The Ellison Foundation concentrates its giving on medical research, patient care, and academic medicine in the Boston / Massachusetts area, with particularly large investments in cancer research and treatment. It funds major academic medical centers and hospitals (often repeatedly), supporting general operating funds and research at institutions rather than small community groups. Grants are sizable and targeted to established institutions, indicating a preference for high-impact, institution-level support for biomedical advancement and clinical care.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of established institutions, with repeat funding for core grantees and an explicit geographic focus on Boston / Massachusetts medical and research institutions.
The Ellison Foundation Mutl Fd & Lp 668158157’s largest recent grant went to the American Cancer Society for $792,000 in program support, a strong signal of its emphasis on cancer-related giving alongside broader medical and academic medicine support. The foundation’s recent awards also show repeated backing for major Boston institutions, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, with six-figure program and general fund grants in multiple years. That pattern points to a funder that favors established health systems and research organizations rather than small, one-off projects. Across the recent grants list, the foundation supports medical schools, hospitals, and treatment centers tied to clinical care and biomedical advancement. Tufts University School of Medicine received $675,000 in 2025, and Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc. received $507,272 the same year. Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary, and the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School also appear among the larger recipients. The overall picture is of a Massachusetts-centered health funder with a clear preference for institution-level support, often through program support and general fund grants.
Cancer research and treatment is a central theme. The foundation gave $650,000 in 2025 to Dana Farber Cancer Institute for program support, and it also supported the American Cancer Society with $792,000 in 2025 and $550,000 in 2023. Academic medicine is another major area. Tufts University School of Medicine received $675,000 in 2025 and $225,000 in 2023, while the University of Massachusetts Chan Med School received $350,468 in 2025 and $350,000 in 2024. Those grants point to sustained support for medical education and research capacity. Hospital care and clinical operations also receive attention. Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc. got $507,272 in 2025, Brigham & Womens Hospital received $414,928 in 2025, and Mass Eye & Ear Infirmary received $175,000 in 2024 and $168,988 in 2025.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the six figures, with a p25 of $75,000, median of $100,000, and p75 of $167,500. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the same institutions across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including the American Cancer Society, Tufts University School of Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital Trust, Massachusetts General Hospital, and University of Massachusetts Chan Med School. That suggests an ongoing relationship pattern rather than one-time giving. The foundation gives through program support and general fund grants, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$4.6M
$90.4M
$5.4M
$5.4M
Most grants fall between $75K and $168K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$75K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$168K
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.
Notable grantees: American Cancer Society, Tufts University School of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Massachusetts: 98% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is MA. Boston is the main recipient city, with additional grants in Worcester, Farmingham, Duxbury, and West Boylston. The recipient country distribution is entirely US-based, with 57 grants in the United States.
Its recent grants go mainly to hospitals, medical schools, cancer organizations, and health systems. Examples include Tufts University School of Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Lahey Health Inc., Brigham & Womens Hospital, and Boston Childrens Hospital Trust.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around six figures: p25 is $75,000, the median is $100,000, and p75 is $167,500.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the American Cancer Society, Tufts University School of Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital Trust, Massachusetts General Hospital, and University of Massachusetts Chan Med School.
Giving is overwhelmingly Massachusetts-based. The top state by grant count is MA, and 98% of grants are to recipients in Massachusetts.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | FARMINGHAM, MA | $792,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | BOSTON, MA | $675,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $650,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH INC | BOSTON, MA | $507,272 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $414,928 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAN MED SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $350,468 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL TRUST | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $170,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MASS EYE & EAR INFIRMARY | BOSTON, MA | $168,988 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CROSSROADS FOR KIDS | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY | HINGHAM, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PINE STREET INN | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WEST BOYLSTON JRSR HIGH SCHOOL | WEST BOYLSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DUXBURY BAY MARITIME SCHOOL | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM | CHARLESTOWN, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DUXBURY BEACH RESERVATION INC | DUXBURY, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAN MED SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $350,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL TRUST | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $195,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MASS EYE & EAR INFIRMARY | BOSTON, MA | $175,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $175,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $165,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WEST BOYLSTON JRSR HIGH SCHOOL | WEST BOYLSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY THE ELLISON CENTER FOR THE ARTS | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CROSSROADS FOR KIDS | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DUXBURY BAY MARITIME SCHOOL | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PINE STREET INN | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LAHEY HEALTH SHARED SERVICES | BURLINGTON, MA | $75,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY MASS DIVISIONAL HEADQUATERS | CANTON, MA | $75,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DUXBURY BEACH RESERVATION INC | DUXBURY, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $550,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | BOSTON, MA | $225,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $188,300 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| PINE STREET INN | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| DUXBURY BAY MARITIME SCHOOL | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| CITY YEAR | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| CROSSROADS FOR KIDS | DUXBURY, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| WEST BOYLSTON JRSR HIGH SCHOOL | WEST BOYLSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH INC
$507,272PROGRAM SUPPORT
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$414,928PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAN MED SCHOOL
PROGRAM SUPPORT
BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL TRUST
$250,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$170,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MASS EYE & EAR INFIRMARY
$168,988PROGRAM SUPPORT
SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
WEST BOYLSTON JRSR HIGH SCHOOL
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
DUXBURY BEACH RESERVATION INC
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS CHAN MED SCHOOL
$350,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$200,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
$195,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MASS EYE & EAR INFIRMARY
$175,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$165,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
WEST BOYLSTON JRSR HIGH SCHOOL
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY THE ELLISON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
LAHEY HEALTH SHARED SERVICES
$75,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY MASS DIVISIONAL HEADQUATERS
$75,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
DUXBURY BEACH RESERVATION INC
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$200,000GENERAL FUND
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$125,000GENERAL FUND
SOUTH SHORE CONSERVATORY
$100,000GENERAL FUND
WEST BOYLSTON JRSR HIGH SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL FUND
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$100,000GENERAL FUND