The Boston Foundation

The Boston Foundation is Greater Boston’s community foundation, working in partnership with donors to build and sustain a vital, prosperous city and region. It makes grants to nonprofits and runs initiatives that respond to pressing needs, most recently through its Meeting the Moment work on food insecurity and support for immigrants. It also highlights research on regional issues such as family wealth gaps, carbon reduction in small buildings and the college experiences of Boston Public Schools graduates.

Its Sustaining Families initiative, launched in August 2025 in response to rising food insecurity and cuts to federal food programs, has distributed $6.7 million. Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors pairs legal aid, rapid relief and advocacy for the more than one million foreign-born people in Greater Boston and Massachusetts, funding groups in legal aid, community organizing, policy and the social safety net. The foundation also runs regular grant cycles, including Safety Net Grants.

What to Know

• Boston Indicators, the foundation’s research effort, published a report on how permitting slows housing.
• The foundation and its donors have given nearly $5 million to immigrant-serving organizations in recent months.
• One-time grants are offered to Latinx-serving nonprofits working on community health and economic opportunity.
• Natalie Herter serves as chief investment officer.