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The Boston Capital Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Boston Capital Foundation

Its FY2019 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$153k
Granted FY2019
36
Grants FY2019
10
States reached
$24k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2019.

Housing & Shelter$113kEducation$84kYouth Development$45kHealth$39kEmployment$29kHuman Services$25kPublic Benefit$23kCommunity Improvement$19kOther$0
02FY2019 · 36 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2019

  • Under $10k32 grants · $86k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $67k
$2,500
Median grant
10
States reached
$2k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
JOHN F KENNEDY LIBRARY FOUNDATION$23,560
FAMILY AID BOSTON$21,250
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS$12,140
COMPASS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING$10,000
THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS$9,650
MGH ASPIRE$8,800
BOSTON CARES HANDS AT WORK$7,500
LIFESTEPS$5,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LAWRENCE$5,000
BOSTON UNIVERSITY$5,000
YMCA OF THE NORTH SHORE$5,000
ALLIANCE FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP$5,000
Individual grant recipient$4,850
Individual grant recipient$4,340
CARITAS COMMUNITIES INC$2,600
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–19, $11k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 33% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%YWCA GREATER NEWBURYPORT: $1k → 10%CRYSTAL SPRINGS: $2k → 11%YWCA GREATER NEWBURYPORT: $456 → 10%CRYSTAL SPRINGS: $1k → 11%MASSACHUSETTS COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS: $400 → 10%YMCA OF THE NORTH SHORE: $5k → 10%SAINT FRANCIS HOUSE: $250 → 16%CRADLES TO CRAYONS INC: $250 → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
IL
NY
MA
IA
PA
CA
CO
VA
MD
AZ
TN
GA
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

75%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$305k · 21 repeat orgs$104k to everyone else

21 repeat relationships: 16 still active in FY2019, 5 since wound down; 19 grantees were first funded in FY2019 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
27

Total granted

$305k
$50k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+58%
+71%

Still filing today

71%
63%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2019, 64% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $54k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19
Housing & ShelterHuman ServicesEducationHealthCommunity ImprovementFood & NutritionOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • FB
    FAMILYAID BOSTON INC
    2× · 2018–2019 · $49k · revenue +270%
  • TC
    THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS INC
    3× · 2017–2019 · $24k · revenue +48%
  • THE ALLIANCE FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP INC
    3× · 2017–2019 · $15k · revenue +38%

Funded once

  • EM
    EDWARD M KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $23k · revenue +178%
  • LAWRENCE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $5k · revenue +68%
  • HF
    HOUSTON FOOD BANK (HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF)
    one grant, 2017 · $3k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Neighborhealth Corporation

Neighborhealth's mission is to promote and sustain healthy communities, families, and individuals by providing accessible, person-centered, and compassionate, high-quality health care services to all who live and work in our service area,…

Health
2
Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership Inc D/B/a Metro Housing Boston

Metro housing boston mobilizes wide-ranging resources to provide innovative and personalized services that lead families and individuals to housing stability, economic security, and an improved quality of life.

Housing & Shelter
3
Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance Inc

Maha breaks down barriers facing first-time and first-generation home buyers and owners through education, counseling, advocacy, and grassroots organizing.

Housing & Shelter
4
Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation

Mhic's mission is to be an innovative private financier of afforable housing and community development throughout new england, providing financing that would not otherwise be available, and extending the impact of that financing to ensure…

Housing & Shelter
5
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
6
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program Inc

The mission of the boston health care for the homeless program (bhchp) is to provide or assure access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our community.

Human Services
7
Boston Harbor Now Inc

Our mission is to ensure that the people of greater boston benefit from a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive waterfront, harbor, and islands; these spaces are equitable, accessible, and adapted to climate change; and to ensure our public,…

Environment
8
Massachusetts Fair Housing Center Inc

Mfhc is committed to ending systemic housing discrimination and creating inclusive communities through education, outreach, advocacy, housing counseling and enforcement.

Housing & Shelter
9
Children's Hospital Corporation

Provider of pediatric healthcare, education, research & community service

Health
10
Mass General Brigham Health Plan Inc

Mass general brigham health plan's mission is to promote the health and wellness of our members, and to help ensure equitable, affordbale health care for the diverse communities we serve.

Health
11
Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corporation

The organization's primary exempt purpose is to provide access to and conduct activities in furtherance of higher education.

—
12
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Saint Francis House Inc; the most unlike its peers is Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

45 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 45 of the 68 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
43/45
Grantees still filing
38/45
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

FAMILYAID BOSTON INC: $48,600 · OtherFAMILYAID BOSTON INCBOSTON CARES HANDS AT WORK: $29,150 · OtherBOSTON CARES HANDS AT WORKMASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED: $26,400 · OtherMASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATEDCOMPASS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING: $10,000 · OtherBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LAWRENCE: $10,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $8,200 · Other+41 more: $71,658 · Other+41 moreJOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY LIBRARY FOUNDATION INCORPORATED: $73,720 · EducationJOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY L…LIFESTEPS INC: $15,000 · EducationLIFESTEPS INC+2 more: $2,700 · EducationTHE COMMUNITY BUILDERS INC: $24,300 · Housing & ShelterTHE COMMUNIT…CARITAS COMMUNITIES INC: $9,400 · Housing & ShelterCARITAS COMM…ROSIE'S PLACE INC: $4,890 · Housing & ShelterROSIE'S PLAC…VIETNAM VETERANS WORKSHOP INC DBA NEW ENGLAND CENTER AND HOME FOR VETERANS: $1,796 · Housing & Shelter+5 more: $3,540 · Housing & Shelter+5 moreEDWARD M KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE INC: $23,250 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $600 · Arts & CultureYOUTHBUILD GLOBAL INC: $17,700 · EmploymentBRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS INC: $12,140 · HealthDana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: $2,961 · Health+2 more: $1,000 · HealthTHE ALLIANCE FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP INC: $15,000 · Social Science
Other$204,008Education$91,420Housing & Shelter$43,926Arts & Culture$23,850Employment$17,700Health$16,101Social Science$15,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY LIBRARY FOUNDATION INCORPORATED: $73,720 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetFAMILYAID BOSTON INC: $48,600 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTHE COMMUNITY BUILDERS INC: $24,300 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetEDWARD M KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE INC: $23,250 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetYOUTHBUILD GLOBAL INC: $17,700 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ALLIANCE FOR BUSINESS LEADERSHIP INC: $15,000 over 3y, 2.0% of budgetLIFESTEPS INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS INC: $12,140 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCARITAS COMMUNITIES INC: $9,400 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE: $6,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLAWRENCE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetYMCA OF THE NORTH SHORE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetROSIE'S PLACE INC: $4,890 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCRYSTAL SPRINGS INC: $3,100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MIAMI FOUNDATION INC: $3,020 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: $2,961 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBAY COVE HUMAN SERVICES INC: $2,600 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BOTTOM LINE INC: $2,580 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSt John Community Development Corporation Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMASSACHUSETTS MILITARY HEROES FUND INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetBOSTON PRESERVATION ALLIANCE INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetBOSTON AREA GLEANERS INC: $2,400 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetVIETNAM VETERANS WORKSHOP INC DBA NEW ENGLAND CENTER AND HOME FOR VETERANS: $1,796 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION: $1,130 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHOMES FOR AMERICA INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE STURGE-WEBER FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY: $600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHOUSE OF HOPE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSPOONFULS: $400 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORCESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK INC: $400 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCRADLES TO CRAYONS INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAINT FRANCIS HOUSE INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSCHOOL ON WHEELS OF MASSACHUSETTS INC: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Eastern Bank Foundati…Boston Foundation IncLiberty Mutual Founda…Cummings Foundation G…The Hamilton Company …Cambridge Savings Cha…Salem Five Charitable…Arbella Insurance Fou…American Tower Corpor…United Way Of Massach…Eversource Energy Fou…Enterprise Community …
Eastern Bank FoundationMA32.5× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Eastern Bank Foundation · Boston Foundation Inc · Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc · Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (Fka Oneworld Boston Inc) · The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation · Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation Inc · Salem Five Charitable Foundation Inc · Arbella Insurance Foundation · American Tower Corporation Foundation Inc · United Way Of Massachusetts Bay Inc · Eversource Energy Foundation Inc · Enterprise Community Partners Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Boston Capital Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Boston Capital Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 50%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • Bay Cove Human Services Inc: 70% of income from government
  • Youthbuild Global Inc: 69% of income from government
  • Vietnam Veterans Workshop Inc Dba New England Center and Home for Veterans: 66% of income from government
  • Crystal Springs Inc: 57% of income from government
  • Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc: 32% of income from government
  • Greater Boston Food Bank Inc: 22% of income from government
  • Boston Area Gleaners Inc: 20% of income from government
  • Saint Francis House Inc: 18% of income from government
  • Trustees of Boston University: 12% of income from government
  • Homes for America Inc: 8% of income from government
  • School On Wheels of Massachusetts Inc: 7% of income from government
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: 7% of income from government
  • Ymca of the North Shore Inc: 6% of income from government
  • The Community Builders Inc: 4% of income from government
  • Familyaid Boston Inc: 4% of income from government
  • Handel and Haydn Society: 2% of income from government
  • Cradles to Crayons Inc: 2% of income from government
  • House of Hope Inc: 1% of income from government
  • Worcester County Food Bank Inc: 1% of income from government
  • The Bottom Line Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Rosie's Place Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
5get no government money at all
9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
4rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 68 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2019, released 2019. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Boston Capital’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home