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Boston Foundation
Boston Foundation reported $426.7 million in revenue and $279.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $92.13 went to program services, $6.44 to management and general costs and $1.43 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 91.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $915,854 (President & CEO). 59 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 133% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $280MFor context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $427MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.1% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.4% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 91.1% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $915,854 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.33% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 59 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 91.3 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMajor goals and objectives:We have chosen four interconnected pathways to equity where we believe we can have the greatest impact
Carry out and evaluate philanthropic programs for individual donors, families, foundations, and corporations. Encourage a positive climate for philanthropy and actively promote effective giving through work with community foundations, Regional Associations of Grantmakers and others. Strategy, combined with the values and passionate concerns of donors, brings about giving that makes a difference
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $844,144 | $0 | $71,710 | $915,854 |
| SVP and Chief Phil. Off. Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $400,579 | $0 | $68,662 | $469,241 |
| Assistant Treasurer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $409,291 | $0 | $51,773 | $461,064 |
| Frmr CFO&Treasurer Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $442,569 | $0 | $6,597 | $449,166 |
| CFO & Treasurer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $394,571 | $0 | $33,828 | $428,399 |
| VP, Comm. & Public Affairs Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $308,118 | $0 | $59,222 | $367,340 |
| VP & Chief Prog. Officer Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $341,254 | $0 | $20,869 | $362,123 |
| Asst.Sec.& VP Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $254,949 | $0 | $41,582 | $296,531 |
59 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Boston Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.7M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 20 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5157
- Volunteers Part I, line 6260
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Mathematica Suvey prep and analysis | $701,528 |
| Prime Buchholz & Associates Investment Advising | $475,236 |
| New York Academy of Medicine Program Management | $335,750 |
| KPMG Audit and Tax Services | $334,300 |
| International Deliverables Program Management | $296,455 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
92 private foundations reported grants to Boston Foundation totaling $31M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Boston Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Boston Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Boston Foundation spent in FY2025, $92.13 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Columbus FoundationColumbus, OH · revenue $412M · programs 97.0% · 2024
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- Amalgamated Charitable FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $397M · programs 98.2% · 2024
- Marine Toys for Tots FoundationTriangle, VA · revenue $432M · programs 96.6% · 2025
- Oklahoma City Community FoundationOklahoma City, OK · revenue $387M · programs 92.8% · FY2025
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Boston Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Boston Foundation reported that 92.1% of its $279.9 million in expenses went to program services, 6.4% to management and general and 1.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Boston Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Boston Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $915,854, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Boston Foundation get its money?
Of $426.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 91.1% came from contributions and grants and 0.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Boston Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2104021 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641269349301584 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531329349304083 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401319349302380 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321319349305022 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231309349304053 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121319349302772 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2104021: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.