Grantmakers › Massachusetts

Boston Area Gleaners Inc

Acton, MA · EIN 30-0434755. Reported 210 grants totalling $11.8M to 171 organizations across tax years 2020-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.

171organizations funded
$21,214median reported grant
$11.8Mgranted, 2020-2024
4%of grantees funded again the next year
7%of dollars to its largest recipient

Does this grantmaker accept applications?

Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.

Three things in the filing do bear on it:

  1. What kind of organization it is. For Boston Area Gleaners Inc, the IRS classifies it under food & nutrition rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE K30) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
  2. How spread out its giving is. 171 distinct organizations, with 7% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
  3. How much its list changes. 4% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 4 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 56% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% median for private foundations. It describes the organizations it already funds, not whether it would consider a new one.

How big are its grants?

The median reported grant is $21,214. Half of what it reported fell between $10,743 and $46,770; the smallest was $5,173 and the largest $752,208. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.

Schedule I only reports grants over $5,000. Form 990 requires a charity to list recipients it paid more than that and lets it omit the rest, so every grant-size figure on this page describes the grants it reported, not all of them. Its real median is lower and its real recipient count is higher. This is also why these numbers cannot be compared with the private-foundation figures elsewhere on this site -- Form 990-PF has no reporting floor, so the two are different populations rather than two samples of one.
$5,000 - $10,000
46 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
67 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
50 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
20 grants
$100,000 - $250,000
19 grants
$250,000 Or More
8 grants

175 of those grants were non-cash -- goods, property or services worth $10.7M in total. In-kind giving is real support but it is not a cheque.

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Food for Free Committee IncSomervillle, MA$872,216222024
La Colaborativa IncChelsea, MA$784,163222024
Greater Boston Food Bank$752,208112021
The Salem Pantry IncSalem, MA$692,376222024
Lazarus House IncorporatedLawrence, MA$655,339222024
Food for Free$638,240222022
The Mystic Valley Young Mens Christian AssociationMalden, MA$376,402112024
Food for FreeSomerville, MA$370,342112020
Project Just Because IncHopkinton, MA$312,472222024
Fair Foods$291,746222022
Community Harvest$235,236112021
United Way of Tri-CountyFramingham, MA$210,627112023
Lexington Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry IncLexington, MA$199,460222024
Farm Fresh Rhode IslandProvidence, RI$188,665222024
Lazarus House$152,116112022
Open Table IncConcord, MA$151,479222024
Arlington Eats IncArlington, MA$142,215222024
Mystic Valley YMCAMalden, MA$140,851112023
Fair FoodsDorchester, MA$134,683112020
Mystic Valley YMCA$111,975112022
The Salem Pantry$109,365112022
United Way of Tri County IncFramingham, MA$104,345112024
Vital Cxns IncRoslindale, MA$101,962212024
Daniels Table IncFramingham, MA$99,760222024
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts IncChicopee, MA$96,786222024
Food Link IncArlington, MA$93,729222024
Jewish Family and Childrens ServiceWaltham, MA$87,350112024
Time for Change MinistryLawrence, MA$86,539222024
Grant Stanton$86,121112021
Lazarus HouseSt Lawrence, MA$85,787112020
Disilva Fruit$82,125112021
Somerville Homeless Coalition IncorporatedSomerville, MA$78,900112024
Hope's Harvest$76,570112022
Beverly Bootstraps Community Services IncBeverly, MA$73,020222024
Watertown Food Pantry IncWatertown, WI$68,837222024
Spoonfuls IncNewton, MA$68,524222024
New Entry- Food Access ProgramBeverly, MA$67,336332024
Centre Street Food Pantry IncNewton, MA$65,976222024
Stone Soup Kitchen MinistriesAyer, MA$60,933222024
The Greater Boston Food Bank IncBoston, MA$59,072222024
Chelsea Salvation Army$58,556112022
Brookdale Fruit Farm$57,871112021
Haven From HungerSt Peabody, MA$57,725112020
Lexington Food Pantry$55,469112022
Centre St Food Pantry$51,543112022
Somerville Community FridgesSomerville, MA$50,667112024
Ljd Jewish Family & Community Services IncJacksonville, FL$50,379212023
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry IncAyer, MA$49,680222024
Haven From HungerPeabody, MA$49,206222024
Chelsea Salvation ArmyChelsea, MA$48,769112020
Family Table Jfcs$47,994112022
Pernet Family Health Service IncWorcester, MA$47,993222024
Haven From Hunger$47,412112022
Project New Hope IncWorcester, MA$47,056222024
Siena Farms$47,018112021
Food LinkArlington, MA$46,923112020
Appleton Farms$46,429112021
Merrimack Valley Food Bank$43,444112022
Dick's Market Garden$43,139112021
Beverly Bootstraps$42,086112022
Metrowest YMCAFramingham, MA$41,129222024
Good Sheperd Food BankAuburn, ME$38,855112023
Daniel's Table$37,473112022
The Food Project$36,635112021
Arlington Eats$36,255112022
Colony Retirement Homes of Holden IncHolden, MA$35,205222024
Various Organizations Under 5000Acton, MA$34,683112020
People Helping People IncBurlington, MA$34,641222024
Daily Table Dorchester$33,208112022
A Place to Turn IncNatick, MA$32,244222024
Brazillian Work CenterAllston, MA$32,214112020
New Entry- Food Access Program$31,597112022
Mass General Brigham Incorporated and Affiliates Group RtnSomerville, MA$29,963112024
Project Just Because$29,580112022
Bedford Food PantryBedford, MA$29,460112023
Mgh Revere Healthcare Center Food PantryRevere, MA$28,399112023
Utec IncLowell, MA$28,013222024
Dowse Orchards$27,924112021
Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry IncActon, MA$27,869222024
Watertown Food Pantry$27,074112022
Somerville Community FridgeSomerville, MA$26,239112023
Lexington Food PantrySt Lexingto, MA$25,684112020
Bedford Community Table-Pantry IncBedford, MA$24,994112024
Time for Change Ministry$24,457112022
Kimball Fruit Farm$23,413112021
Billerica Community Pantry IncBillerica, MA$23,260222024
Food Link$22,603112022
Wesward Orchards$22,094112021
Project Soup$21,686112022
Lynn-Ette & Sons Inc$21,050112021
Land's Sake Farm$20,328112021
Ward Berry Farm$20,012112021
United Church of Christ Congregationalfreebee EveBoxborough, MA$19,970112023
Health WalthamSt Waltham, MA$19,613112020
United Church of Christ Congregationalfreebee Event$19,478112022
The Food Bank of Western Mass$18,384112022
Farmer Dave's Produce GiveawayDracut, MA$18,175112024
Lynn Salvation Army$17,606112022
Peoples Food Pantry IncNorth Andover, MA$17,117112024
Simon C Fireman CommunityRandolph, MA$16,973112023
Hebrew Seniorlife IncBoston, MA$16,729112024
Colony Retirement Homes$16,566112022
A Place to Turn$16,436112022
Merrimack Valley Food Bank IncLowell, MA$16,092222024
Rounding the Bases$15,868112022
Heet Time of ChargeBoxford, MA$15,864112020
Rose's Bounty Food PanryWest Roxbury, MA$15,164112020
Mystic Cmmunity MarketMedford, MA$15,051112020
Centre St Food PantrySt Newton Centre, MA$14,966112020
North Parish People's PantryNorth Andover, MA$14,813112023
Lynn Salvation ArmyLynn, MA$14,546112020
Natick Service Council IncNatick, MA$14,280112024
Salem CoaSalem, MA$13,971112020
Stow Food PantryStow, MA$13,718222024
FavorRoslindale, MA$13,686112023
People Helping People Food Pantry$13,630112022
North Parish People's Pantry$13,311112022
Arligton EatsSt Arligton, MA$13,241112020
Sanctuary UccMedford, MA$12,502112024
El Buen Samaritano Food Program IncWorcester, MA$12,416112024
Brookline Food PantryBrookline, MA$12,248112020
Utec$11,825112022
Voices of Metrowest IncFramingham, MA$11,624112024
Rachels Table of Western Massachusetts IncSpringfield, MA$11,500222024
St Johns Foods for the PoorSt Worcester, MA$11,086112020
Applefield Farm$10,857112021
Newton Food PantryNewton, MA$10,743112020
Verrill Farm$10,740112021
Shrewsbury Council on AgingShrewsbury, MA$10,593112024
The Neighborhood Farm$10,550112021
Brooksby Farm$10,279112021
Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries$10,232112022
Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry$10,174112022
Fair FoodsBoston, MA$9,804112023
Haley House Soup Kitchen$9,791112022
Ucc FreebeeBoxborough, MA$9,560112024
Lovin' Spoonfuls$9,351112022
Project SoupSomerville, MA$8,916112020
International Institute of New England IncBoston, MA$8,272112023
Somerville Community Fridge$8,145112022
Veteran Pathways of New England IncDevens, MA$8,138112024
Daniel's TableFramingham, MA$7,951112020
Community Harvest Project$7,680112022
Burlington Food Panry People HelpiBurlington, MA$7,564112020
Watertown Food PantrySt Watertown, MA$7,528112020
Commonwealth Kitchen IncDorchester, MA$7,328112024
Barrett's Mill Farm$7,304112021
Our Neighbors TableAmesbury, MA$7,240112024
Haley House IncBoston, MA$7,200112023
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project$7,200112022
Colony Retirement HouseSt Worcester, MA$7,077112020
Ccf MinistriesS Lawrence, MA$7,064112020
Mgh Revere Healthcare Center Food PRevere, MA$6,821112020
Daily TableBoston, MA$6,777112020
South Boston Community Health Center IncSouth Boston, MA$6,719112023
Brookline Food Co-OpBrookline, MA$6,701112020
Jewish Family and Children's Service$6,538112022
Everett Grace Food PantryEverett, MA$6,395112020
UtecLowell, MA$6,247112020
Small Farm$6,238112021
Urban Farming Institute$6,209112022
Beverly BootstrapsBeverly, MA$6,129112020
Young Mens Christian Association of Greater Boston IncBoston, MA$6,028112024
Rhode Island Community Food Bank AssociationProvidence, RI$6,022112023
Family Table JfcsSt Waltham, MA$5,725112020
Malden YMCAMalden, MA$5,568112020
Family Nurturing Center$5,530112022
Garland Food$5,370112021
Roslindale Food Collective IncRoslindale, MA$5,221112024
Community Servings$5,184112022
Food Rescue US IncStamford, CT$5,173112024

36 of 171 (21%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 48 of 171 recipients we could match to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's, not ours -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.

Food & Nutrition
19 orgs
Human Services
12 orgs
Health Care
4 orgs
Housing & Shelter
3 orgs
Community Improvement
3 orgs
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
2 orgs
Public & Societal Benefit
2 orgs
Youth Development
1 org

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants reportedTotalMedian grant
202035$1,095,304$12,248
202124$2,056,447$25,668
202242$1,746,081$22,144
202351$2,404,948$26,291
202458$4,530,993$27,181

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.

Where its money goes

96% of its giving went to organizations in Massachusetts. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.

Massachusetts
$7.7M
Rhode Island
$195K
Wisconsin
$69K
Florida
$50K
Maine
$39K
Connecticut
$5K

Down to the city

Somervillle, MA
$872K
Chelsea, MA
$833K
Lawrence, MA
$742K
Salem, MA
$706K
Somerville, MA
$565K
Malden, MA
$523K

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 grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. 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.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund46 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc43 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc33 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program29 shared recipientsEastern Bank Foundation29 shared recipientsBoston Foundation Inc24 shared recipients

How to approach this grantmaker

  1. Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
  2. Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $21,214 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
  3. Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Massachusetts.
  4. Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.

Related guides

Foundations funding human services in MassachusettsEvery funder in this group

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Boston Area Gleaners Inc's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Recipient classifications, the concentration and retention figures and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations from them, described in how we build this.

On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 58 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 2 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.

Address of record on the latest return: 91 Martin Street, Acton, MA, 01720.

EIN 30-0434755 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Form 990 is published about a year after the tax year it covers. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this organization has actually funded.

Is something here wrong about your organization? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.