Open Foundations · Massachusetts

The Ceres Foundation Inc 43j-74d54

Groton, Massachusetts · EIN 912170962. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $7.9M across 64 grants in 2024, a median of $82K each.

All Massachusetts foundations · All states

$7.9M
paid in 2024
64
grants paid
$82K
median grant
10%
to first-time recipients
$169.6M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
AMANDA L NORTHROP
Address
PO BOX 578, GROTON, MA, 01450
Phone
4013685675
Form the request should take
ONLINE APPLICATION, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT HTTPS://WWW.CERESGIVING.ORG/PAGE/APPLICATION-PROCESS
Submission deadline
NONE
Restrictions on awards
WE INVEST IN STRONG LEADERS AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT RANGE FROM SMALL GRASSROOTS EFFORTS TO MORE ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS. OUR GRANTEES ARE UNITED IN THEIR PASSION TO CREATE LONG-TERM POSITIVE CHANGE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. WE FUND A MIX OF INNOVATIVE AND PROVEN MODELS, BUT ALL GRANTEES MUST DEMONSTRATE OR HAVE A PLAN TO DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. WE FUND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN LOS ANGELES + ORANGE COUNTY, CA; WASHINGTON, DC; AND WESTERN, MA FOCUSED ON ADVANCING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH THROUGH COLLEGE ACCESS & SUCCESS, CAREER PATHWAYS, AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS. GRANTEES MUST BE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS UNDER IRC SEC 509(A)(1), 509(A)(2), OR (IN CERTAIN CASES) 509(A)(3).

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2024, IRS filing object id 202503219349109210. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The words that come up most often across the purposes it wrote on its 2024 grants. These are the foundation's own words, not a category we assigned.

los angeleslow-income womenyoung adultsfoster careangeles countyyouthstudentscollege

Biggest grants in 2024

The 15 largest of the 64 grants paid in 2024, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Thrive ScholarsCA$2,000,000SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE THRIVE SCHOLARS' LOS ANGELES AND BOSTON PROGRAMS
2Friendship Shelter IncCA$360,000SUPPORT THE HOME FOR GOOD INITIATIVE AND HENDERSON HOUSE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM
3Schoolhouse Connection IncDC$275,000SUPPORT THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUTH HAVING EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS
4Community Adolescent Resources and Education Center IncMA$250,000SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE BARD MICROCOLLEGE PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN
5Future Link IncMD$200,000SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMATIC MODEL TO EXPAND CAREER COACHING, INTERNSHIP, AND MENTORING
6Lift IncDC$200,000SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF FINANCIAL COACHING MODEL FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES AND WASHINGTON D.C.
7Stem AdvantageCA$200,000SUPPORT PROGRAM EXPANSION TO MENTOR, PREPARE, AND INSPIRE PRIMARILY FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FOR CAREERS IN S.T.E.M.
8More Than Words IncMA$160,000SUPPORT ADVOCACY WORK ROLLOUT OF ITS EXPANDED MODEL TO ADDRESS SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS FOR VULNERABLE MASSACHUSETTS YOUTH
9Capital Partners for Education Dba Spark the JourneyDC$150,000SUPPORT MULTI-YEAR EXPANSION PLAN TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IT SERVES BY 2025, TO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP AND A COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO CHART THEIR OWN PATH TO ACHIEVING COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS
10Corporation of the Washington Latin SchoolDC$150,000SUPPORT CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION, EMPHASIZING THE SOCRATIC MEHOD, FOR AN ADDITIONAL 750 STUDENTS
11Monument Academy IncDC$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR
12New Village Charter School IncCA$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND CREATION OF A NEW STUDENT RECRUITMENT POSITION, TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR GIRLS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SERVED IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
13Tech Foundry IncMA$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PREPARES INDIVIDUALS FOR SUSTAINABLE CAREERS IN TECHNOLOGY FIELDS
14Dc Volunteer Lawyers ProjectDC$130,000SUPPORT IT COMPREHENSIVE PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, VULNERABLE IMIGRANTS, AND AT-RISK CHILDREN
15Taller San Jose Hope BuildersCA$125,000SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM FOR DISCONNECTED YOUNG ADULTS

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202023$1.7M
202122$2.0M
202239$4.0M
202363$6.7M
202464$7.9M

Where the money went

Share of 2024 grant dollars by recipient state
California42%
District of Columbia25%
Massachusetts16%
Maryland9%
Virginia2%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Daniel C MilderPRESIDENT · 2024
Donald B MilderTREASURER · 2024
Emily B MilderDIRECTOR · 2024
Ryan F BradleyDIRECTOR · 2024
Terri L MilderSECRETARY · 2024
Zachary D MilderDIRECTOR · 2024

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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