The Herman and Frieda L Miller Foundation focuses on progressive, place-based civic power-building in the Boston area, supporting grassroots organizing, tenant and immigrant legal assistance, worker justice, and community arts that advance inclusion and anti-displacement efforts. They favor operating and campaign support for local coalitions and research organizations that strengthen democratic participation, policy advocacy, and resident-led solutions. Funding is often targeted to Massachusetts-based intermediaries and neighborhood groups working on housing, racial and economic justice, and immigrant empowerment.
A defining feature of the Herman and Frieda L Miller Foundation C/o Gma Foundations is its repeated support for Boston-area organizing infrastructure, from tenant power to immigrant advocacy and civic research. Recent grants show a funder that backs both direct community work and the intermediaries that help local coalitions sustain campaigns, including $100,000 to Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center for general operating support in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024, plus $75,000 to Massachusetts Communities Action Network for powerful translocal organizing for racial and economic justice in 2024. The foundation also supports arts organizations as civic institutions, pairing that with housing and workplace justice efforts. The Theater Offensive received $170,000 in 2024 for general operating support and a capital campaign, while Justice at Work received $70,000 in 2025 for its own general operating support. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is consistent: place-based support for organizations working on inclusion, anti-displacement, immigrant empowerment, and democratic participation in Massachusetts communities.
Housing justice is one of the clearest themes in the recent grants. City Life Vida Urbana received $65,000 in 2025 for the Boston Housing Organizing Project, reflecting support for tenant organizing in Jamaica Plain and broader Boston. The foundation also backs coalition infrastructure tied to racial and economic justice: Massachusetts Communities Action Network received $75,000 in 2025 for Powerful Translocal Organizing for Racial and Economic Justice. Immigrant advocacy appears through MA Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, which received $65,000 in 2024 for Building Power Together, and Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, which received $65,000 in 2025 for MIRA Coalition. Arts are part of the portfolio as well; Central Square Theater received $80,000 in 2025 for Central Square Theater 2024-2025, and The Theater Offensive received $170,000 in 2024 for general operating support and a capital campaign.
Typical grant size centers around a $50,000 median, with a p25 of $43,325 and a p75 of $60,000. The recent list also includes larger commitments, especially for operating and capital support. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, Join for Justice, City Life Vida Urbana, Essex County Community Organization, and Massachusetts Communities Action Network. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder and funds individuals. The grant profile is dominated by recurring support rather than one-off project awards, with many grants labeled general operating support or multi-year campaign funding.
$2.1M
$47.6M
$3.4M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $43K and $60K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$43K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$60K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Moderately concentrated, place-based philanthropy: many repeated grants to the same core grantees and coalitions, mix of multi-year operating and campaign support, and strategic investments in intermediaries and capacity-building rather than one-off national grants.
Notable grantees: THE THEATER OFFENSIVE, MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET & POLICY CENTER, THIRD SECTOR NEW ENGLAND - MA VOTER TABLE, CITY LIFE VIDA URBANA, BOSTON TENANT COALITION INC
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Massachusetts, with 88% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and MA as the top state by grant count. Boston appears frequently, alongside Cambridge, Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Quincy, Somerville, Lynn, and Chelsea-area and North Shore organizations through nearby communities. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 161 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. countries listed.
The recent grants point to organizations working on housing justice, immigrant rights, civic research, worker justice, and community arts. Examples include Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, Justice at Work, Central Square Theater, and advocacy coalitions serving Boston-area communities and the North Shore.
Yes. Many recent awards are labeled general operating support, including grants to Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, Justice at Work, Join for Justice, and Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. It also funds capital campaigns and campaign-specific work, such as The Theater Offensive and Central Square Theater.
Typical grants center on $50,000, with a p25 of $43,325 and a p75 of $60,000. The recent list also includes larger commitments, such as $170,000 to The Theater Offensive and multiple $100,000 grants to Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center and Tsne Missionworks.
Giving is concentrated in Massachusetts. The state accounts for 88% of grants, and the recent list includes Boston, Cambridge, Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Quincy, Somerville, and Lynn among the recipient locations.
The pattern is recurring. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, City Life Vida Urbana, Join for Justice, Essex County Community Organization, and Massachusetts Communities Action Network, often with renewed operating or campaign support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSNE MISSIONWORKS | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | DEMOCRACY HUBS AND GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JUSTICE AT WORK | BOSTON, MA | $80,000 | 2026 | JUSTICE AT WORK |
| CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $80,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET & POLICY CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING REQUEST |
| FJC A FOUNDATION OF PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | KIRVA |
| MA COMMUNITIES ACTION NETWORK (MCAN) | BOSTON, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPERS INC | CHELSEA, MA | $70,000 | 2026 | 2026 CHELSEA AND REVERE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING |
| GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION | DORCHESTER, MA | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JOIN FOR JUSTICE | QUINCY, MA | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION | LYNN, MA | $65,000 | 2026 | MOVEMENT INNOVATION IN A TIME OF DEMOCRATIC CRISIS |
| CITY LIFE VIDA URBANA | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $65,000 | 2026 | BOSTON HOUSING ORGANIZING PROJECT |
| BROCKTON INTERFAITH COMMUNITY | BROCKTON, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | BROCKTON INTERFAITH COMMUNITY |
| LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOSTON TENANT COALITION INC | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | HOUSING EQUITY INITIATIVE |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FBO BARI | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMING FOR CIVIC RESEARCH |
| SAGE | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | SAGETRANS |
| ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP INC | DORCHESTER, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | AARW GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MARLENE MEYERSON JCC MANHATTAN | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | JCC HARLEM - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STUDENT CLINIC FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNITING LEGAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE |
| CENTRO PRESENTE INC | EAST BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | IMMIGRANT ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE |
| THE THEATER OFFENSIVE | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOC | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | CPA BOSTON GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| POLITICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES | SOMERVILLE, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE NETWORK |
| NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR MA | WORCESTER, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RESILIENT CODERS | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | AI-POWERED PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR RESILIENT CODERS |
| MA CHAPTER OF NOW FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | MASSACHUSETTS MENSTRUAL EQUITY COALITION |
| MASSACHUSETTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLIANCE | DORCHESTER, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | HOMEBUYERS UNION |
| BRAZILIAN WORKER CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LA COLABORATIVA | CHELSEA, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | FROM CRISIS TO POWER: BUILDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND EQUITY |
| GREENROOTS INC | CHELSEA, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN CHELSEA AND EAST BOSTON |
| BOSTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $45,000 | 2026 | SAVE OUR HOMES CAMPAIGN |
| MAB COMMUNITY SERVICES | BROOKLINE, MA | $43,325 | 2026 | CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION CENTER FOR PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURIES |
| COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF SOMERVILLE | SOMERVILLE, MA | $35,000 | 2026 | BUILDING TENANT LEADERSHIP AND POWER |
| LAWYERS CLEARINGHOUSE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS | BOSTON, MA | $33,000 | 2026 | TAX LIEN LAND COURT PROGRAM |
| POLITICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES | SOMERVILLE, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TSNE MISSIONWORKS | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | HOLISTIC UNIFIED BLOCS OF SOLIDARIY (HUBS) |
| MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET & POLICY CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $80,000 | 2025 | CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER 2024-2025 |
| MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES ACTION NETWORK MCAN | BOSTON, MA | $75,000 | 2025 | POWERFUL TRANSLOCAL ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| FJC A FOUNDATION OF PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | KIRVA |
| JUSTICE AT WORK | BOSTON, MA | $70,000 | 2025 | JUSTICE AT WORK |
| J STREET EDUCATION FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $70,000 | 2025 | J STREET EDUCATION FUND |
| CITY LIFE VIDA URBANA | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $65,000 | 2025 | BOSTON HOUSING ORGANIZING PROJECT |
| RESIST | ROXBURY, MA | $65,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY MOVEMENT COMMONS CAPITAL PROJECT |
| MASSACHUSETTS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ADVOCACY COALITION | BOSTON, MA | $65,000 | 2025 | MIRA COALITION |
| ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION | LYNN, MA | $65,000 | 2025 | NORTH SHORE ORGANIZING HUB |
| GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION | ROXBURY, MA | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JOIN FOR JUSTICE | QUINCY, MA | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP | DORCHESTER, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
TSNE MISSIONWORKS
$100,000DEMOCRACY HUBS AND GENERAL OPERATIONS
MA COMMUNITIES ACTION NETWORK (MCAN)
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPERS INC
$70,0002026 CHELSEA AND REVERE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING
GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION
$65,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
$65,000MOVEMENT INNOVATION IN A TIME OF DEMOCRATIC CRISIS
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMING FOR CIVIC RESEARCH
UNITING LEGAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE
CENTRO PRESENTE INC
$50,000IMMIGRANT ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
THE THEATER OFFENSIVE
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOC
$50,000CPA BOSTON GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR MA
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RESILIENT CODERS
$50,000AI-POWERED PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR RESILIENT CODERS
MA CHAPTER OF NOW FOUNDATION
$50,000MASSACHUSETTS MENSTRUAL EQUITY COALITION
BRAZILIAN WORKER CENTER
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BOSTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION
$45,000SAVE OUR HOMES CAMPAIGN
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION CENTER FOR PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURIES
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF SOMERVILLE
$35,000BUILDING TENANT LEADERSHIP AND POWER
LAWYERS CLEARINGHOUSE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS
$33,000TAX LIEN LAND COURT PROGRAM
MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES ACTION NETWORK MCAN
$75,000POWERFUL TRANSLOCAL ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
$65,000NORTH SHORE ORGANIZING HUB
GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION
$65,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT