Lincoln & Therese Filene Foundation

The Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation is a private family foundation that has been making grants to tax-exempt organizations and institutions for over a century. The foundation's mission is to promote the well-being of individuals and communities by supporting innovative and effective programs that address some of the most pressing social and economic challenges facing our society.

With a long history of philanthropic innovation, the foundation was established by Lincoln and Therese Filene, who were pioneers in Boston's early philanthropic community. Their interests spanned many areas of concern, and they were committed to creating positive change through collaborative and community-driven approaches. Today, the foundation continues to build on this legacy by supporting a wide range of initiatives and programs that promote education, economic opportunity, and social justice.

Our Programs

Our grantmaking program is designed to support initiatives that align with our mission and values. We focus on four specific program areas: Civic Education, Human Development and Self-Sufficiency, Music Education and Performing Arts, and Public Education and Broadcasting.

Our Civic Education program aims to promote informed civic participation and engage citizens in the democratic process. We support organizations that provide services to natural-born and immigrant populations, educating others, and informing citizens about their rights and responsibilities.

In our Human Development and Self-Sufficiency program, we focus on enabling individuals who are disadvantaged or marginalized to help themselves and others. This includes supporting organizations that provide services to domestic violence and human trafficking survivors, homelessness prevention, job training, and programs that enable youth to overcome obstacles to positive growth.

Music Education and Performing Arts is another area we prioritize. We support organizations that provide music instruction and experiences to those who could otherwise not afford them. We also fund initiatives that promote accessible arts and cultural programming in underserved communities.

Our Public Education and Broadcasting program aims to create, distribute, and facilitate educational content to the general public in underserved communities.

Our Grantmaking Process

Our grantmaking process is guided by a review of proposals from non-profit organizations with Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. We prioritize proposals that are specific, achievable, and replicable, with a focus on supporting innovative and effective programs. Awards typically range from $10,000 to $20,000.