The Little Family Foundation is a small, Detroit-based private foundation that concentrates its philanthropy exclusively on performing arts. All recorded giving supports the Celebrity Series of Boston, indicating a focus on sustaining major regional performing-arts presenting organizations through general operating support. Their grants prioritize continuity of arts programming rather than project-specific funding.
Little Family Foundation’s recent giving is built around one clear pattern: repeated operating support for arts organizations, led by Celebrity Series of Boston. The foundation gave Celebrity Series of Boston $120,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for support of daily operations, showing a steady commitment to sustaining an established performing-arts presenter over time. Beyond that core relationship, the grant record includes general financial support for Brookline Community Foundation Inc and operating support for Parity Productions, suggesting that the foundation favors organizations with ongoing institutional budgets rather than one-time projects. The mix of recipients also reaches beyond the arts into education, shelter services, preservation, and conservation, but the arts remain the most visible thread in the record. Grant sizes in the recent list range from smaller five-figure awards to six-figure operating gifts, with multiple repeated awards to the same organizations across consecutive years. That pattern points to a funder that appears to value continuity, organizational stability, and recurring support for community-serving institutions.
In performing arts, the foundation supported Celebrity Series of Boston with $120,000 for daily operations and Parity Productions with $40,000 for daily operations. Those grants align with a grantmaking pattern that favors institutions able to use flexible support to maintain programming and staffing. In community and social-service work, Pine Street Inn received $50,000 in 2025 and $35,000 and $25,000 in earlier grants, all for daily operations. Education also appears in the record: Shady Hill School received $50,000 for daily operations, including repeat awards across multiple years. The foundation also backed Brookline Community Foundation Inc with $60,000 for daily operations and $60,000 for general financial support, showing that operating and unrestricted support are both part of its approach.
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized for a private foundation: p25 is $3,000, median is $8,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent-grants list also includes several larger operating grants in the $25,000 to $120,000 range. Recipients often appear across multiple years, including repeated awards to the same organizations in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Little Family Foundation is a private foundation, not a program-related-investment funder, and it also funds individuals. The grants shown are primarily operating support or general financial support rather than project-specific awards.
$750K
$16.9M
$1.4M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $3K and $15K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Highly concentrated giving: all grants directed to a single arts organization, delivered as repeated general operating support rather than one-off project grants.
Notable grantees: Celebrity Series of Boston
Little Family Foundation gives nationally, but its recent grants are concentrated in a small set of places. Massachusetts appears most often, with Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge among the recipient cities. New Hampshire is also prominent through Effingham and Tamworth, while Washington recipients include Seattle and Vashon. Other recipient locations in the recent list include New York, NY; Otis, OR; and Detroit does not appear among recipient locations in the grants provided. All recorded grants in the country distribution go to US recipients.
The recent record is centered on performing arts and operating support. Celebrity Series of Boston received $120,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for daily operations, and Parity Productions received $40,000 for daily operations. The list also includes schools, shelters, preservation groups, and conservation organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. Celebrity Series of Boston received $120,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Brookline Community Foundation Inc received $60,000 in 2023 and 2024, and Pine Street Inn received multiple operating grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is relatively small at the lower end, with p25 at $3,000, median at $8,000, and p75 at $15,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, including several $50,000 to $120,000 operating grants.
Its grantmaking is national, but Massachusetts is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities there include Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge. New Hampshire and Washington also appear frequently in the recent grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Series of Boston | BOSTON, MA | $120,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Pine Street Inn | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| EFFINGHAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY | EFFINGHAM, NH | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Lyford Cay Foundation Inc | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| PACIFIC BONSAI MUSEUM | FEDERAL WAY, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Vashon Island Public Schools Foundation | VASHON, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT |
| BROOKLINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | BROOKLINE, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| CASCADE HEAD BIOSPHERE COLLABORATIVE | OTIS, OR | $21,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| CREATURE CONSERVE | NEWPORT, RI | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Green Mountain Conservation Group | EFFINGHAM, NH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT |
| DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR COMMUNITY CNTR | NEWPORT, RI | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR DAILY |
| FABNEWPORT INC | NEWPORT, RI | $16,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Steere House | PROVIDENCE, RI | $15,000 | 2025 | COURTYARD REVITALIZATION |
| BARNSTORMERS INC | TAMWORTH, NH | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| SAWHORSE REVOLUTION | SEATTLE, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Ensemble Studio Theater Inc | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT |
| Sound Action | VASHON, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| The Dove Project - General Ops | VASHON, WA | $14,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| AQUIDNECK COMMUNITY TABLE | NEWPORT, RI | $12,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| BUTTON HOLE | PROVIDENCE, RI | $10,800 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| RJS KIDS | VASHION, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| JOURNEYMEN INSTITUTE | VASHON, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| CHOCORUA LAKE CONSERVACY | CHOCORUA, NH | $10,000 | 2025 | LEGAL FEES FOR OWLS FIGHT |
| VINEYARD THEATRE AND WORKSHOP CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| Mint Theater Company Inc | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FEMALE ARTIST INITIATIVE |
| BELOVED ASHEVILLE | ASHEVILLE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF |
| INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME INCORPORATED | NEWPORT, RI | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR THE TEAM FAME YOUTH |
| CHINATOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | ROWHOUSE PRESERVATION |
| HAVEN | VASHON, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE MILTON AND HELENE |
| RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | PROVIDENCE, RI | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR DAILY |
| Big Cat Rescue Corp | TAMPA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT |
| Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust | VASHON, WA | $8,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| BIKE WORKS SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $7,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association | VASHON, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| NEWPORT COUNTY YMCA | MIDDLETON, RI | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| VASHON SENIOR CENTER | VASHON, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| NURTURING ROOTS | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Vashon Maury Community Food Bank | VASHON, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Rhode Island Zoological Society | PROVIDENCE, RI | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER OF NEWPORT AND BRISTOL COUNTIES | NEWPORT, RI | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Chinese Progressive Association | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT |
| Wakefield Food Pantry | SANBORNVILLE, NH | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| FURKIDS INC | CUMMING, GA | $5,000 | 2025 | DESTINATION FURKIDS CAPITAL |
| VASHON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES | VASHON, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDCARE |
| Putney School | PUTNEY, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR YOUTH TRAVEL ABROAD |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH |
| WESTWIND STEWARDSHIP GROUP | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| Lake Forest College | LAKE FOREST, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
| SIMMONS UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $4,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS |
EFFINGHAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY
$30,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
Lyford Cay Foundation Inc
$25,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
PACIFIC BONSAI MUSEUM
$25,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
Vashon Island Public Schools Foundation
$25,000GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
CASCADE HEAD BIOSPHERE COLLABORATIVE
$21,500SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
CREATURE CONSERVE
$20,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
Green Mountain Conservation Group
$20,000GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR COMMUNITY CNTR
$20,000SUPPORT FOR DAILY
Steere House
$15,000COURTYARD REVITALIZATION
Sound Action
$15,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
The Dove Project - General Ops
$14,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
AQUIDNECK COMMUNITY TABLE
$12,500SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
BUTTON HOLE
$10,800SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
RJS KIDS
$10,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
JOURNEYMEN INSTITUTE
$10,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
CHOCORUA LAKE CONSERVACY
$10,000LEGAL FEES FOR OWLS FIGHT
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME INCORPORATED
$10,000FOR THE TEAM FAME YOUTH
HAVEN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
Big Cat Rescue Corp
$10,000GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust
$8,500SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association
$5,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
NEWPORT COUNTY YMCA
$5,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
VASHON SENIOR CENTER
$5,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
NURTURING ROOTS
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
Chinese Progressive Association
$5,000GENERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Wakefield Food Pantry
$5,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS
VASHON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
$5,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDCARE
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$5,000CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH
Lake Forest College
$5,000SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS