dance, and Brother Thomas Fellows. In the education and scholarship space, it granted $1,500,000 to University of Wisconsin Foundation for scholarship support. Immigrant and refugee support also appears in the recent grants list. Franklin Education Forum received $1,810,000 for immigrant and refugee support, while Safety Net Grants are described as focusing on essential needs and the safety and well-being of immigrant neighbors in Greater Boston.

How Boston Foundation Gives