Grantmakers › Massachusetts

Trustees of Boston University

Boston, MA · EIN 04-2103547. Reported 1,386 grants totalling $586.1M to 448 organizations across tax years 2020-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.

448organizations funded
$113,056median reported grant
$586.1Mgranted, 2020-2024
80%of grantees funded again the next year
4%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. The IRS has no activity classification on file for this one, so we cannot tell you whether it is a community foundation or a single-institution support fund. The recipient list below is the better guide.
  2. How spread out its giving is. 448 distinct organizations, with 4% 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. 80% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 4 year-to-year transitions. That is well above the 56% median for grantmaking charities, and above 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 $113,056. Half of what it reported fell between $35,166 and $348,682; the smallest was $5,092 and the largest $10.4M. 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
76 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
180 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
199 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
200 grants
$100,000 - $250,000
292 grants
$250,000 Or More
439 grants

Every organization it funded

All 448 recipients appear in its filings; the 250 largest are listed here. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received a reported grant.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Day Zero Diagnostics IncBoston, MA$21.5M552024
Mass General Brigham IncorporatedSomerville, MA$20.5M552024
Pattern Bioscience IncAustin, TX$16.8M442023
Integrated BiotherapeuticsRockville, MD$14.7M332022
Regents Univ of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$13.4M552024
Peptilogics IncPittsburgh, PA$13.2M552024
Boston Medical Center CorporationBoston, MA$13.1M1052024
President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeCambridge, MA$12.7M552024
Amicrobe IncCarlsbad, CA$12.2M552024
Avails Medical IncMenlo Park, CA$12.2M552024
Cellics Therapeutics IncSan Diego, CA$10.2M552024
Vaxcyte IncSan Carlos, CA$10.1M552024
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA$9,344,528442024
Clarametyx Biosciences IncColumbus, OH$9,212,428442024
Regents of the University of California at BerkeleyRiverside, CA$8,728,227752024
Locus Biosciences IncMorrisville, NC$8,542,735552024
Lumen Bioscience IncSeattle, WA$8,428,812552024
Vedanta Biosciences IncCambridge, MA$8,300,531552024
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL$7,762,298552024
Regents of the University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI$7,529,280652024
Glaxosmithkline Holdings Americas IncPhiladelphia, PA$7,512,879222021
Mass General Brigham IncorporatedSomerville, MA$6,802,370752024
University of MassachusettsWorcester, MA$6,214,546952024
Micurx PharmaceuticalsPalo Alto, CA$6,176,810332022
Venatorx Pharmaceuticals IncMalvern, PA$6,021,417332022
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center IncCharlestown, MA$5,951,831752024
American College of RadiologyReston, VA$5,754,932552024
Seres Therapeutics IncCambridge, MA$5,652,512222021
University of California San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA$5,587,239552024
Contrafect CorpYonkers, NY$5,463,988332022
Rector & Visitors of the University of VirginiaCharlottesvle, VA$5,417,856552024
Entasis Therapeutics IncWaltham, MA$5,115,647332022
University of WashingtonChicago, IL$5,076,166552024
Trustees of Columbia UniversityNew York, NY$4,994,398552024
Microbiotix IncWorcester, MA$4,955,014442023
Bugworks Research IncFremont, CA$4,831,246442023
Yeshiva UniversityNew York, NY$4,753,901652024
Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$4,670,278652024
Forge Therapeutics IncSan Diego, CA$4,569,083332022
Lytica Therapeutics IncBoston, MA$4,518,343222021
Trellis Bioscience IncRedwood City, CA$4,127,443332023
Visby Medical IncSan Jose, CA$4,085,885222024
Microbion CorporationBozeman, MT$4,011,670222021
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityStanford, CA$3,888,115652024
Trellis Bioscience LLCRedwood City, CA$3,871,316112020
Broad Institute IncCambridge, MA$3,851,007552024
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD$3,730,602552024
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York, NY$3,705,015552024
Baebies IncDurham, NC$3,681,664442023
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN$3,581,009552024
Affinivax IncCambridge, MA$3,541,924222022
Helixbind IncMarlborough, MA$3,377,724222021
University of Texas Health ScienceSan Antonio, TX$3,352,037552024
Trustees of Tufts CollegeMedford, MA$3,208,918752024
Florida International Univ BotMiami, FL$3,121,718552024
The University of IowaIowa City, IA$3,040,404222024
Regents of the University of ColoradoDenver, CO$2,963,983652024
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX$2,885,870552024
Childrens Hospital CorporationBoston, MA$2,875,704552024
Zabbio IncSan Diego, CA$2,856,636552024
University of RochesterRochester, NY$2,815,298652024
Clinton Health Access Initiative IncBoston, MA$2,804,572652024
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA MedicalTorrance, CA$2,741,233552024
Kaiser Foundation HospitalsOakland, CA$2,542,981552024
Mayo ClinicRochester, MN$2,509,869552024
University of Vermont and State Agricultural CollegeBurlington, VT$2,429,164552024
Novel Microdevices IncBaltimore, MD$2,396,269222021
Taxis Pharmaceuticals IncMonmouth Junction, NJ$2,388,284222021
State of MarylandCollege Park, MD$2,333,604752024
University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY$2,301,395552024
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY$2,261,178552024
Brown University of ProvidenceProvidence, RI$2,253,038442024
Indiana UniversityDetroit, MI$2,240,225552024
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC$2,116,629552024
Regents of the University of Califo - La 2Los Angeles, CA$2,058,301542024
Jackson LaboratoryBar Harbor, ME$1,956,323552024
Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship IncUnion, NJ$1,948,086552024
Tufts Medical Center Parent IncBoston, MA$1,918,698552024
Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center IncHolyoke, MA$1,910,238432022
Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX$1,816,916552024
University of DenverDenver, CO$1,806,114552024
Ada Forsyth Institute IncSomerville, MA$1,753,037552024
Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteBoston, MA$1,712,230652024
Butler HospitalProvidence, RI$1,709,095652024
Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA$1,703,568552024
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ$1,688,771542023
University of Georgia Research Foundation IncAthens, GA$1,680,648552024
Health Research Incorporated Elizabeth WoodMenands, NY$1,644,570552024
Mass General Brigham IncorporatedSomerville, MA$1,579,780552024
Washington UniversitySt Louis, MO$1,540,497552024
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT$1,516,261552024
Sutter Bay HospitalsSacramento, CA$1,485,883222024
Northern California Institute for Research and Education IncSan Francisco, CA$1,483,883552024
New York UniversityNew York, NY$1,474,164652024
Zikani Therapeutics IncWatertown, MA$1,470,409112020
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT$1,453,425552024
J Craig Venter Institute IncLa Jolla, CA$1,405,888332022
University of ChicagoChicago, IL$1,295,129552024
Novel Microdevices LLCBaltimore, MD$1,257,820112021
Syntiron LLCSaint Paul, MN$1,235,567222024
Rush University Medical CenterChicago, IL$1,217,970552024
University of FloridaGainesville, FL$1,208,145652024
The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisUrbana, IL$1,187,728652024
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & StBlacksburg, VA$1,157,851552024
University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$1,157,465552024
Mass General Brigham IncorporatedSomerville, MA$1,157,276552024
Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA$1,155,404552024
University of OregonEugene, OR$1,096,192332024
Ge Medical Systems Information TechNiskayuna, NY$1,051,379222024
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA$1,048,476332024
Temple University-of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducPhiladelphia, PA$1,039,074552024
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL$1,033,369552024
State of Mississippi-University of MsJackson, MS$1,017,452652024
Holyoke Health Center IncHolyoke, MA$1,005,958552024
Planetary Science InstituteTucson, AZ$1,005,509212024
Uh-Oh Labs IncSanta Clara, CA$1,000,000222024
Meliolabs IncSanta Clara, CA$985,807112024
Terc IncCambridge, MA$966,152552024
University of Texas Health ScienceDallas, TX$952,138332024
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL$944,907442024
Research Triangle InstituteRtp, NC$916,016332022
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA$870,601552024
University of DelawareNewark, DE$866,535652024
North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC$845,481552024
Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical ResearchSeattle, WA$842,798442023
Ut MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX$838,844552024
Methodist HospitalHouston, TX$832,131442024
Duke UniversityDurham, NC$826,108552024
The John B Pierce Laboratory IncNew Haven, CT$808,727552024
Texas A&m Engineering Experiment StCollege Station, TX$807,701442024
Johns Hopkins Univ Applied PhysicsLaurel, MD$806,473552024
Jsi Research & Training Institute IncBoston, MA$803,358332024
University of WisconsinMilwaukee, WI$787,097552024
BB100 LLCSchnectady, NY$777,152112020
Center for Innovative Public Health ResearchSan Clemente, CA$761,413552024
General Electric CompanyPittsburgh, PA$729,454332023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN$728,491652024
Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortland, OR$710,449442024
American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral SciencesArlington, VA$710,038222023
Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterW Hollywood, CA$694,306442024
Techulon IncBlacksburg, VA$693,582112020
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT$689,633442024
Nova Southeastern University IncFt Lauderdale, FL$688,312552024
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA$666,490222021
Southwest Research InstituteSan Antonio, TX$659,587552024
Regents of the University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$638,221442024
Trustees of Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH$636,463552024
Beckman Research InstituteDuarte, CA$635,320442024
University of HoustonHouston, TX$629,800552024
University of Notre Dame Du LacNotre Dame, IN$620,761552024
Rmc Research CorporationArlington, VA$609,320442024
Facile Therapeutics IncBelmont, CA$602,259222021
Horizon Research IncChapel Hill, NC$596,423442024
University of MissouriKansas City, MO$594,082442024
Raytheon CompanyBoston, MA$579,261552024
Louisiana State University and AgricultureBaton Rouge, LA$567,383332022
Sostenica IncCambridge, MA$558,631332022
Regents of the University of California at IrvineIrvine, CA$547,865442024
William Marsh Rice UniversityHouston, TX$546,583442023
Embry-Riddle AeronauticalDaytona Beach, FL$541,873222024
Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolNorfolk, VA$533,200442024
Research Foundation for the State University of New YorkAlbany, NY$529,354552024
Ohio UniversityAthens, OH$522,580442023
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI$516,027552024
Cardiovascular Engineering IncNorwood, MA$514,455332022
Banner HealthPhoenix, AZ$502,821552024
Rutgers the State UniversityPiscataway, NJ$495,290552024
University of Kentucky Research FoundationLexington, KY$486,926552024
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC$463,906652024
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY$455,061552024
The University of Alabama in HuntsvHuntsville, AL$455,004442024
The University of Central Florida BOrlando, FL$451,789332024
Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO$449,430552024
Faraday Energy LLCLexington, KY$441,532442024
Veterans Education & Research Assoc of Northern New England IncWhite Riv Jct, VT$440,234552024
Magee-Womens Research Institute and FoundationPittsburgh, PA$437,908332024
Arrepath IncPrinceton, NJ$437,750112024
Nexleaf AnalyticsLos Angeles, CA$435,579112020
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational FundNew Orleans, LA$435,551332024
Rabin Strategic Partners IncNew York, NY$428,211222021
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$416,916332024
American Academy of Pediatrics IncItasca, IL$409,452332022
Talis Biomedical CorpMenlo Park, CA$403,664112020
Hebrew Rehabilitation CenterBoston, MA$397,334552024
Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet FoLouisville, KY$389,730332022
George Washington UniversityAshburn, VA$368,999552024
Henry Ford Health SystemDetroit, MI$357,352552024
Wake Forest University Health SciencesWinstonsalem, NC$351,928752024
Pearl Diagnostics IncBaltimore, MD$347,864112024
Regents of the University of California at San DiegoLa Jolla, CA$347,410222024
Greenroots IncChelsea, MA$346,533552024
Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA$344,091552024
University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND$344,018222021
Dartmouth-Hitchcock ClinicLebanon, NH$342,639442024
University System of New HampshireConcord, NH$339,238442024
Raytheon Bbn Technologies CorporatiionBoston, MA$333,689112020
Massachusetts Health Officers Association IncorporatedWalpole, MA$332,454222024
State of AlabamaMontgomery, AL$321,266332022
Innovations for Poverty ActionNew York, NY$314,622222022
Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA$313,636552024
Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA$313,136442023
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA$304,160442024
Public Health InstituteOakland, CA$299,185332024
Augusta University Research Institute IncAugusta, GA$295,181442023
Health Management Associates IncLansing, MI$287,706332022
Denver Research InstituteDenver, CO$283,301442024
Phi Chi Medical Fraternity IncCharleston, SC$282,145552024
Utica UniversityUtica, NY$280,337332022
State of IndianaIndianapolis, IN$280,000332022
Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin IncMilwaukee, WI$276,823222021
Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation IncBronx, NY$275,846332022
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA$266,896552024
Third Sector New England IncBoston, MA$262,421332022
Seattle Childrens HospitalSeattle, WA$260,655222021
South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research & EducatonMiami, FL$260,523552024
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA$259,617552024
Rhode Island HospitalProvidence, RI$256,827112024
The University of ArizonaTucson, AZ$255,254442024
The ThresholdsChicago, IL$253,893552024
Fermi Research Alliance LLCBatavia, IL$250,539112021
The University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC$249,273552024
Astradx IncChestnut Hill, MA$247,679112024
Lutie Legacy SocietyAustin, TX$246,045112022
Accelerate Diagnostics IncTucson, AZ$245,433222022
Mentor WashingtonBellevue, WA$245,075442023
Gillette Childrens Specialty Health CareSaint Paul, MN$244,968332022
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJ$241,180112024
The University of TennesseeMemphis, TN$237,368222023
Lahey Clinic IncCharlestown, MA$233,977442024
State of South DakotaVermillion, SD$232,109332024
Mass General Brigham IncorporatedSomerville, MA$229,976442024
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA$229,123112020
Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaBoston, MA$225,519552024
Center for Health Policy DevelopmentWashington, DC$223,346442023
University of California Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA$221,238552024
University of New EnglandBiddeford, ME$218,404552024
Bedford Va Research CorporationBedford, MA$217,789332024
Achaogen Plan TrustSan Rafael, CA$216,611112021
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA$215,230552024
Research Foundation of the City University of New YorkNew York, NY$205,094552024
Andrews UniversityBerrien Sprgs, MI$204,864332024
Family VoicesConcord, MA$204,833332022
Advanced Building Analysis LLCAmesbury, MA$204,698442023
OSU Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR$201,324332023
Topodyne LLCChino Hills, CA$200,000222024
University of Arkansas FayettevilleFayetteville, AR$193,976442023
University of North Carolina GreensboroGreensboro, NC$186,948552024
Family Health InternationalDurham, NC$186,580332022
University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX$183,205332023
University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL$181,512332024

328 of 448 (73%) 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.

It also reported 22 groups of grants to individuals -- scholarships, emergency assistance and similar. Schedule I reports these by category with a headcount and never by name, so there is nothing here we could publish about the recipients even if we wanted to.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 241 of 448 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.

Education
92 orgs
Health Care
50 orgs
Medical Research
21 orgs
Science & Technology
13 orgs
Arts & Culture
8 orgs
Mental Health
7 orgs
International Affairs
6 orgs
Community Improvement
6 orgs

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants reportedTotalMedian grant
2020289$141.1M$111,716
2021270$136.9M$124,559
2022296$106.3M$100,598
2023263$92.0M$107,146
2024268$109.8M$125,223

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

29% 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
$170.5M
California
$127.7M
Pennsylvania
$36.0M
New York
$32.4M
Texas
$31.5M
Maryland
$26.0M
North Carolina
$18.5M
Virginia
$16.0M

Down to the city

Boston, MA
$53.1M
Cambridge, MA
$45.1M
Somerville, MA
$32.0M
Austin, TX
$20.0M
San Diego, CA
$17.7M
Los Angeles, CA
$16.3M

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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 Fund122 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc107 shared recipientsJohns Hopkins University106 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc100 shared recipientsThe Trustees of Columbia University91 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program85 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 $113,056 -- 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 education in MassachusettsEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding education in CaliforniaEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding health care in CaliforniaEvery funder in this group

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Trustees of Boston University'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 231 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 37 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: 881 Commonwealth Ave 4TH Fl, Boston, MA, 02215.

EIN 04-2103547 · 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.