Running Deer Foundation
Needham, MA · EIN 04-3409527. Reported 195 grants totalling $1,716,355 to 99 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. 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. Running Deer 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 $500. Half of everything it gave fell between $250 and $2,500; the smallest was $100 and the largest $566,250. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellesley Village Church | Wellesley, MA | $1,002,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Andover Newton Seminary at the Yale Divinity School | New Haven, CT | $192,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association | Springfield, VA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Westwood Hills Congregational Church | Los Angeles, CA | $73,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Williams College | Williamstown, MA | $21,250 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Malayaka House | Essex Junction, VT | $20,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Andover Newton Seminary | New Haven, CT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Williams College Alumni Fund | Williamstown, MA | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Carroll School | Lincoln, MA | $17,500 | 5 | 4 | 2025 |
| Harvard Business School | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wellesley a Better Chance | Wellesley, MA | $13,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Armenian Heritage Foundation | Watertown, MA | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cecseabee Historical Foundation | Gulfport, MS | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Havard Business School | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Voice of Wilderness | Spring, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ut Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Knox College | Galesburg, IL | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| For His Children | Millport, NY | $7,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Friends of Fumbelo | Wellesley Hills, MA | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ans Yale Divinity School | New Haven, CT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Prayers Inc | Hampton, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trustees of Boston University | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brigham & Women's Hospital | Boston, MA | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| St Stephen's Armenian Church | Watertown, MA | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| The Brook School | North Andover, MA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Visions Global Empowerment in the US | Irvine, CA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Armenian Missionary Association of America | Paramus, NJ | $2,900 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of Herring River | S Wellfleet, MA | $2,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boston University School of Theology | Boston, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Brooks School | North Andover, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Handel and Haydn Society | Boston, MA | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| School Sisters of Notre Dame | Norridge, IL | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Stephen's Armenian Elementary School | Watertown, MA | $2,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wellesley Abc | Wellesley, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| World Wildlife Fund | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Museum of Fine Arts | Boston, MA | $2,250 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Justice Health Initiative | Chestnut Hill, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Metropolitan Opera | New York, NY | $2,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wellfleet Historical Society & Museum | Wellfleet, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Friends of Trumbull High Soccer | Trumbull, CT | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Global Wildlife Conservation | Austin, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Los Angeles World Affairs Council | Culver City, CA | $1,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| 909 Wbur | Boston, MA | $1,250 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Focus on Tanzanian Communities | Watertown, MA | $1,250 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Human Rights Campaign | Washington, DC | $1,250 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Nikeno's Second Chance | Wheat Ridge, CO | $1,250 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pmc- Jimmy Fund | Boston, MA | $1,250 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Blue Bench | Denver, CO | $1,250 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Armenian Relief Society | Watertown, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Family Promise Metro West | Natick, MA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| New Lakeview Alumni Association | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nroc | Carmel, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Outer Cape Health Services | Harwich Port, MA | $1,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul of San Mateo County | San Mateo, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Spaulding Rehabilitation | Charlestown, MA | $1,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Foundation of the Meei Inc | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Visions Global Empowerment | Irvine, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wellfleet Preservation Hall | Wellfleet, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 909WBUR | Boston, MA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | Boston, MA | $750 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Mass Eye and Ear | Boston, MA | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Forest Foundation | Missoula, MT | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Squash Busters | Roxbury Crossing, MA | $750 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Wellfleet Conservative Trust | Welffleet, MA | $750 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Wellfleet Historical Society | Wellfleet, MA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wikimedia Foundation | Washington, DC | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| La World Affairs Council | Los Angeles, CA | $655 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Armenian Missionary Association | Paramus, NJ | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | Boston, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boys Town | Boys Town, NE | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Caring Bridge | Simpsonville, SC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Earthworks | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Epilepsy Foundation | Landover, MD | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kelly Brush Foundation | Burlington, VT | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maine Community Foundation | Portland, ME | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Out Cape Health Services | Provincetown, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wellfleet Conservation Trust | Wellfleet, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Amaa- Children Education | Los Altos, CA | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mspca Angell | Boston, MA | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boston Children's Hospital | Boston, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boston Public Library | Boston, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boys Town | Portsmouth, RI | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clean Air Task Force | Boston, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cure Epilepsy | Chicago, IL | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Feed the Children | Oklahoma City, OK | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kbur | Burlington, IA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Literacy Coalition of Colorado | Denever, CO | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mental Health America | Alexandria, VA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pan Mass Challenge | Needham, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sheffield Chamber Players | Boston, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Squashbusters | Roxbury Crossing, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Susanna Parish | Dedham, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Verdi Chorus | Santa Monica, CA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tom Tudek Memorial Park | State College, PA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wellfleet Police Relief Association | Welffleet, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| First Parish of Watertown | Watertown, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
50 of 99 (51%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 4 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 kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 98 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 | 57 | $497,750 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | $130,550 | $500 |
| 2023 | 38 | $142,050 | $500 |
| 2024 | 36 | $648,300 | $875 |
| 2025 | 30 | $297,705 | $750 |
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
68% 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.
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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 $500. 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 Running Deer Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). 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: 865 Central Ave G-310, Needham, MA, 02492. 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 04-3409527 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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