The Tomfohrde Foundation concentrates its giving on education-to-career pathways in Greater Boston and nearby Massachusetts communities, funding programs that help low-income, immigrant, and first-generation students access college, community college partnerships, and career training. Grants commonly support community college initiatives, college-access counseling and affordability work, vocational and trades training for youth, and capacity-building for small local nonprofits. The foundation favors pragmatic, program-focused investments that move students into postsecondary education and employment rather than broad policy or research efforts.
The John H and H Naomi Tomfohrde Foundation gives most often to Massachusetts programs that move students from school into college, training, and work. Its recent grants show a steady preference for practical, program-specific support: community college pathways, college-access advising, technical training, and job-placement services. The foundation also funds capacity-building for small local organizations when that work supports those pathways. Among the clearest examples is a $30,000 grant to Bhcc Foundation Inc for employer outreach and an intern mentorship coordinator, part-time. Another $30,000 grant went to Northern Essex Community College Foundation Inc for the NECC Healthcare Pathways Design Initiative. The pattern continues with support for organizations serving first-generation, low-income, immigrant, and young adult learners in Greater Boston, Lowell, Lawrence, Dorchester, and nearby communities. Recent awards also include college-navigation, apprenticeship, and workforce-training work at the $15,000 to $20,000 level, alongside a few larger planning or expansion grants. The foundation’s portfolio points to education-to-employment pathways rather than general operating support alone, with a focus on helping local nonprofits connect students to postsecondary options and jobs.
In community college and postsecondary support, the foundation gave $20,000 to Uaspire for college affordability in Greater Boston and $15,000 to The Boston Higher Education Resource Center Inc for Passport to College and alumni success programs. Those grants sit alongside support for student navigation and persistence after high school. Workforce training appears in several forms. It gave $20,000 to Found in Translation for the medical interpreter certificate and job placement program, and $15,000 to Jewish Vocational Service Inc for its pharmacy technician training program. The foundation also backed youth and young adult career exploration through $15,000 to Youth Build Boston for building trades and exploration. Its youth-development grants include $30,000 to Leap for Education Inc for the teen center at Lynn English High School and $15,000 to Breakthrough Greater Boston for its high school program. These awards show a mix of academic support, mentoring, and career exposure.
$375K
$5.3M
$1.9M
$493K
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Mid-sized, program-specific grants ($15k–$35k) spread across many local organizations with some repeat grantees; funding is geographically concentrated in Greater Boston and Massachusetts, oriented toward capacity or program expansion rather than large multi-year endowments.
Notable grantees: Found in Translation, BHCC Foundation / Bunker Hill Community College initiatives, The Boston Higher Education Resource Center, UAspire, YouthBuild Boston
The typical grant size is tightly clustered: p25 is $10,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $15,000. That suggests a mostly standardized grant level, with occasional larger awards at $20,000 and $30,000. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it funds individuals as well as organizations. Recent grants also show repeat support for some recipients across 2023 and 2024, including The Boston Higher Education Resource Center Inc and Found in Translation.
All recent grants in the file went to U.S. recipients, and 100% of grants went to organizations in Massachusetts. The giving is centered in Greater Boston and nearby cities, with Boston appearing frequently, along with Cambridge, Dorchester, Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn. Other Massachusetts locations in the recent list include Haverhill, Hyde Park, Allston, Roxbury, Salem, and Vineyard Haven. The pattern is local and within the state rather than multi-state or national.
Its recent grants support college-access advising, community college pathways, vocational and trades training, healthcare workforce programs, youth mentoring, and college-and-career success services. Specific examples include Passport to College and alumni success programs, pharmacy technician training, and building trades exploration.
The typical grant size is $15,000, with a p25 of $10,000 and a p75 of $15,000. Recent awards also include larger grants of $20,000 and $30,000.
No. At least two recipients appear in more than one year in the recent grants list: The Boston Higher Education Resource Center Inc received grants in 2023 and 2024, and Found in Translation also received grants in both years.
Its recent grants are entirely in Massachusetts, with recipients in Boston, Cambridge, Dorchester, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Haverhill, Hyde Park, Allston, Roxbury, Salem, and Vineyard Haven. The recipient country distribution is 100% U.S.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, alongside its organizational grants. The recent grants list provided here contains organizational awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2026 | FOR EMPLOYER OUTREACH AND INTERNSHIP MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR |
| YOUNG MAN WITH A PLAN | HYDE PARK, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR YMWAP COLLEGE AND CAREER |
| SOCIEDAD LATINA | ROXBURY, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS |
| SUMMER SEARCH | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR SUMMER SEARCH BOSTON'S HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| HE IS ME INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR BLACK MALE TEACHER PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH |
| STEPS TO SUCCESS INC | BROOKLINE, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR CAREER CONNECTIONS |
| THE URBAN COLLEGE OF BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR STRENGTHENING STUDENT SUPPORT AND RETENTION |
| THE BOSTON HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER INC | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR PASSPORT TO COLLEGE AND ALUMNI SUCCESS PROGRAMS-COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS |
| MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH COUNCIL | WOBURN, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR STUDENT CAREER EXPLORERS CAPACITY BUILDING & PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RAW ART WORKS INC | LYNN, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR INNOVATIVE COLLEGE ACCESS AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMMING |
| UASPIRE | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY ADVISING IN GREATER BOSTON |
| ROOTS NS INC | SALEM, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR CULINARY TRAINING AND ALUMNI EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS |
| PROJECT LEARN INC | LOWELL, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR EXPANDING CAREER PATHWAYS FOR LOWELL MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS |
| WEST END HOUSE INC | ALLSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO BOSTON | TAUNTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR WORK-BASED LEARNING & EDUCATION |
| THE POSSIBLE PROJECT | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR PATHWAYS AND WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMMING |
| LAWRENCE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE |
| BREAKTHROUGH GREATER BOSTON INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR COLLEGE ACCESS & COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS |
| NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | HAVERHILL, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR OPENING PATHS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| THE HAVEN PROJECT INC | LYNN, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR THE HAVEN PROJECT'S CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| LA VIDA INC | LYNN, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR LA VIDA SCHOLARS: EXPANDING EQUITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION |
| 826 BOSTON | ROXBURY, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITING WORKSHOP: OPENING DOORS TO OPPORTUNITY |
| BHCC FOUNDATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | FOR EMPLOYER OUTREACH AND INTERN MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR, PART-TIME |
| FLARE EDUCATION | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR FLARE EDUCATION 3-YEAR PROGRAM EXPANSION PLAN |
| CHICA INC | QUINCY, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR CHICA PROJECT: EARLY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN INST. OF TECHNOLOGY |
| YOUNG MAN WITH A PLAN | HYDE PARK, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR YMWAP HOLISTIC MENTORING PROGRAMS |
| ACE MV INC | VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR ACE MVCET ALLIED HEALTH & WELLNESS COHORT |
| QUINSIGAMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATON INC | WORCESTER, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | FOR CHILD WATCH STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES |
| LEAP FOR EDUCATION INC | SALEM, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO CAREER EXPLORATION & COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCH/POST SECONDARY YOUTH |
| ENROOT INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR ENROOT EXPLORE, LEADERSHIP, EMERGE, AND COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMMING FOR IMMIGRANT YOUTH |
| THE LOOP LAB | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR MEDIA ARTS APPRENTICESHIP |
| JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR JUMPSTART MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY COLLEGES: SERVICE-LEARNING IN ECE CLASSROOMS |
| ST MARY'S CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN | DORCHESTER, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR ST. MARY'S CTR EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS |
| PROJECT LEARN INC | LOWELL, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR EARLY COLLEGE LOWELL AND EARLY COLLEGE PROMISE |
| MORE THAN WORDS | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EVKIDS INC | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR INSPIRING CONNECTIONS: 1-ON-1 TUTORING AND COLLEGE SUCCESS FOR UNDERSERVED BOSTON YOUTH |
| LAWRENCE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE |
| ELEVATED THOUGHT INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR I AM ART. I AM CHANGE. APPRENTICESHIP |
| BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR MULTIMEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION CTE PROGRAM |
| ROOTS NS INC | SALEM, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR CULINARY TRAINING AND ALUMNI EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS |
| WEST END HOUSE INC | ALLSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR WEST END HOUSE COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS PROGRAM |
| FIRST LITERACY INC | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR FIRST LITERACY SCHOLARS |
| NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | HAVERHILL, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS |
| COACHING FOR CHANGE | TAUNTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN EDUCATION THROUGH NEAR PEER MENTORINGS |
| RIA INC | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR SHEFUND: EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS |
| BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR NURTURING LEADERS |
| LA VIDA INC | LYNN, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR LA VIDA SCHOLARS: BUILDING CAPACITY TO EXPAND COLLEGE ACCESS |
| FLARE EDUCATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR COHORT 3 EXPANSION |
| UASPIRE | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | FOR COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY IN GREATER BOSTON |
| EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY INC | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | FOR EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCYS GREEN TEAM PROGRAM |
FOR EMPLOYER OUTREACH AND INTERNSHIP MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR
YOUNG MAN WITH A PLAN
$25,000FOR YMWAP COLLEGE AND CAREER
SUMMER SEARCH
$20,000FOR SUMMER SEARCH BOSTON'S HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
HE IS ME INSTITUTE
$20,000FOR BLACK MALE TEACHER PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH
FOR CAREER CONNECTIONS
THE URBAN COLLEGE OF BOSTON
$20,000FOR STRENGTHENING STUDENT SUPPORT AND RETENTION
FOR PASSPORT TO COLLEGE AND ALUMNI SUCCESS PROGRAMS-COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS
MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH COUNCIL
$20,000FOR STUDENT CAREER EXPLORERS CAPACITY BUILDING & PROGRAM SUPPORT
PROJECT LEARN INC
$15,000FOR EXPANDING CAREER PATHWAYS FOR LOWELL MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO BOSTON
$15,000FOR WORK-BASED LEARNING & EDUCATION
LAWRENCE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB INC
$15,000FOR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
FOR COLLEGE ACCESS & COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS
NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR OPENING PATHS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
LA VIDA INC
$10,000FOR LA VIDA SCHOLARS: EXPANDING EQUITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
BHCC FOUNDATION INC
$35,000FOR EMPLOYER OUTREACH AND INTERN MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR, PART-TIME
FOR CHICA PROJECT: EARLY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN INST. OF TECHNOLOGY
YOUNG MAN WITH A PLAN
$25,000FOR YMWAP HOLISTIC MENTORING PROGRAMS
ACE MV INC
$25,000FOR ACE MVCET ALLIED HEALTH & WELLNESS COHORT
QUINSIGAMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATON INC
$20,000FOR CHILD WATCH STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO CAREER EXPLORATION & COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCH/POST SECONDARY YOUTH
FOR ENROOT EXPLORE, LEADERSHIP, EMERGE, AND COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMMING FOR IMMIGRANT YOUTH
FOR JUMPSTART MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY COLLEGES: SERVICE-LEARNING IN ECE CLASSROOMS
FOR ST. MARY'S CTR EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
PROJECT LEARN INC
$15,000FOR EARLY COLLEGE LOWELL AND EARLY COLLEGE PROMISE
EVKIDS INC
$15,000FOR INSPIRING CONNECTIONS: 1-ON-1 TUTORING AND COLLEGE SUCCESS FOR UNDERSERVED BOSTON YOUTH
FOR MULTIMEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION CTE PROGRAM
ROOTS NS INC
$15,000FOR CULINARY TRAINING AND ALUMNI EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
FIRST LITERACY INC
$15,000FOR FIRST LITERACY SCHOLARS
NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS
FOR PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN EDUCATION THROUGH NEAR PEER MENTORINGS
RIA INC
$5,000FOR SHEFUND: EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS
BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC INC
$5,000FOR NURTURING LEADERS
LA VIDA INC
$5,000FOR LA VIDA SCHOLARS: BUILDING CAPACITY TO EXPAND COLLEGE ACCESS
FOR EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCYS GREEN TEAM PROGRAM