Foundations that fund organizations in Salem, Massachusetts
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Salem nonprofits
270 private foundations gave $15M to Salem organizations in their latest filings; 41 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
504 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Salem around $32K. 58 of these funders are based in Massachusetts; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 270
- Accept applications
- 41
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Salem
- $15M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 504
- Typical median grant
- $32K
- Based in MA
- 58%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Salem organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman H Read 1985 Trust Amarillo National Bank Trustee | Amarillo, TX | 3 | $3.9M | $1.5M | Preselected only | Science center, aquarium ctr, read; Education; Medical research programs |
| Gordon Foundation Bernard M Gordon Et Al Trustees | Danvers, MA | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Yes | Unrestricted grant |
| Barr Foundation | Boston, MA | 10 | $875K | $25K | Preselected only | To participate in the community heat resilience pilot progr…; To provide core support for the boston comics in color fest…; To support the punto urban art museum |
| Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (fka Oneworld Boston Inc) | Woburn, MA | 13 | $610K | $50K | Yes | Human Services; Education; Animal Welfare |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $480K | $480K | Yes | To support a call for concepts research project |
| Ruggles Family Foundation C/O Bessemer Trust | Garden City, NY | 2 | $415K | $208K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Fidelity Foundation | Boston, MA | 2 | $400K | $200K | Yes | Scholarship; Fidelity matching gifts to education |
| The Littlejohn Family Foundation | Savannah, GA | 1 | $383K | $383K | Preselected only | To celebrate outstanding artistic and cultural creativity b… |
| Iris B Apfel & Carl B Apfel Charitable Trust | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 1 | $325K | $325K | Preselected only | General contribution |
| The Ulf B Heide and Elizabeth C Heide Foundation Charitable Trust | Weston, MA | 2 | $312K | $156K | Preselected only | Unrestricted use of contribution for reciptient's education…; Unrestricted use of contribution for recipient's medical an… |
| Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 5 | $305K | $50K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; to support the Facilities Project.; General & unrestricted |
| The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower Foundation | Getzville, NY | 5 | $256K | $60K | Yes | Charitable |
| Caroline Fabens-Apptd Fd UW | Dallas, TX | 1 | $251K | $251K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Amelia Peabody Foundation C/O Joseph Kelly | Topsfield, MA | 5 | $220K | $45K | Yes | Operations; Unlocking Potential |
| Fc & Cw Nichols Charity Fd | Boston, MA | 2 | $205K | $103K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| Gustave Hartman Tuw | Dallas, TX | 1 | $184K | $184K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| David P Wheatland Charitable Trust | Boston, MA | 1 | $175K | $175K | Yes | The funds are to be directed to the next phase of ada acces… |
| Salem Five Charitable Foundation Inc | Salem, MA | 29 | $160K | $5,000 | Yes | Exempt purposes |
| The Willowbank Foundation | Marblehead, MA | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | For unrestricted use in tax exempt purpose |
| Weld Foundation | Boston, MA | 2 | $130K | $65K | Preselected only | General |
| E Rhodes and Leona B Carpenter Foundation | Radnor, PA | 1 | $125K | $125K | Yes | Help with the costs of opening a new korean gallery and an… |
| Institution for Savings in Newburyport & Its Vicinity Charitable Foundation Inc | Newburyport, MA | 19 | $125K | $2,000 | Yes | Exempt purpose |
| Rogers Family Foundation C/O Gma Foundations Inc | Boston, MA | 4 | $113K | $15K | Yes | Domestic violence and intimate partner violence services an…; Rebuilding families capital campaign; Permanency services for youth in foster care |
| Florence Robertson Trust UW | Dallas, TX | 1 | $103K | $103K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Amg Charitable Foundation | Prides Crossing, MA | 2 | $102K | $51K | Preselected only | Operating support |
| The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Grant is for donee's exempt purpose |
| Richard C von Hess Foundation | Columbia, PA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Support the saints, sinners, lovers and fools: 300 years of… |
| The Creighton Narada Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General Charitable Purpose |
| Edward S & Winifred G Moseley Foundation | Boston, MA | 4 | $95K | $18K | Preselected only | Hawc children's services; Focusing academics on career goals; Permanency services for youth in foster care |
| Eastern Bank Foundation | Wakefield, MA | 29 | $93K | $1,000 | Yes | Exempt purpose |
| Burch Ives Family Charitable Inc | Newburyport, MA | 8 | $92K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Support non profit mission |
| St Stephens Housing Corporation C/O St Stephen's Towers | Beverly, MA | 2 | $90K | $45K | Preselected only | General purpose of the organization. |
| The Daymarc Foundation | Wayland, MA | 1 | $87K | $87K | Yes | General support- artwork and repaires |
| Harold Tn Smith Memorial Foundation C/O Ryan & Coscia Pc | Salem, MA | 27 | $80K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Donation; Donationdonation |
| George H & Jane a Mifflin Memorial Fund | Boston, MA | 3 | $80K | $20K | Yes | Pathways to success; Youth culinary training program; Sacs college & post secondary success |
| Terra Foundation for American Art | Chicago, IL | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | Arts education |
| Sunita and Brian Pereira Family Foundation | Winchester, MA | 1 | $70K | $70K | Preselected only | Naming of museum skybridge |
| The Clark R Smith Family Foundation C/O Hemenway & Barnes Llp | Boston, MA | 1 | $65K | $65K | Preselected only | Support |
| Gerondelis Foundation Inc | Lynn, MA | 4 | $65K | $18K | Yes | For funding |
| Steven M and Joyce E Tadler Charitable Trust | Kiawah Island, SC | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose of the organization |
| James C Melvin Trust UW Brenda S Diana Et Al Trustees | Boston, MA | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | Scholarship/aid |
| 2 UW J Frazier for Salem Hosp | Dallas, TX | 1 | $57K | $57K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Alfred Chase Charity Fdn Ui | Dallas, TX | 3 | $55K | $20K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| Howard a Cook Family Foundation Inc | Marblehead, MA | 2 | $51K | $26K | Preselected only | Program support |
| The Coughlin Family Trust | Marblehead, MA | 2 | $51K | $26K | Preselected only | Contribution to a 501(c)(3) charity. |
| Riley Mabel Louise Tr Uwill | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | General operating |
| The Nordblom Family Foundation | Burlington, MA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Permanency services for youth in foster care |
| Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | General support |
| Blanchard Arthur F Tr Uagree | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General operating |
| The John F Welch Jr Foundation | Pound Ridge, NY | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Edna Foundation C/O Robert T Napier Harrison Llp | Chicago, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation | Newton, MA | 1 | $48K | $48K | Yes | Education |
| Elisha V Ashton Trust UW | Boston, MA | 1 | $47K | $47K | Preselected only | General |
| The Palmer Foundation | Oakton, VA | 1 | $45K | $45K | Preselected only | To provide stipends to students in the root culinary traini… |
| Gilson Family Foundation Inc | Concord, MA | 4 | $44K | $11K | Preselected only | Charitable donation |
| Yawkey Foundation II | Westwood, MA | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | Basic needs (food, housing) for underserved youth |
| The Manaaki Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Support of the jgi australia in support of the roots & shoo… |
| Li-Qiu Family Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | 2025 festival season & comics camp |
| The W Bradford Ingalls Charitable Foundation | West Palm Beach, FL | 3 | $38K | $15K | Yes | Contribution |
| Mark and Cynthia Ross Family Charitable Trust | New York, NY | 4 | $38K | $10K | Preselected only | Charitable contribution |
| Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation Inc | Rockland, MA | 6 | $37K | $5,500 | Yes | Exempt purpose |
| Apple Pickers Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $36K | $36K | Preselected only | to fund the Farestart consulting project |
| George P Bishop Foundation Inc | Newburyport, MA | 2 | $35K | $18K | Yes | Improves outcomes for young people in or at risk of enterin…; Supports youth in their personal educational and career gro… |
| Morton and Lillian Waldfogel Charitable Foundation | Swampscott, MA | 1 | $35K | $35K | Yes | Support for low income jewish families |
| Tower Family Fund Inc | Buffalo, NY | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Swartz Shalom Charitable Foundation | Boston, MA | 4 | $34K | $6,250 | Preselected only | Contribution for unrestricted purpose |
| The Foundation Supporting Climate Science Inc | Bethesda, MD | 1 | $33K | $33K | Preselected only | Charitable contribution |
| New England Biolabs Foundation | Ipswich, MA | 3 | $33K | $8,000 | Yes | Teacher professional development in place-based civic learn…; Introducing the workforce of tomorrow to renewable energy; Staffing to build stewardship capacity |
| George E Barnard Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $32K | $32K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Pegasus Springs Foundation | Reading, MA | 1 | $32K | $32K | Preselected only | Education |
| Neal Rantoul Foundation | Dallas, TX | 3 | $30K | $10K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| Sally Foss & James Scott Hill Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Lowell Institute | Boston, MA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | General Purpose |
| Samaritan Charitable Society of Salem Inc | Salem, MA | 1 | $28K | $28K | Yes | Various grants were distributed to the residents of Salem,… |
| McCarthy Family Foundation | Dallas, TX | 4 | $28K | $6,250 | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| The Vingo Trust III | Boston, MA | 1 | $26K | $26K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Ralph & Helen Kelley Fdn | Dallas, TX | 1 | $26K | $26K | Yes | Scholarships |
| The Titus Foundation | Denver, CO | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| The Lynch Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General operating support |
| The Linden Foundation Inc C/O Gma Foundations | Boston, MA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General operating/program support |
| Saquish Foundation C/O Hunter Associates | Boston, MA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Donald & Priscilla Felt Charitable Foundation | Waltham, MA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Gift |
| Viney Wallach Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Howard P Colhoun Family Foundation Inc | Glyndon, MD | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | For the exempt function of the organization |
| James R Hammond 1995 Charitable Tr C/O Casner & Edwards Llp | Boston, MA | 2 | $20K | $9,950 | Preselected only | General |
| Lucia P Fulton Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $18K | $18K | Yes | To be used to support the digitization of pingree family ma… |
| Move the World Foundation | Dartmouth, MA | 1 | $17K | $17K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Organic Syntheses Inc | Waco, TX | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Piu grant |
| The Michael and Ronne Cosel Foundation | Smithtown, NY | 4 | $15K | $4,000 | Preselected only | Art Appreciation; School; Food Pantry |
| The Ausolus Trust C/O Boston Family Office George P Beal | Boston, MA | 2 | $15K | $7,500 | Yes | Exempt purpose |
| Priscilla Alden Uwo | Dallas, TX | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| The John H and H Naomi Tomfohrde Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | For culinary training and alumni employment programs |
| The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund | McLean, VA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Marine hall reinstallation project |
| The Esther and Hyman Rapport Philanthropic Trust | Beachwood, OH | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | To assist 501(c)(3) organization |
| Demoulas Foundation | Chelmsford, MA | 3 | $14K | $2,500 | Yes | Civic, cultural & other; Youth organizations |
| Bushrod H Campbell & Adah F Hall Charity Fund | Boston, MA | 2 | $14K | $7,000 | Preselected only | Dream more program in lynn, ma; Culinary training & alumni employment programs |
| The Suzanne and Richard Pieper Family Foundation Ltd | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $14K | $14K | Yes | Support the social work reflections journal |
| Felicia Fund Inc | Providence, RI | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | General support |
| Jean Nichols Charitable Trust Charles Nichols II Trustee | Sudbury, MA | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | Charitable |
| The Single Step Foundation | Waltham, MA | 1 | $13K | $13K | Preselected only | To improve outcomes for young people |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Salem, Massachusetts?
Norman H Read 1985 Trust Amarillo National Bank Trustee, Gordon Foundation Bernard M Gordon Et Al Trustees, Barr Foundation, Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (fka Oneworld Boston Inc), The Andrew W Mellon Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Salem organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Salem. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.