Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 8/17/21.
Boston has some of the deepest philanthropic roots in the nation, and an impressively large number of charitable funders call it home. While there are plenty of prominent names around town, such as the Barr Foundation and the Boston Foundation, there are also lots of small family foundations that go unnoticed by most local nonprofits.
Bank of America/U.S. Trust has a huge presence in Boston as a foundation manager and trustee, and most of the foundations it oversees here are open to unsolicited inquiries. One such foundation is the Alfred E. Chase Charity Foundation. Here are three top facts to know about this Massachusetts funder.
1. The Foundation Prioritizes the North Shore of Massachusetts
Alfred E. Chase Charity Foundation is partial to Massachusetts’ North Shore area, which includes several communities in addition to Boston. Lynn, Chelsea, Lowell and Great Barrington are often receive funding. However, it has given grants to groups in nearby Salem, Malden, Peabody and Cambridge, as well. Both well-established and grassroots groups have received Chase’s support in these places over the years.
2. Topics of Interest Are Broad
Since this foundation was first established in 1956, it has funded broad interests rather than dedicated programs. The foundation addresses the educational, health and human services needs of underserved populations in the founder’s home region. It has recently supported Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, LEAP for Education, Supportive Living, the Fund for the USS Constitution Museum, and Mass Mentoring Partnership. All of these recipients list the Chase Charity Foundation as a donor on their websites.
Overall, restrictions are few, and grants are sizable. Many recent awards have been around $20,000, but ones in the hundreds of thousands of dollars are not unheard of.
3. Requests for General Operating and Program Support Are Encouraged
Fortunately for Massachusetts grantseekers, the Chase Charity Foundation is open to receiving unsolicited requests for funding. It awards grants once per year with a May 1 application deadline. Following this annual deadline, Chase notifies applicants of funding decisions by September 30.
Make sure grant requests are for no more than one year, and stick to either program or general operating support needs. However, feel free to mention program-related capital expenses in these requests if they are relevant.
Learn more about the Alfred E. Chase Charity Foundation in IP’s full funder profile, which includes links to Form 990 tax information and how to apply for a foundation grant.