April 15, 2016

A Quick Look at the Filene Foundation’s Local Giving

April 15, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

The Filene Foundation places a high priority on nonprofits in Boston, so this is a great local funder to get familiar with. It also accepts unsolicited grant applications from eligible nonprofits in Massachusetts.

April 07, 2016

Another Problematic Corporate Gift: About That GE Money in Boston

April 07, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

Large-scale corporate philanthropy these days so often entails a major "but." A case in point: That $50 million commitment that everyone in Boston has been talking about.

March 29, 2016

What Has the Orville W. Forté Charitable Foundation Been Supporting in Boston Lately?

March 29, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

This is a single-focus funder with a specific geographic region on its mind. Based on the most recent grants awarded, here is what OWFCF is most concerned with at the local level.

March 28, 2016

A Conversation with Jane’s Trust about Grantmaking in Boston and Beyond

March 28, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

This funder isn't so well known, but supports health and welfare organizations in the Boston area. We recently learned about its approach and grantmaking.

March 16, 2016

The Basics of Germeshausen Foundation Grantmaking for Boston Nonprofits

March 16, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

The Germeshausen Foundation has an interesting approach to grantmaking and strong roots in Boston. These are the top things that Boston nonprofits should know about chasing a Germeshausen grant.

March 15, 2016

Tips for Boston Nonprofits Applying for a Liberty Mutual Foundation Basic Needs Grant

March 15, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

Liberty Mutual is huge insurance company with global operations. The good news is that this Boston-headquarted corporate funder keeps the bulk of grantmaking in the city.

February 19, 2016

How This Funder Prioritizes Local Food & Fuel Needs in the Winter

February 19, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

The Boston Foundation always sets aside some cash to take care of winter emergency situations. TBF’s Food and Fuel Fund has been part of the strategy since 2008, and it just awarded $125,000 in new grants.

February 08, 2016

How Does Boston's Art Philanthropy Stack Up With Its Peers?

February 08, 2016/ Mike Scutari

A recent study suggests Bostonians lag behind other major cities in certain philanthropic metrics. But a closer look suggests other important — and unmentioned — factors are in play.

January 26, 2016

Raising the Barr: How This Foundation is Going to the Next Level

January 26, 2016/ David Callahan

The Barr Foundation started as an anonymous giving operation, and then a family foundation. Now it's maturing under its first president into a more professional, strategic outfit. Which means what, exactly?

January 06, 2016

The Klarman Foundation Emerges as a Major Cultural Player In Boston

January 06, 2016/ Alyssa Ochs

It’s clear that the Klarman Family Foundation is stepping things up in Boston. KFF is playing in the big leagues with key philanthropic leaders like the Barr Foundation and has tuned into the cultural needs here.

December 17, 2015

Why Seed Banking Matters in New England and Who’s Funding It

December 17, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

To learn more about why seed banking is a critical need right now, I connected with the New England Wild Flower Society’s executive director, Debbi Edelstein, to ask a few questions.

December 08, 2015

Three Things to Know about the East Boston Foundation

December 08, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

The East Boston Foundation is a locally focused funder that has been on the scene for 17 years now. If your nonprofit serves the area around Boston's Logan Airport, here are three things you should know about this group.

October 22, 2015

The Boston Philanthropist Behind a Start-Up Aiming to Get People to "Shop for Good"

October 22, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

Pam Trefler has been involved as a funder in education issues and food systems. Now she's co-founded an e-commerce retailer that raises money for nonprofits by selling used and donated designer clothes online.

October 17, 2015

How to Catch the Ratshesky Foundation’s Attention in Boston

October 17, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

To get a better sense of Ratshesky’s giving strategy, we connected with the foundation’s vice president, Roberta Morse Levy. Here are a few tips for Boston groups looking to catch this funder’s attention.

October 15, 2015

How Barr is Keeping Up with Boston’s Evolving Interest in Dance

October 15, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

Bostonians are participating in the arts in new ways, preferring festivals and social interactions over ballets and operas. Here's a new $500,000 Barr dance grant that highlights where arts support is trending.

October 05, 2015

What the Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation Looks for in Grantees

October 05, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

Don't look for direct service funding from this foundation. Rather, this is a key supporter of groups aiming to advance social justice, community building, and civic engagement.

September 15, 2015

Three Things to Know About the New Breeze Foundation's Boston Area Grantmaking

September 15, 2015/ Ade Adeniji

Robert and Karen Hale recently came onto our radar with their large $20 million gift to Hale's alma mater, Connecticut College. But most of their philanthropy focuses on Boston, through the New Breeze Foundation.

September 04, 2015

The Arts Are Thriving in Boston—Thanks in Part to This Foundation

September 04, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

The Barr Foundation's key role in pushing forward an arts "renaissance" in Boston is part of a broader story about arts, cities, and philanthropy that's worth paying close attention to.

August 26, 2015

Tapping into the Boston Foundation’s Growing Permanent Fund

August 26, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

The Permanent Fund is one of the oldest funding programs at TBF, aimed at supporting the most pressing city needs and representing a third of the foundation’s assets. Let’s dig a little deeper.

August 12, 2015

Need Seed Money? Here’s an Opportunity for Boston, Philadelphia, and Bay Area Groups

August 12, 2015/ Alyssa Ochs

One "venture capital philanthropy" funder recently caught our attention because it specifically works in three of our focus cities. The GreenLight Fund was founded by venture capitalist John Simon and Margaret Hall.