The History:

Founded by father and son team Charles E. and Charles M. Rogerson in 1915, The Boston Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the United States.

The Foundation received its first donation in 1917 when Bostonian James Longley, left a bequest of $4 million, which provided the Foundation with the resources it needed to make its first community grants.

Since then, the Boston Foundation has helped poor immigrants and struggling Bostonians through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Polio Epidemic and countless other events.

The Approach:

In partnership with their donors, the Boston Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and acts as a convener and civic leader. Every day, the Boston Foundation works closely with nonprofit organizations, philanthropists, civic and business leaders and public officials to build a Greater Boston that works for everyone.

The Boston Foundation Today:

With President and CEO Paul S. Grogan at the helm, The Boston Foundation have continued to support the people and cultural fabric of Boston. Since Grogan’s arrival in 2001, the Foundation’s research and civic leadership work has helped leverage the distribution of millions of public dollars for the state’s cultural facilities and shaped key legislative reform in the areas of public education, municipal health care, housing and community colleges.

Meanwhile, through its grant making and other work, the Foundation continues to respond to need, seed innovation and change the game—all while working closely with hundreds of donors. Together, the Foundation and its donors award over $100 million in grants annually.

What The Team Says:

“The Boston Foundation is an expression of a century of donors giving and improving Greater Boston. We stand at the start of a new generation and a new century to be the expression of giving and transforming lives for years to come.” – Kate Guedj, Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer, The Boston Foundation

Learn more about The Boston Foundation at https://www.tbf.org