The River Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like The River Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 04-3254488

Foundation Overview

Based in Cambridge, MA, The River Foundation has awarded 50 grants totaling $1,568,337 to organizations in Massachusetts, New York and 1 other state across the US. Individual grants range from $5,000 to $105,000, with a median award of $25,000.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$1,568,337
Total Assets
$1,798,827
Median Grant (all grants)
$25,000

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
6
Median Grant
$41,500
% Median Grant Growth
+11% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Closed Network: N/A

0 of 6 recipients (0%) were new grantees. Foundation maintains tight relationships with established partners. New applicants rarely succeed without insider connections.

Geographic Focus
Massachusetts

64% of grants are awarded in Massachusetts, with additional funding distributed across 2 other locations. The foundation balances regional focus with broader geographic diversity. Within Massachusetts, funding concentrates in Boston (78%), Cambridge (19%), Brookline (3%).

Funding Trajectory
+134%

Strong 134% growth in annual giving over 7 years indicates expanding philanthropic capacity and increasing opportunities for grant seekers. This upward trajectory suggests growing foundation resources and commitment.

Program Areas
General Purposes

Highly focused on general purposes with 100% of funding dedicated to this sector. This specialization indicates deep expertise and committed investment in the field.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into The River Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Ancient Egypt Research Associates $105,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2023
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center $60,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2023
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory $30,000 Cold Spring Harbor, NY, US Unrestricted 2023
Harvard Art Museum $20,000 Cambridge, MA, US Unrestricted 2023
Museum Of Fine Arts $53,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2023
Society For Science And The Public $25,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2023
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center $50,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2022
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory $30,000 Cold Spring Harbor, NY, US Unrestricted 2022
Museum Of Fine Arts $45,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2022
Society For Science And The Public $25,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2022
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center $50,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2022
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory $30,000 Cold Spring Harbor, NY, US Unrestricted 2022
Museum Of Fine Arts $45,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2022
Society For Science And The Public $25,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2022
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory $30,000 Cold Spring Harbor, NY, US Unrestricted 2021
Brookline Food Pantry $20,000 Brookline, MA, US Unrestricted 2021
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center $90,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2021
Boston Ballet $5,352 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2021
Harvard Art Museum $10,000 Cambridge, MA, US Unrestricted 2021
Museum Of Fine Arts $33,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2021
Society For Science And The Public $25,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2021
Ancient Egypt Research Associates $100,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2021
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center $50,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2020
Boston Ballet $5,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2020
Museum Of Fine Arts $30,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2020
Society For Science And The Public $25,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2020
The Metropolitan Opera $60,000 New York, NY, US Unrestricted 2020
Naacp Legal Defense Fund $10,000 New York, NY, US Unrestricted 2020
Harvard Art Museum $10,000 Cambridge, MA, US Unrestricted 2020
Aclu Foundation $10,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Ancient Egypt Research Associates $41,985 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Rna Institute $25,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Boston Ballet $5,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Harvard Art Museums $10,000 Cambridge, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Museum Of Fine Arts $30,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Real News Project Inc $5,000 New York, NY, US Unrestricted 2018
Society For Science And The Public $10,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2018
The Metropolitan Opera $60,000 New York, NY, US Unrestricted 2018
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Annual Fund $10,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2018
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Rna Institute $25,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2017
Harvard Art Museums $10,000 Cambridge, MA, US Unrestricted 2017
Museum Of Fine Arts $30,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2017
The Metropolitan Opera $60,000 New York, NY, US Unrestricted 2017
Boston Ballet $5,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2017
Society For Science And The Public $5,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2017
Society For Science And The Public $5,000 Washington, DC, US Unrestricted 2017
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Rna Institute $25,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2016
Harvard Art Museums $10,000 Cambridge, MA, US Unrestricted 2016
Museum Of Fine Arts $30,000 Boston, MA, US Unrestricted 2016
The Metropolitan Opera $60,000 New York, NY, US Unrestricted 2016

Foundations Similar to The River Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($1,773,589-$1,827,499), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in MA that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 46-6458117 | 15 grants awarded
$1,795,748
(≈ Similar)
$20,000
median grant
Norwell, MA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 04-3341450 | 34 grants awarded
$1,793,857
(≈ Similar)
$17,500
median grant
Brookline, MA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 85-1315837 | 8 grants awarded
$1,790,122
(≈ Similar)
$50,000
median grant
Boston, MA
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 04-3371223 | 33 grants awarded
$1,773,589
(≈ Similar)
$12,500
median grant
Gloucester, MA
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 04-6111820 | 34 grants awarded
$1,827,499
(≈ Similar)
$33,520
median grant
Newton, MA
Same state
99%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for The River Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 04-3254488
Website N/A
Address 15 GRAY GDNS W Cambridge, MA 02138-2311

Key People (6)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee The River Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Trustee Walter Gilbert
Trustee Celia Gilbert
Trustee Kate Gilbert
Trustee Eric Domeshek
Trustee John R Gilbert

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for The River Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.