Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation
Boston, MA · EIN 04-6111826. Reported 295 grants totalling $3,951,206 to 142 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $15,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $7,000 and $18,000; the smallest was $256 and the largest $70,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Resources for Justice | Boston, MA | $255,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Citizens for Juvenile Justice | Boston, MA | $120,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Prisoners Legal Services | Boston, MA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Worcester Common Ground | Worcester, MA | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New England Innocence Project | Cambridge, MA | $77,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mass Inc | Boston, MA | $72,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Greater Boston Legal Services | Boston, MA | $70,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Old Colony YMCA | Brockton, MA | $70,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Communities for Restorative Justice | Concord, MA | $65,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| One Can Help Inc | Waban, MA | $65,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Second Chance Cars | Concord, MA | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Petey Greene Program | Princeton, NJ | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Emerson College | Boston, MA | $63,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| One for Health | Walpole, MA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover, MA | $58,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Neads Inc | Princeton, MA | $56,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| New Garden Society | Boston, MA | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ria Inc | Framingham, MA | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Strategies for Youth | Cambridge, MA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Trinity Boston Connects | Boston, MA | $53,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bethany House Ministries | Millis, MA | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Community Legal Aid | Worcester, MA | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Everyday Boston | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Sarita and Claire Wright Lucas Foundation | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Dismas House of Ma | Worcester, MA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Father's Uplift Inc | Boston, MA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ma Communities Action Network | Dorchester, MA | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Robert F Kennedy Community Alliance | Lancaster, MA | $42,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Olin College of Engineering | Needham, MA | $40,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Children's Law Center of Ma | Lynn, MA | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Community Servings Inc | Jamaica Plain, MA | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Farm to Institution New England | Hartland, VT | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Straight Ahead Ministries | Worcester, MA | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Adolescent Consultation Services Inc | Cambridge, MA | $37,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Thrive Communities | Lowell, MA | $37,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Brockton Interfaith Community | Brockton, MA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Brocton Interfaith Community Inc | Brockton, MA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Heart to Heart | Hull, MA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Prison Policy Initiative | Easthampton, MA | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Freedom Ministries Inc | Boston, MA | $33,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Friends of Boston's Homeless | Boston, MA | $32,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rodman Ride for Kids Inc | Foxboro, MA | $30,242 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Doc Wayne Youth Services Inc | Boston, MA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Dorchester Bay Economic Devel Corp | Dorchester, MA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Massachusetts Advocates for Children | Boston, MA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| More Than Words Inc | Boston, MA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Lionheart Foundation | Dedham, MA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Prison Book Program | Quincy, MA | $28,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Pine Street Inn | Boston, MA | $26,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Center for Law Brain and Behavior | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Massachusetts Bar Foundation | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Mothers for Justice and Equality | Roxbury, MA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston Youth Connect | Boston, MA | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ma General Hospital | Boston, MA | $22,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philanthropy Massachusetts | Boston, MA | $21,060 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Behavioral Health Network | Springfield, MA | $21,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Franklin County | Greenfield, MA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boston Medical Center | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clark University | Worcester, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Heart to Heart Inc | Merchantville, NJ | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| I Thrive Games Foundation | Newton, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lawyers Clearinghouse | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Madison Park Development Corp | Roxbury, MA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Mass General Hospital Ctr for Law Brain and Behavior | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mass Mentoring Partnership | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Massachusetts Communities Action Network | Dorchester, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Massachusetts Community Action Network | Dorchester, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mission Safe Inc | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Partakers Inc | Auburndale, MA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Petey Greene Program | Cambridge, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rfk Community Alliance | Lancaster, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Roca Inc | Chelsea, MA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Second Street Chances | Pittsfield, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Boston Foundation | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Youth Build Boston | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Children's Trust | Boston, MA | $18,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Self Esteem Boston | Jamaica Plain, MA | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Providers Council Inc | Framingham, MA | $17,600 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Youth Advocacy Foundation | Boston, MA | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| 2ND Street Second Chances Inc | Pittsfield, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Amazing Grace of Cape Cod | Centerville, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Children's Advocacy Center | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| College Guild | Brunswick, ME | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Columbia University Crime Lab | New York, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Teamwork Inc | Lowell, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators | Hingham, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dismas House | Worcester, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Edinburg Center | Bedford, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Innercity Weightlifting | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Intercity Weightlifting | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lawrence Family Development | Lawrence, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lawyer's Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lawyers Clearinghouse on Housing | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Project Place Inc | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rfk Children's Action Corps | Lancaster, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sisters of St Joseph Prison Ministry | Framingham, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| South Shore Workforce Development Board Inc | Quincy, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Phoenix | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Trustees of Columbia University | New York, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Thrive Communities of Ma | Lowell, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trustees of Clark University | Worcester, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| We Are Better Together Inc | Roxbury, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Health Law Advocates | Boston, MA | $13,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Community Dispute Settlement Center | Cambridge, MA | $12,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pathways for Children | Beverly, MA | $12,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Children's Trust Fund | Boston, MA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Council on Foundations | Washington, DC | $12,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Amirah Inc | Beverly, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dream Network Inc | Lawrence, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Essex County Community Organization | Lynn, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Inner-City Weightlifting | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lc Media Productions Filmmakers Collaborative | Cambridge, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lynn Street Outreach Advocacy Project | Lynn, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ma Media Fund | Somerville, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mass Bar Foundation | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Beginnings Re-Entry Services | Roxbury, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Appeal Inc | Landers, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Key Program | Framingham, MA | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Tides Center | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Trinity Boston Foundation | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield | Wakefield, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Council on Foundations | Philadelphia, PA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cultural Center of Cape Cod | South Yarmouth, MA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| On the Rise Inc | Cambridge, MA | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wayside Youth and Family Support Network | Framingham, MA | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Plymouth County Sheriff's Department | Plymouth, MA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Level Learning | Austin, TX | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Concord Prison Outreach | Concord, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Juvenile Law Center | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Massachusetts Law Reform Institute | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Massachusetts Parole Preparation Partnership | Jamaica Plain, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Youth Connect | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield, MA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Room to Grow | Boston, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bay State Re-Entry Network | Prides Crossing, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children's Services of Roxbury | Roxbury, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army | Boston, MA | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Partners in Health | Boston, MA | $1,048 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Massachusetts | Amherst, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | Boston, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pan Mass Challenge | Needham, MA | $256 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
75 of 142 (53%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 57%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Community Resources for Justice
GENERAL SUPPORT AND PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE COMING HOME DIRECTORY. - Citizens for Juvenile Justice
SUPPORT FOR THE STATE-WIDE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM PROJECT. - Prisoners Legal Services
SUPPORT FOR THE PRISON BRUTALITY LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM. - Second Chance Cars
SUPPORT FOR THE AUTO DONATION PROJECT ASSISTING RETURNING CITIZENS. - Worcester Common Ground
SUPPORT FOR THE GREATER WORCESTER COUNTY COMING HOME DIRECTORY. - New England Innocence Project
SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION PROJECT ANNUAL RECOGNITION EVENT.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 182 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | $1,103,623 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 65 | $962,681 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 74 | $913,242 | $10,500 |
| 2024 | 73 | $971,660 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
94% of its giving went to organizations in Massachusetts. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
Get funders for your state and cause by email
We email you funders that gave to organizations in your state and cause, up to five at a time each week and never the same one twice, from their own IRS filings. Free. The weekly email has not started yet.
Unsubscribe in one click from any email. We never sell or share your address. To match on your organization and typical grant size too, keep a private profile.
Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $15,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Massachusetts.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Co Welch Forbes LLC 45 School S, Boston, MA, 02108. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 04-6111826 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.