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{{Infobox organization
The '''Boston Foundation''', founded in 1915, is one of the oldest and largest [[community foundation]]s in the nation.<ref name="2008 report">https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/files/financial-information/financial-statements/tbf-fy2018-audited-financial-statements.pdf?la=en&hash=FBB34D0676B2487CDB6B3AA02095380172CF7E2C<br /></ref> Serving the Greater Boston area, it is made up of some 1,100 separate charitable funds established by thousands of donors over more than 100 years.<ref name="2008 report" /> Funds are set up either for the community or for special purposes, such as supporting individual nonprofit organizations or particular causes in perpetuity. Today, the foundation is the largest public charity and the largest grantmaker in New England, making more than $130&nbsp;million in grants in FY2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/files/financial-information/financial-statements/tbf-fy2018-audited-financial-statements.pdf?la=en&hash=FBB34D0676B2487CDB6B3AA02095380172CF7E2C|title=The Boston Foundation FY2018 Financial Statement}}</ref> Since 2001, the Boston Foundation has also commissioned and published research, hosted forums and other platforms for discussion and public policy development, and joined or formed coalitions related to a wide range of challenges facing Boston and the region.
| name = The Boston Foundation
| abbreviation = TBF
| logo = [[File:The Boston Foundation logo.png|250px]]
| formation = {{start date and age|1915}}<ref name="CityOfIdeas" />
| status = [[501(c)(3) organization]]
| purpose =
| headquarters = [[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| endowment = $530 million {{As of|2022|6|30|alt=(2022)}}
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.tbf.org/}}
}}
The '''Boston Foundation''' is a [[community foundation]] established in 1915. Serving the city of [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], it is made up of nearly 1,100 separate charitable funds established by donors over more than 100 years.<ref name="Financial">{{Cite web |url=https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/files/financial-information/financial-statements/tbf-fy23-audited-financial-statements.pdf |title=Consolidated Financial Statements with Independent Auditors Report: June 30, 2023 |access-date=February 26, 2023}}</ref> Funds are set up for the community or for special purposes, such as supporting individual [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit organizations]] or particular causes. Since 2001, the Boston Foundation has commissioned and published research, hosted forums and platforms for discussion and public policy development, and joined or formed coalitions addressing issues around individual-, systems- and root-level causes of inequity facing Boston and the region.
 
== History ==
The Boston Foundation was founded in 1915 by Charles E. and Charles M. Rogerson, who were father and son.<ref name="beginningCityOfIdeas">{{Cite web |url=httphttps://wwwissuu.tbf.orgcom/uploadedFilesbostonfoundation/tbforgdocs/There_at_the_Beginningtbfinthecityofideas?e=15677070/There%20from%20the%20Beginning.pdf13138661 |title=ArchivedThe copyBoston |access-date=JanuaryFoundation 9,in 2009the |archive-date=DecemberCity 10,of Ideas 20101915 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210194228/http://www.tbf.org/uploadedFiles/tbforg/There_at_the_Beginning/There%20from%20the%20Beginning.pdf 2015 |urlaccess-statusdate=deadFebruary 26, 2023}}</ref> Originally called the Permanent Charity Fund, it was the third community foundation created in the United States,. butThe itfoundation stood out forintroduced a new approach to [[philanthropy.]],<ref name="beginningCityOfIdeas" /> It wasas the first community foundation to implement the idea of collectingcollect funds from across an entirethe region and buildinguse anits endowment to be used to improve the life of the community.<ref name="beginningCityOfIdeas" /> EquallyRogerson precedent-setting was the Rogersons’ notion of empoweringallowed a distribution committee, composed of prominent and knowledgeable citizens, to make grants on the basis of need—whereperceived they thought funds could do the greatest goodneed.<ref This coupled the long-term stability of endowment with the flexibility to disburse money responsively to meet changing community needs.{{Citation needed|datename=August"CityOfIdeas" 2022}}/>
 
In 1985, the foundation was renamed The Boston Foundation, and [[Anna Faith Johnson Jones|Anna Faith Jones]] became its president—thepresident. Jones was the first African-American woman to lead a major foundation in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alumni Achievement Awards 1994 - Anna Faith Johnson Jones '54 |url=http://www.wellesley.edu/alumnae/awards/achievementawards/allrecipients/anna-faith-johnson-jones-54 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Wellesley College |language=en}}</ref> She was succeeded in 2001 by President and CEO Paul S. Grogan. During Grogan's tenure, the foundation launchedexpanded efforts atits civic engagement beyondactivities grant-making, such asto commissioning and publishing research into urban issues, holding public forums, forming task forces and coalitions, and informing legislative solutions to some of the city's intractable problems.<ref name="CityOfIdeas" />
 
In 2012, the Boston Foundation merged with [https://tpi.org/ The Philanthropic Initiative] (TPI), which has since operatedoperates as a distinct unit of the Foundation. TPI, founded in 1989, offers consulting services to high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, and corporations nationallyglobally.<ref>[https://tpi.org/ andThe globallyPhilanthropic Initiative] Retrieved on February 26, 2024.</ref>
 
In January 2020, Grogan announced that he was stepping down from his role upon the arrival of a replacement,<ref name="TBF-84">[http://www.tbf.org/AboutTBF/AboutTBFDetail.aspx?id=84 Meet Our President]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> and onOn December 1, 2020, the foundation announced that Grogan would be replaced by [[Emerson College]] President [[M. Lee Pelton]]. Pelton took office on June 1, 2021.<ref>[https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2020/december/pelton-announced-as-president-ceo-20201201 The Boston Foundation names Dr. M. Lee Pelton as next President and CEO] TBF.org. Retrieved on December 4, 2020.</ref>
 
== Mission ==
The Foundation aims to close societal gaps through programs and grants that promote access to healthcare and early education, strengthen the community economy, and advocate for community leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What We Do |url=https://www.tbf.org/what-we-do |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.tbf.org |language=en}}</ref>
As Greater Boston's community foundation since 1915, the Boston Foundation devotes its resources to building and sustaining a vital, prosperous city and region, where justice and opportunity are extended to everyone. It fulfills this mission in three principal ways:
 
The Foundation also commissions public research into a range of issues related to the [[Greater Boston]] region, with the aim of contributing to public policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Boston Foundation – Center for Labor Market Studies Publications Archive |url=https://clms.library.northeastern.edu/research-partners/the-boston-foundation/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Making grants to nonprofit organizations and designing special funding initiatives to address this community's critical challenges;
* Working in partnership with donors to achieve [[High impact philanthropy|high-impact philanthropy]]; and
* Serving as a civic hub and center of information, where ideas are shared, levers for change are identified, and common agendas for the future are developed.
<ref name="TBF-80">[http://www.tbf.org/abouttbf/abouttbfdetail.aspx?id=80 Mission Statement]. Tbf.org (December 15, 2005). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
== Governance ==
The foundation is overseen by a 20-member board of directors, selected for their experience and skills as well as to represent diverse community interests.<ref name="TBF-82">[http://www.tbf.org/AboutTBF/AboutTBFDetail.aspx?id=82 Meet Our Board]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> The staff includes professionals in grant-making, fund-raising, research, finance, administration, and communications.<ref name="TBF-100">[http://www.tbf.org/AboutTBF/AboutTBFDetail.aspx?id=100 TBF Staff]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
== Grant-making ==
{{Confusing section|date=February 2024}}
Over its more than 100 years of grant-making, the foundation has given money to support organizations that aid immigrants, fight disease, improve education, reduce crime, and address other evolving systemic needs. It also backed numerous new ideas and institutions by providing seed capital and other support.<ref name="beginning" /> Among its notable accomplishments are grants that helped launch [[WGBH-TV]], now one of the nation's major public television stations.<ref name="beginning" /> It also made an early investment in the redevelopment of Faneuil Hall into a central retail marketplace, often associated with Boston's renewal in the late 20th century; and helped to shape Boston's Longwood Medical Center area.<ref name="beginning" /> The foundation invested in the most extensive network of community health centers in the nation and made grants to a group called Save the Harbor/Save the Bay to clean up Boston Harbor.<ref name="beginning" /> What was once one of the filthiest harbors in the world became one of the cleanest.<ref name="beginning" /> It also made early grants to numerous organizations that started in Boston and spread throughout the country, like [https://www.citizenschools.org/ Citizen Schools], [https://www.cityyear.org/ City Year], [https://greenlightfund.org/ GreenLight Fund], and [https://www.yearup.org/ Year Up].<ref name="beginning" />
The Foundation's grants have assisted nonprofit organizations that aim to address a variety of systemic needs including migrant assistance, public health, education and crime prevention. It has also provided seed capital and other support for new institutions and charitable endeavors.<ref name="CityOfIdeas" />
 
The Foundation's assistance has included:
Much of the foundation's giving in the 21st century comes through [[Donor-advised fund|donor advised funds]] (DAFs). Each year, the Foundation and its donors make grants<ref name="grants">[http://www.tbf.org/GrantSeekers/GrantSeekersHome.aspx Grant Seekers]. Tbf.org (July 1, 2011). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> to hundreds of nonprofits in Greater Boston and across the country.<ref name="2008 report" /> From 2001 to 2021 the Foundation focused its giving on Housing and Community development,<ref name="tbf.org">[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=976 Funding Priorities-Education and Out of School Time]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> education<ref name="tbf.org"/> and workforce Development<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=980 Funding Priorities-Workforce Development]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Arts & Culture,<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=984 Funding Priorities-Arts and Culture]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Civic Engagement,<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=986 Funding Priorities-Civic Engagement]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Community Safety,<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Health and Human Services<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=988 Funding Priorities-Health and Human Services]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> the Nonprofit Sector<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=990 Funding Priorities-Nonprofit Sector]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> and the Urban Environment.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=992 Funding Priorities-Urban Environment]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> The Foundation often takes on special initiatives to address pressing issues affecting the community, such as civic engagement, pilot schools, and homelessness prevention.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/GrantSeekers/GrantSeekersDetail.aspx?id=244 Initiatives]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
* Providing grants to help launch [[WGBH-TV]], now a major U.S. public television station
* An early investment in the redevelopment of Faneuil Hall into a central retail marketplace, often associated with Boston's renewal in the late 20th century
* Helping to develop Boston's Longwood Medical Center area
* Providing grants to Save the Harbor / Save the Bay to clean up Boston Harbor
* Investing in an extensive network of community health centers across Boston neighborhoods
* Making early grants to U.S. organizations that started in Boston such as [[Citizen Schools]], [[City Year]], GreenLight Fund, and [[Year Up]].<ref name="CityOfIdeas" />
 
In 2023, 75.6%<ref name="Financial" /> of the foundation's giving came through [[Donor-advised fund|donor advised funds]] (DAFs). In 2023, the Foundation and its donors made $175,374,000 in grants to nonprofits in Greater Boston and across the U.S.<ref name="Financial" /> From 2001 to 2021 the Foundation focused its giving on housing and community development, education and workforce development, arts and culture, civic engagement, community safety, health and human services, the nonprofit sector, and the urban environment.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/grantseekers/grantseekersdetail.aspx?id=992 Funding Priorities-Urban Environment]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
The Foundation often takes on special initiatives to address issues affecting the community, such as civic engagement, pilot schools, and homelessness prevention.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/GrantSeekers/GrantSeekersDetail.aspx?id=244 Initiatives]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
== Civic leadership ==
Through its ''Understanding Boston'' series, the Boston Foundation commissions research from universities, think tanks and other organizations and shares this information through a series of public forums that are attended by thousands of people every year.<ref name="UB">[http://www.tbf.org/UnderstandingBoston/Default.aspx The Boston Foundation]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Issues addressed through ''Understanding Boston'' embrace a broad range of issues, includinginclude public education, housing, the workforce, health, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, the arts, and the urban environment.<ref name="UB" />
 
The Foundation also creates task forces and action agendas that aim to produce positive change. For example:
 
In addition to providing fresh information and bringing people together to discuss findings, the foundation also creates Task Forces and Action Agendas to produce positive change. A number of issues have been influenced by this process. * The Commonwealth Housing Task Force created a Smart Growth housing effort to address the current shortage of housing in the state[[Massachusetts]].<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/chtf The Commonwealth Housing Task Force]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> The program has led to dozens of towns and cities building thousands of new units of housing.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/tbfgen1.asp?id=1991 The Boston Foundation]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
* The Foundation's civic leadership also helped lead to the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, which has provided millions in state funding for cultural facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tbf.org/uploadedFiles/tbforg/There_at_the_Beginning/ThereForTheArts.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 9, 2009 |archive-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210194246/http://www.tbf.org/uploadedFiles/tbforg/There_at_the_Beginning/ThereForTheArts.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its work examining the current Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system has led to a complete re-evaluation of the system by state lawmakers.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/UnderstandingBoston/CommunitySafety.aspx?id=6128 The Boston Foundation]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
* The Foundation's research and public information campaign related to public education has influenced the [[Governor (United States)|Governor]]'s approach to education across the stateMassachusetts.<ref>[http://www.tbf.org/UnderstandingBoston/Education.aspx?id=6130 The Boston Foundation]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
* Other issuesagendas, thatincluding havehomelessness benefited from the foundation's civic leadership include preventing homelessnessprevention, a new collaborative for the life sciences, issues related to health and health care, and the revenue-raising capacity of Massachusetts cities.<ref name="2008 report" />
 
== Boston Indicators Project ==
The foundationFoundation's civic leadership also extends to its [http://www.bostonindicators.org/ Boston Indicators] Projectproject. The project relies on the expertise of hundreds of stakeholders gathered togetherworks in multiplepartnership conveningswith tocommunity frame its conclusionsgroups, and draw data from the wealth ofcivic informationleaders and researchGreater generated by the regionBoston's excellentcivic publicdata agencies,community civicto institutions,produce thinkspecial tanks,reports and community-basedhost organizationspublic convenings.<ref name=":0">[httphttps://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Content.aspx?id=602 The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on OctoberFebruary 2026, 20112024.</ref> The Boston Foundation will release a biennial report, with supplemental updates and outreach, through the year 2030, Boston's 400th anniversary.
Boston Indicators aims to provide equitable access to information, promote informed public discourse, track progress on civic goals, and report on change in 10 sectors: Civic Vitality, Cultural Life and the Arts, the Economy, Education, the Environment, Health, Housing, Public Safety, Technology, and Transportation.<ref name=":0" />
Boston Indicators offers new ways to understand Boston and its neighborhoods in a regional context. It aims to democratize access to information, foster informed public discourse, track progress on share civic goals, and report on change in 10 sectors: Civic Vitality,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/CivicVitality/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Cultural Life and the Arts,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/CulturalLife/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org (December 10, 2006). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> the Economy,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Economy/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Education,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Education/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org (April 14, 2009). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> the Environment,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Environment/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Health,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Health/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Housing,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Housing/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org (December 31, 2010). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Public Safety,<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/PublicSafety/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org (December 15, 2008). Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> Technology<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Technology/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref> and Transportation.<ref>[http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Transportation/Default.aspx The Boston Indicators Project]. Bostonindicators.org. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.</ref>
 
The project's first report, [http://www.tbf.org/IndicatorsProject/News/detail.asp?id=2999 ''The Wisdom of Our Choices]'', was released in 2000. The second report, [http://www.tbf.org/indicators/ ''Creativity and Innovation: A Bridge to the Future]'', was released in early 2003, along with the launch of the Project's interactive website,. whichThe website received the International Tech Museum Award2003 that yearAward for using technology to further equality.<ref>[httphttps://www.tbf.org/UtilityNavigationnews-and-insights/NewsPresspress-releases/PressReleasesDetail.aspx?id=6244&parentId=3822003/september/boston-foundation-honored-as-finalist-in-prestigious-global-2003-tech-museum-awards-competition PressBoston Foundation Honored As Finalist In Prestigious Global 2003 Tech Museum ReleasesAwards DetailCompetition]. Tbf.org. Retrieved on OctoberFebruary 2026, 20112024.</ref> The thirdmost recent report, [http://www.tbf.org/IndicatorsProject/index2004.asp Thinking Globally/Acting Locally: A Regional Wake-Up Call], was released in 20052024, withis antitled enhanced''Criminal website.Justice The most recent report, releasedReform in 2007,Massachusetts: isA titledFive-Year Progress Assessment''.<ref>[httphttps://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject-/media/indicators/boston-indicators-reports/report-files/criminaljusticereform_report_12224.pdf ACriminal TimeJustice LikeReform Noin OtherMassachusetts: ChartingA theFive-Year CourseProgress ofAssessment]. theMassINC Nextand RevolutionBoston Indicators.] Retrieved on February 26, 2024.</ref>
 
All Boston Indicators Project reports are available onlineon atits http://www.bostonindicators.org.website, along The website provideswith sector highlights, and indicators with data available for download,. andThe featuresIndicators suchFramework, asa thecurated [http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Content.aspx?id=614online Hubcatalogue of Innovation],350 measures [http://www.bostonindicators.org/IndicatorsProject/Links.aspxof Linkswell-being &in Resources],the andBoston a [http://www.bostonindicators.org/indicatorsproject/publicsafety/indicator.aspx?id=8182 Dataarea, Portal]continues to otherbe data-richavailable sites.online Newbut researchhas fromnot areabeen andupdated nationalsince sources2015.<ref isname=":0" posted on a regular basis./>
 
==References==
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==External links==
* The [http://wwwhdl.libraryhandle.neu.edunet/archives2047/collect/findaids/m127find.htmD20297023 Persistent Poverty Project records, 1985–2002] are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
* [http://www.bostonindicators.org Boston Indicators]
 
{{Authority control}}
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