Foundations that fund arts and culture in Massachusetts
These 25 foundations made grants to arts and culture in Massachusetts in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
- $100,000 to The Childrens Museum, Boston: Accessibility and inclusion at boston childrens museum
- $90,000 to Open Door Arts, Boston: Operating support
- $75,000 to The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Boston: City spotlights teen leadership and teen council youth development and employment programs
How to apply: Only online applications are accepted. Visit www.libertymutualfoundation.org to apply online.
Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines. Liberty mutual foundation has rolling reviews of applications.
Restrictions: Liberty mutual foundation does not provide philanthropic support for: individuals; foundations that are primarily grantmaking agencies; religious organizations requesting funds for sectarian activities; fraternal, social or political...
Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc
- $25,000 to Worcester Center for Performing Arts Inc, Pittsfield: The hanover theatre & conservatory's annual production of the nutcracker
- $25,000 to Berkshire Theatre Group Inc, Pittsfield: Btg plays! Year-round education program
- $10,000 to Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Inc, Pittsfield: Mahaiwe performing arts education and community engagement programs
How to apply: Written application including irs determination letter of 501(c)(3) status, current board list, board approved operating budget and most recent annual report, form 990 and financial audit report.
Deadlines: 15th of december, march, june and september.
Restrictions: Only tax exempt organizations that qualify as a section 501(c)(3) public charity.
Mutual Bancorp Foundation Inc Fka Cape Cod 5 Foundation Inc
- $6,500 to Wgbh Educational Foundation, Boston: In-cai-d00987001 circle of ten
- $6,000 to Amplify Poc Cape Cod, Hyannis: 2024 sponsorship
- $5,000 to Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, Hyannis: Creative exchange
How to apply: Cape cod five and its foundation have an online application process which can be found at: https://www.capecodfive.com/community-support-applications. This process allows applicants to submit a robust application,including pictures and video content, to tell their story beyond...
Restrictions: Must be over $250, must be publicly supported type entity
William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust
- $37,500 to New Bedford Light, New Bedford: Operating
- $30,000 to Boston Arts Academy Foundation, Boston: General Operating Support
- $30,000 to Artists for Humanity, Boston: Youth Arts Enterprise
How to apply: Please see www.schrafftcharitable.org
Restrictions: Generally must be a Massachusetts tax exempt organization in existance for at least three years
Demoulas Foundation
- $10,000 to Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell: Civic, cultural & other
- $5,000 to Lowell Festival Foundation, Lowell: Civic, cultural & other
- $5,000 to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Civic, cultural & other
How to apply: Letter request including need for contribution
The Shubert Foundation Inc
- $275,000 to American Repertory Theatre Inc, Cambridge: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $200,000 to Huntington Theatre Company Inc the, Boston: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $110,000 to Boston Ballet Inc, Boston: General operating support for dance productions and activities
How to apply: All requests must be submitted on the foundation's application form and include a copy of the applicant's letter from the u.s. Treasury department granting federal tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the u.s. Internal revenue code. To be eligible for a grant and if audited...
Deadlines: See general explanation attachment
Restrictions: The shubert foundation exclusively provides funds for general operating support. Funds are not provided for project support, nor allocated for capital or endowment campaigns, nor to individuals or conduit organizations.
Ploughshares Foundation
- $35,000 to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Egyptian department curators fund
- $12,000 to Cambridge Community Chorus, Cambridge: General
- $10,000 to A Far Cry, Jamaica Plain: General
How to apply: All applications must be in written form. They must include a description of the organization which is submitting the application, the grant amount(s) requested by such organization and the use which the submitting organization intends to make of any grant(s) that may be...
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: No
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
- $5,000,000 to Wgbh Educational Foundation, Boston: To support the american archive of public broadcasting to preserve endangered public...
- $2,206,000 to New England Foundation for the Arts Inc, Boston: To continue support for the national theater project
- $2,062,000 to New England Foundation for the Arts Inc, Boston: To continue support for the national dance project
Restrictions: Activities supported by foundation grants must be charitable, educational or scientific under the provisions of the u.s. Internal revenue code and the treasury regulations.
Yawkey Foundation Ii
- $125,000 to The Wang Center for the Performing Arts Inc, Boston: Capital improvements project for arts program access & outreach
- $50,000 to Uss Constitution Museum Inc, Charlestown: Capital project for arts program access & outreach
- $45,000 to Esplanade Association Inc, Boston: Nature & wildlife programs for conservation, protection & education
How to apply: The foundation encourages applicants to review the foundation's grant guidelines on our website (www.yawkeyfoundation.org) prior to applying for a foundation grant.
Deadlines: See part xv, line 2b above
Restrictions: See part xv, line 2b above
Deborah M Noonan Memorial Fund
- $20,000 to Artists for Humanity, Boston: Unrestricted general
- $20,000 to Zumix Inc, East Boston: Unrestricted general
- $20,000 to Community Music Center of Boston, Boston: Unrestricted general
How to apply: ONLINE APPLICATION AT www.bankofamerica.com/grantmaking.
Deadlines: Online application
Restrictions: Online application
Td Charitable Foundation
- $25,000 to Artists for Humanity Inc, Boston: Afh artists fellowship
- $20,000 to Plimoth Patuxet Museums Inc, Plymouth: The children's fund at plimoth patuxet program
- $15,000 to The Performance Project Inc, Springfield: First generation/ubuntu arts community cultural expressions gatherings
How to apply: Grant applications are accessible soley via the internet. The web address to access grant applications is: https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding -opportunities/
Restrictions: Organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity. Organization must be located in a state with a td bank, na branch. The foundation will award only one grant to any program within one calendar year. Grants cannot be made to/for the...
The Henry Luce Foundation Inc
- $140,000 to Prx, Cambridge: Support for reporting
- $125,000 to Center for Black Brown and Queer Studies, Cambridge: Support for a history research project
- $100,000 to The Jar, Boston: Support for convenings
How to apply: All inquiries and proposals must be submitted through our on-line portal.
Restrictions: SEE Supplemental Information
The Fletcher Foundation
- $100,000 to Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester: Grants
- $68,000 to Joy of Music Program Inc, Worcester: Grants
- $10,000 to Worcester Chamber Music Society, Worcester: Grants
How to apply: See footnotes for details
Deadlines: See footnotes for details
Restrictions: See footnotes for details
Analog Devices Foundation
- $21,280 to Discovery Museums Inc, Acton: General support
- $10,297 to Scuola Piccoli Italiani Di Boston Inc, Winchester: General support
- $5,149 to Franklin Performing Arts Company Inc, Franklin: General support
Restrictions: Eligibility guidelines organizations eligible to receive support from the analog devices foundation include: - u.s. Organizations that are registered as 501(c)(3) charitable organizations or to which contributions are otherwise tax...
The Amphion Foundation Inc Co Alter Kendrick & Baron Llp
- $20,000 to Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Malden: Encourage the performance of contemporary concert music
- $6,500 to Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc, Boston: Encourage the performance of contemporary concert music
- $4,000 to Roomful of Teeth Vocal Arts Project Inc, Williamstown: Encourage the performance of contemporary concert music
How to apply: Letter
The Foundation for Creative Achievement Eve Grace Penoyer Ttee
- $10,000 to South Shore Art Center, Cohasset: Youth fine arts education
- $8,000 to South Shore Ballet Theatre Foundation, Hingham: Youth dance education
- $8,000 to The Company Theatre, Norwell: Youth theatre arts education
How to apply: All requests should be in writing and state need(s) and relationship to the foundation's charitable purpose.
Restrictions: Awards may be granted to charitable or educational organizations with the exception of religious organizations
Needham Bank Charitable Foundation Inc
- $7,500 to Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston: Exempt purpose
- $5,000 to Arts Collaborative Medford, Medford: Exempt purpose
- $2,650 to Dedham School of Music, Dedham: Exempt purpose
How to apply: Request for support should be completed online at needhambank.com/about/community, which includes a required documents section.
Deadlines: Your submission must be completed at least 60 days before the funds are needed
Restrictions: Need to be a 501(c)(3) and operate within the communities that needham bank serves.
J Irving & Jane L England Charitable Trusta Molloy & F Russellco-Trustees
- $6,000 to Arts Worcester, Worcester: General
- $3,500 to Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester: General
- $3,500 to Worcester Natural History Society, Worcester: General
How to apply: Details of charitable activity
Deadlines: December 1 of year for which donation is requested.
Restrictions: Donations ordinarily limited to charities operating in west brookfield and worcester, ma.
Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation A Shabshelowitz Co-Trustee
- $150,000 to Freetown Historical Society, Assonet: Operating
- $15,000 to The Rotch-Jones Duff House & Garden Museum, New Bedford: Operating
- $6,600 to The College Light Opera Company, Falmouth: Operating
How to apply: A letter indicating purpose for which funds requested accompanied by a copy of the federal exemption letter and evidence that the organizaton is currently in good standing.
Restrictions: A minimum of 80 of the Foundations annual distribution is given to charitable organizations as designated in the trust instrument. The Trustees have discretion as to 20 of the annual distribution. The Trustees policy is to give to...
Albert O Wilson Foundation Inc
- $7,000 to Uss Constitution Museum Inc, Charlestown: General & Unrestricted
- $5,000 to The Wang Center for the Performing Arts Inc, Boston: General & Unrestricted
- $5,000 to Boston Baroque Inc, Boston: General & Unrestricted
How to apply: See the foundation website at www.aowilsonfoundation.org
Deadlines: January 31st
Restrictions: See the foundation website at www.aowilsonfoundation.org
Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation
- $60,000 to Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston: General support
- $50,000 to Peabody Essex Museum, Salem: General support
- $50,000 to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: General support
How to apply: No special requirements
Deadlines: October 1st
Restrictions: Massachusetts area
Hoche-Scofield Foundation-Equity
- $101,645 to Worcester Art Museum, Worcester: Unrestricted general
- $85,821 to Music Worcester Inc, Worcester: Unrestricted general
- $10,000 to Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester: Unrestricted general
How to apply: Application available from the foundation along with required info.
Deadlines: Four times a year
Restrictions: Tax exempt organizations in worcester county
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $62,500 to Nantucket Preservation Trust Inc, Nantucket: Nantucket: encouraging resilience and innovation
- $50,000 to Prx Incorporated, Boston: Protecting human rights (us or general)
- $25,000 to Newport Festivals Foundation Inc, Manchesterbythesea: Ocean stewardship and research
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower Foundation
- $55,000 to Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit: Charitable
- $47,232 to The Cordial Eye Gallery and Artist Space Inc, Hyannis: Charitable
- $20,000 to Express Yourself Inc, Beverly: Charitable
How to apply: Submit letter of inquiry regarding program/project that qualifies, per grant guidelines on website. If proposal is selected for consideration, a full grant application must be completed. Grant applications are by request only and must be submitted directly to the foundation. The...
Deadlines: Applications due 1/24/24, 2/7/24, 5/22/24, 8/7/24 and 10/9/24.
Restrictions: Four distinct funding categories: learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, mental health and substance use disorder. Each category has its own objective, target population, and funding priorities. Awards may not be used for the...
Edwin S Webster Foundation C/O Gma Foundations
- $30,000 to Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: General operating support
- $30,000 to Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston: General operating support
- $25,000 to Rehearsal for Life Inc, Jamaica Plain: General operating support
How to apply: Applications should be submitted online at www.grantinterface.com/home/logon?urlkey=gma. Applicants should include a budget template, most recent audit, list of board of directors, history and mission of the organization, brief description of current programs, annual budget,...
Deadlines: May 1st & nov 1st of each year
Restrictions: No grants are made outside the united states, or to individuals. Generally, the foundation confines its grants primarily to the new england area. Organizations funded by the edwin s. Webster foundation must be tax exempt under section...
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