About Fidelity Foundation
Fidelity Foundation concentrates philanthropic capital on land and coastal conservation, regional cultural and historic institutions, and educational endowments—primarily in New England but with some national cultural and health investments. Grants are frequently large, multi-year or endowment/capital-focused awards directed to land trusts, museums, historic sites, and private schools; occasional support appears for community health and international health programming. The foundation favors established institutions and repeat grantee relationships that build long-term financial stability or enable land acquisition and preservation.
Focus Areas
New England land and coastal conservation (land acquisition and endowments for regional land trusts)Endowment and capital support for museums and historic sites (regional and national cultural institutions)Capital and endowment funding for private K–12 schools and liberal arts collegesUrban and marine science institutions (aquariums, science centers — facility, equipment, and capital support)Occasional investments in community/global health planning and program support
Who They Fund
land trusts and conservation organizations
About Fidelity Foundation
Fidelity Foundation’s recent grantmaking is marked by large, repeated awards to land conservation organizations and institutions tied to education, museums, and historic preservation. The single largest recent grant in the data is $10 million to Hobart and William Smith Colleges for general operating support, showing that the foundation’s support can extend beyond capital and endowment purposes. At the same time, it has continued to make major preservation commitments, including $5 million each to Trustees of Reservations for endowment and land for preservation, and $5 million to Peabody Essex Museum Inc for endowment. Those gifts sit alongside other sizeable awards to cultural and conservation groups such as Appalachian Mountain Club, Friends of Acadia, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The pattern suggests a funder that works with established institutions over multiple years, often strengthening long-term balance sheets, land holdings, or facilities rather than funding short-term projects alone. In the recent grants list, the foundation also backs private schools and marine science institutions, reflecting a portfolio centered on durable institutional capacity.
What Fidelity Foundation Funds
A major part of Fidelity Foundation’s giving goes to land conservation. It gave $5 million to Trustees of Reservations for land for preservation and $4 million to Appalachian Mountain Club for land preservation, alongside $1.8 million to Northeast Wilderness Trust for land/building acquisition. Cultural and historic institutions are another clear thread: Peabody Essex Museum Inc received $5 million for endowment, while Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc received $2.235 million for new construction. Education also appears in the recent grants list, with Brimmer & May School receiving $2.5 million for campaign/fundraising and Winsor School Inc receiving $2 million for endowment. The foundation also supported infrastructure at New England Aquarium Corporation with $2.1 million for property care, buildings, and renovation.
How Fidelity Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is small relative to the foundation’s largest awards, with a p25 of $200, a median of $500, and a p75 of $2,000. The recent grants list shows a wide spread between routine grants and major capital or endowment commitments, including several multi-million-dollar awards. Recipients also appear across more than one year: Trustees of Reservations and Upstream USA Inc each received multiple grants in 2023 and 2024, indicating recurring relationships. Fidelity Foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. The data does not show an application process, and the pattern points more to direct institutional grantmaking than to open solicitation.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$156.2M
Total Assets
$5B
Total Revenue
$1.3B
Total Expenses
$171.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $200 and $2K, with a median of $500.
25th Percentile
$200
Median
$500
75th Percentile
$2K
Geographic Reach
National49 states funded
About 30% of grants go to recipients in MA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Fidelity Foundation Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Fidelity Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 6,351 | $305.9M | 99.9% |
| 2 | Canada | 7 | $1.9M |
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