Lynch Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Lynch Foundation has a particular interest in education in Boston but also supports cultural and historic preservation, healthcare, medical research, and the religious and education efforts of the Catholic Church.
FUNDING AREAS: Education, cultural and historic preservation, healthcare, medical research, and the religious and education efforts of the Catholic Church
IP TAKE: Public education in Boston is a huge cause for this funder. But regardless of what program area a nonprofit is working in, make sure to craft a pitch centered on creating sustainable social change for the long-term.
PROFILE: Established in 1988, the Lynch Foundation is the foundation of Carolyn and Peter Lynch, who had educators as parents, attended public schools, and went to college on scholarships. They have always had a passion for education, which is where a significant portion of the foundation’s grantmaking strategy lies as well. Carolyn Lynch passed away October 1, 2015 of complications of leukemia at the age of 69. In addition to education, other grantmaking areas of focus include cultural and historic preservation, healthcare, medical research, and the religious and education efforts of the Catholic Church.
This foundation views its grantees as partners and also values networking with these organizations impact the most people. Overall, the Lynch Foundation is looking to support organizations that promise long-term benefits, rather than addressing shorter-term needs. Multi-year grants are common because Lynch believes in strengthening nonprofits for the long-term. Common types of awards address: seed funding, student scholarships, endowment funds, challenge grants, multi-year grants, capacity-building grants, program grants and operating grants.
Foundation grants vary in size based on program area. A vast majority of the recipients are based in Boston, as the foundation prefers to keep funding local. It has also awarded grants in the Massachusetts communities of Beverly, Peabody, Salem, Dorchester and Westwood. Other past support has gone to the Anti-Defamation League, Bay Cove Human Services, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Nonprofits can apply for a Lynch Foundation grant at any time, as it has a rolling application process that welcomes concept papers from nonprofits through its website throughout the year. Grants are usually awarded for less than five percent of a nonprofit’s total budget. The first step as a grantseeker is to submit an electronic concept paper through Lynch’s website, and the foundation will respond with an invitation to submit a full application or with a rejection. This response typically takes one to three months. Site visits are common at this point as well. If an organization’s full application is rejected or if it is awarded a Lynch grant, it must wait at least five years to try again for another grant. Direct general questions to the foundation’s operations manager, Victoria Prudden, at victoria@thelynchfoundation.com or 617-639-1280.
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