PDB Foundation concentrates its giving into a small number of large awards, primarily supporting education institutions and major health research organizations. Its funding pattern shows repeat, multi-grant commitments to a few flagship recipients and willingness to fund both local Massachusetts organizations and international higher-education institutions. The foundation appears to prioritize programmatic and research capacity rather than a broad portfolio of small grants.
Pdb Foundation’s recent grantmaking is marked by repeated large awards to a small set of recipients, especially in education and health research. Mass Liberation received three grants between 2023 and 2025, including a $830,233 award in 2025, while the American Cancer Society also appears multiple times for research support. That pattern points to a funder that commits meaningful amounts over several years rather than dispersing many small grants. Education is the clearest throughline. The foundation has backed Massachusetts-based institutions such as Wentworth Institute of Technology, West End House, and Year Up, alongside University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Its health-related giving includes support for Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation and the American Cancer Society, showing interest in both local health access and disease research. It also funded The Trussell Trust for food insecurity work and the International Institution of New England for education and refugee support. Across the recent grants list, Pdb Foundation combines institutional support with direct program funding for organizations serving students, families, refugees, and health research efforts. The recurring awards suggest a relationship-oriented approach with multiple multi-year commitments.
In education, Pdb Foundation backed Mass Liberation with $830,233 in 2025 for education, and also supported Wentworth Institute of Technology with $355,200 in 2025 and $329,000 in 2024. The same area includes West End House, which received $250,000 in 2025 and $250,000 in 2024 for education. The foundation also funds education and refugee support through the International Institution of New England. That grantee received $250,000 in 2025, $250,000 in 2024, and $250,000 in 2023. On health, Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation received $250,000 in 2025 and $250,000 in 2024 for health care. In disease research, the American Cancer Society received $700,000 in 2024 and $450,000 in 2025. Food insecurity is another clear area, with The Trussell Trust receiving $280,000 in 2023, $248,960 in 2024, and $254,117 in 2025.
Pdb Foundation’s typical grant size is sizable: the 25th percentile is $20,056, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $239,220. The recent record shows repeat awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which indicates multi-year commitments rather than one-off gifts. It is a regular funder, not a DAF or an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. The grant list also shows a mix of general institutional support and program-specific awards across education, health, and food assistance.
$4.4M
$80.1M
$8.7M
$4.6M
Most grants fall between $20K and $239K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$239K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Pdb Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 72 | $10.4M | 91.1% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 7 |
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants with repeat funding to select grantees; mix of local (MA) and international higher‑education beneficiaries; emphasis on institutional/ program-level support rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Mass Liberation, American Cancer Society, University of Strathclyde
Most grants go to recipients in the United States, with 72 grants there versus 7 in the UK. Massachusetts appears frequently among recipient locations, including Boston, Dorchester, Malden, Allston, and Cambridge-adjacent health and education organizations. Outside the US, Glasgow appears on multiple education grants, and Salisbury appears on food insecurity grants. The top giving state is California, reflecting where the foundation gives most often even though its headquarters are in Massachusetts.
The recent grants list is dominated by education institutions and education-related nonprofits, with repeated awards to Mass Liberation, Wentworth Institute of Technology, West End House, Year Up, and the International Institution of New England. Health research and health care also appear, including the American Cancer Society and Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. Mass Liberation received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; the American Cancer Society appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The Trussell Trust also shows grants across those three years.
The grant-size distribution is weighted toward large awards. The 25th percentile is $20,056, the median grant is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $239,220.
Recipient organizations in the United States account for 72 grants, compared with 7 grants in the United Kingdom. Within the US, California is the top state by grant count, while Massachusetts recipients also appear frequently in the recent list.
Education, health care, health research, food insecurity, and refugee support all appear in the recent grants. Examples include education awards to Massachusetts schools and nonprofits, research funding to the American Cancer Society, and food insecurity support to The Trussell Trust.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $2.1M |
8.9% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASS LIBERATION | TORRANCE, CA | $830,233 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE | GLASGOW, SC | $455,754 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $450,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | BOSTON, MA | $355,200 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE TRUSSELL TRUST | SALIBURY, WI | $254,117 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLICANCE FOUNDATION | MALDEN, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| FAMILY NURTURING CENTER OF MASSACHUSETTS | DORCHESTER, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION OF NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND REFUGEES SUPPORT |
| WEST END HOUSE | ALLSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PROCTOR ACADEMY | ANDOVER, NH | $210,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| YEAR UP | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND | BOSTON, MA | $159,388 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE | CONCORD, NH | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN |
| GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| FLARE EDUCATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATON |
| TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH | DECATUR, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SCOTLAND FOUNDATION USA | WILMINGTON, DE | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT |
| PROJECT INSULIN INC | PROVIDENCE, RI | $50,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE |
| RAW ART WORKS | LYNN, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | YOUTH ARTS SUPPORT |
| CARROLL SCHOOL | LINCOLN, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LIFE SCIENCE CARES | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| COMMUNITY SERVINGS | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CAREERS PROGRAM | BRAINTREE, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE SECOND STEP | NEWTONVILLE, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOD BANK | MANCHESTER, NH | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| THE CENTER LONG BEACH | LONG BEACH, CA | $5,188 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND WELL BEING |
| THE COTTING SCHOOL | LEXINGTON, MA | $5,165 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOWNTOWN DOG RESCUE | PASADENA, CA | $5,150 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE |
| HOPENET LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,300 | 2025 | FOOD AND HOUSING |
| MASS LIBERATION | TORRANCE, CA | $810,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $700,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE | GLASGOW, SC | $381,557 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | BOSTON, MA | $329,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| FAMILY NURTURING CENTER | DORCHESTER, MA | $260,000 | 2024 | FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS |
| CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLICANCE FOUNDATION | MALDEN, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | HEALTH CARE |
| WEST END HOUSE | ALLSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION OF NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION AND REFUGEES SUPPORT |
| THE TRUSSELL TRUST | SALIBURY, WI | $248,960 | 2024 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| CARROLL SCHOOL | LINCOLN, MA | $210,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| PROCTOR ACADEMY | ANDOVER, NH | $210,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| YEAR UP | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND | BOSTON, MA | $194,219 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SCOTLAND FOUNDATION USA | WILMINGTON, DE | $115,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT |
| GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK | BOSTON, MA | $101,750 | 2024 | FOOD INSECURITIES |
| FLARE EDUCATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATON |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE | CONCORD, NH | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| PROJECT INSULIN INC | PROVIDENCE, RI | $50,000 | 2024 | HEALTH CARE |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND USA | EDINBURGH, SC | $50,000 | 2024 | NATURE CONSERVATION |
| RAW ART WORKS | LYNN, MA | $20,300 | 2024 | YOUTH ARTS SUPPORT |
MASS LIBERATION
$830,233EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
$455,754EDUCATION
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$450,000RESEARCH
WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$355,200EDUCATION
THE TRUSSELL TRUST
$254,117FOOD INSECURITIES
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION OF NEW ENGLAND
$250,000EDUCATION AND REFUGEES SUPPORT
PROCTOR ACADEMY
$210,000EDUCATION
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SCOTLAND FOUNDATION USA
$50,000EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT INSULIN INC
$50,000HEALTH CARE
CARROLL SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CAREERS PROGRAM
$10,000EDUCATION
NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOD BANK
$10,000FOOD INSECURITIES
THE CENTER LONG BEACH
$5,188EDUCATION AND WELL BEING
THE COTTING SCHOOL
$5,165GENERAL SUPPORT
HOPENET LA
$1,300FOOD AND HOUSING
MASS LIBERATION
$810,000EDUCATION
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$700,000RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
$381,557EDUCATION
WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$329,000EDUCATION
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION OF NEW ENGLAND
$250,000EDUCATION AND REFUGEES SUPPORT
THE TRUSSELL TRUST
$248,960FOOD INSECURITIES
CARROLL SCHOOL
$210,000EDUCATION
PROCTOR ACADEMY
$210,000EDUCATION
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SCOTLAND FOUNDATION USA
$115,000EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT INSULIN INC
$50,000HEALTH CARE
NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND USA
$50,000NATURE CONSERVATION