The Kelleher Family Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, general-purpose grants concentrated in Massachusetts, with a strong emphasis on medical research and patient care (notably cancer), support for veterans’/military-family health and wellness, and education at both K–12 and collegiate levels. They also fund youth development and cultural/maritime heritage organizations, favoring established institutions and programmatic general support over tightly restricted project grants.
Kelleher Family Foundation C/O RICHARD M KELLEHER stands out for a grantmaking pattern that mixes medical research, veteran health, and Catholic education with general-use support. In the recent grants list, the largest award is $100,000 to Home Base Program Co Mass General Development for general use, followed by $75,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and $38,685 to USS Constitution Museum, showing how the foundation moves between health care, heritage, and institutional support. Their giving also includes repeated support for Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Camp Harbor View Foundation, The Catholic Schools Foundation, and Nichols College, alongside grants to organizations serving veterans and military families such as Fisher House of Boston. The foundation favors established nonprofits and frequently funds organizations that can use unrestricted or broadly designated support. The recipient list also shows a mix of Boston-area institutions and organizations outside Massachusetts, including New York, Indiana, Connecticut, Arizona, and Texas. Across the file, the foundation’s grants are generally described as general use, which points to flexible funding rather than tightly restricted project-only awards.
Medical research is one of the clearest threads in the recent grant list. The foundation gave $75,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center for general use and made additional general-use gifts to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, including $35,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2025. Veteran and military-family support is another recurring area: Home Base Program Co Mass General Development received $100,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2023, and Fisher House of Boston received $10,000 in both 2024 and 2023. Education also appears across levels. The Catholic Schools Foundation received $30,000, Seton Catholic Preparatory received $25,000, and Catholic Academy of Bridgeport received $10,000. The foundation also supported Nichols College with $30,000 and University of Notre Dame with multiple $25,000 grants.
Typical grants sit at $1,125 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, even though several awards are larger. The pattern shows a mix of one-time and recurring support: Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Home Base Program Co Mass General Development, Fisher House of Boston, Crossroads, The Michael E Thorton Foundation, Uss Constitution Museum, and University of Notre Dame all appear more than once across the recent grants list. The foundation is a family foundation operating through a single named c/o entity, and the grants shown are overwhelmingly general-use awards rather than tightly restricted project grants. No application process is shown in the provided data.
$833K
$166K
$271K
$281K
Most grants fall between $1K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated giving: 6–7 sizable general-purpose grants per cycle, frequently to established MA-based institutions; occasional repeat funding (e.g., multiple grants to breast cancer research). Grants are large relative to the portfolio and aimed at core support rather than many small diverse awards.
Notable grantees: Home Base Program (Mass General), Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Camp Harbor View Foundation, The Catholic Schools Foundation
Giving is national, and all recipient grants in the file are to U.S. organizations. Boston is the most visible city in the recent list, with grants to Home Base Program Co Mass General Development, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, USS Constitution Museum, Camp Harbor View Foundation, The Catholic Schools Foundation, and others. New York appears through Breast Cancer Research Foundation and YRF Israel Emergency Fund, while Notre Dame, Indiana appears via University of Notre Dame. Other recipient cities include Dudley, Chandler, Belmont, South Walpole, Bridgeport, Addison, and Middletown. Arizona recipients are present, but only 3% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state.
The recent grants point to medical research and hospital support, veterans’ and military-family health, Catholic education, higher education, youth development, and maritime history. Examples include Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Home Base Program Co Mass General Development, The Catholic Schools Foundation, Nichols College, and USS Constitution Museum.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Home Base Program Co Mass General Development, Fisher House of Boston, Crossroads, The Michael E Thorton Foundation, USS Constitution Museum, and University of Notre Dame.
The grant-size distribution is modest-to-midrange overall: p25 is $1,125, median is $5,000, and p75 is $25,000. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $100,000 and $75,000.
The foundation gives nationally, with all listed recipient grants going to U.S. organizations. Boston is the most common recipient city in the recent list, and New York, Indiana, Connecticut, Arizona, Texas, and Delaware also appear among recipient locations.
Cancer research and patient care are a major part of the health portfolio. Recent grants include $75,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and multiple gifts to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, alongside support for veterans’ and military-family health through Home Base Program Co Mass General Development and Fisher House of Boston.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL CANCER CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM | BOSTON, MA | $38,685 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| CAMP HARBOR VIEW FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| CROSSROADS | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| THE MICHAEL E THORTON FOUNDATION | ADDISON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| FISHER HOUSE OF BOSTON | SOUTH WALPOLE, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME | SPRINGFIELD, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| HOME BASE PROGRAM CO MASS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT | BOSTON, MA | $4,388 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| USS MA COMMISSIONING FOUNDATION INC | SHREWSBURY, MA | $3,687 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| AHERN FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | STONEHAM, MA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF MA | HANSCOM AFB, MA | $2,063 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| PAN MASS CHALLENGE - JIMMY FUND | NEEDHAM, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| CARITAS COMMUNITIES | BRAINTREE, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| NPH USA | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| MARY ANN BRETT FOOD PANTRY | DORCHESTER, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| HOME BASE PROGRAM CO MASS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $33,700 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| NICHOLS COLLEGE | DUDLEY, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| YRF ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| SETON CATHOLIC PREPARATORY | CHANDLER, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| SAINT ANTHONY SHRINE | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| CROSSROADS | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| THE MICHAEL E THORTON FOUNDATION | ADDISON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| FISHER HOUSE OF BOSTON INC | SOUTH WALPOLE, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $9,300 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION | MIDDLETOWN, DE | $8,880 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| SWIMMING WITH A MISSION INC | BEDFORD, NH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF MA | HANSCOM AFB, MA | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS GRIDIRON CLUB | AMHERST, MA | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| BOSTON COLLEGE | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| BLUEFORCE STRATEGIES INC | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY | RALEIGH, NC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| PAN MASS CHALLENGE - JIMMY FUND | NEEDHAM, MA | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL USE |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
| HOME BASE PROGRAM CO MASS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
| NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES MASSACHUSETTS BAY COUNCIL | CHELMSFORD, MA | $15,400 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
| THE HEARD MUSEUM | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
| FISHER HOUSE OF BOSTON INC | SOUTH WALPOLE, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL USE |
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL CANCER CENTER
$75,000GENERAL USE
USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM
$38,685GENERAL USE
CAMP HARBOR VIEW FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL USE
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$25,000GENERAL USE
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL USE
CROSSROADS
$15,000GENERAL USE
THE MICHAEL E THORTON FOUNDATION
GENERAL USE
FISHER HOUSE OF BOSTON
$10,000GENERAL USE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON
$5,000GENERAL USE
NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
$5,000GENERAL USE
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL USE
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION INC
$5,000GENERAL USE
HOME BASE PROGRAM CO MASS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
$4,388GENERAL USE
USS MA COMMISSIONING FOUNDATION INC
$3,687GENERAL USE
AHERN FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$3,500GENERAL USE
NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF MA
$2,063GENERAL USE
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
$1,000GENERAL USE
PAN MASS CHALLENGE - JIMMY FUND
$1,000GENERAL USE
CARITAS COMMUNITIES
$1,000GENERAL USE
NPH USA
$1,000GENERAL USE
MARY ANN BRETT FOOD PANTRY
$500GENERAL USE
HOME BASE PROGRAM CO MASS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
$100,000GENERAL USE
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$33,700GENERAL USE
NICHOLS COLLEGE
$30,000GENERAL USE
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL USE
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$25,000GENERAL USE
YRF ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND
$25,000GENERAL USE
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
$25,000GENERAL USE
SETON CATHOLIC PREPARATORY
$25,000GENERAL USE
SAINT ANTHONY SHRINE
$25,000GENERAL USE
CROSSROADS
$15,000GENERAL USE
USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM
$15,000GENERAL USE
CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT
$10,000GENERAL USE
THE MICHAEL E THORTON FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL USE
FISHER HOUSE OF BOSTON INC
$10,000GENERAL USE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BOSTON
$9,300GENERAL USE
CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION
$8,880GENERAL USE
SWIMMING WITH A MISSION INC
$5,000GENERAL USE
NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF MA
$4,000GENERAL USE
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS GRIDIRON CLUB
$4,000GENERAL USE
BOSTON COLLEGE
$1,000GENERAL USE
BLUEFORCE STRATEGIES INC
$1,000GENERAL USE
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY
$1,000GENERAL USE
PAN MASS CHALLENGE - JIMMY FUND
$500GENERAL USE
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL USE
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$25,000GENERAL USE
HOME BASE PROGRAM CO MASS GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
$25,000GENERAL USE
NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES MASSACHUSETTS BAY COUNCIL
$15,400GENERAL USE
THE HEARD MUSEUM
$10,000GENERAL USE
FISHER HOUSE OF BOSTON INC
$10,000GENERAL USE