The William & Lia G Poorvu Family Foundation
Invitation OnlyCambridge, Massachusetts · EIN 04-2651199 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$10.1M
Organizations funded119
Typical grant$20,000
Total assets$137.1M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $50,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
23% of grants went outside Massachusetts.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | Endowment and operating support | $2,505,000 |
| Ecoamerica | Washington, DC | Program support | $1,100,000 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Brookline, MA | Program support | $1,000,000 |
| Wbur | Boston, MA | Program support | $600,000 |
| Brigham & Women's Hospital | Boston, MA | Program and operating support | $510,000 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Shorenstein ctr on media, politics & public policy | $500,000 |
| Gilder Lehrman Institute | New York, NY | Program and operating support | $350,000 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA | Program and operating support | $260,000 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Graduate school of design | $250,000 |
| American Academy of Arts and Sciences | Cambridge, MA | Program support | $200,000 |
| Broad Institute | Cambridge, MA | Program support | $200,000 |
| Combined Jewish Philanthropies | Boston, MA | Program support | $150,000 |
| Adolescent Consultation Services | Cambridge, MA | Endowment - program and operating support | $100,000 |
| Bard College - Fisher Center | Annandaleonthehudso, NY | Fisher center | $100,000 |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | Boston, MA | Program support | $100,000 |
| Summer Search Boston | Jamaica Plain, MA | Operating support | $100,000 |
| Boston Baroque | Boston, MA | Operating support | $75,000 |
| Arnold Arboretum (Harvard) | Boston, MA | Program support | $50,000 |
| Boston Area Gleaners | Acton, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Cradles to Crayons | Newton, MA | Program and operating support | $50,000 |
| Facing History and Ourselves | Brookline, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Familyaid Boston | Boston, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Food for Free | Somerville, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Lovin' Spoonfulls | Newton, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Massachusetts Historical Society | Boston, MA | Program and operating support | $50,000 |
| Massachusetts Humanities | Northampton, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Phillips Academy Andover | Andover, MA | Scholarship fund | $50,000 |
| Project Bread - the Walk for Hunger | Boston, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Tsne Missionworks - Integrity Initiatives International | Boston, MA | Intergrity initiatives international | $50,000 |
| West Chop Community Fund Inc | Tisbury, MA | Operating support | $50,000 |
| Wgbh Educational Foundation | Boston, MA | Project, program, and operating support | $50,000 |
| Boston Camerata | Boston, MA | Operating support | $45,000 |
| Bard College - Longy School of Music | Cambridge, MA | Longy school of music | $40,000 |
| Metropolitan Opera Association | New York, NY | Program support | $30,000 |
| 2Life Communities Services | Brighton, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Accelerate Change Inc | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Aclu Foundation of Ma | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| American Independent Foundation | Washington DC, DC | Operating support | $25,000 |
| American Jewish Committee | New York, NY | Transatlantic institute | $25,000 |
| Boston Landmarks Orchestra | Cambridge, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Bridge Over Troubled Waters | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Cambridge Community Foundation | Cambridge, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation | Malden, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Cambridge Public Library Foundation | Cambridge, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation of America | Alexandria, VA | Education program support | $25,000 |
| Conservatory Lab Charter School | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Equis Institute | San Francisco, CA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Families First Parenitng Programs Inc | Watertown, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Global Impact | Alexandria, VA | Program support | $25,000 |
| Homesmart | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Hopewell Fund | Baltimore, MD | Program support | $25,000 |
| National Public Radio Foundation | Washington, DC | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Philanthropy Massachusetts | Boston, MA | Summer fund | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Reproductive Equity Now Foundation | Boston, MA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Rockefeller University | New York, NY | Program support | $25,000 |
| Tides Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | Program support | $25,000 |
| World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | Program support | $25,000 |
| Fort Ticonderoga | Ticonderoga, NY | Operating support | $20,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 119 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,087,500 | 119 |
| 2023 | $8,831,000 | 109 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 17, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202503219349101605
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 04-2651199
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.