Our donors are always invited to Boston Foundation programs that are open to the public. Chief among these is Understanding Boston, a series of forums, educational events and research presentations that provide information and insight into issues affecting Greater Boston, its neighborhoods and the region. See recent Understanding Reports and forum videos below.
The Boston Foundation hosts events for donors that engage them in programmatic topics (an evening at Commonwealth Shakespeare, for example, or a screening of a film about a prison transition program) and that introduce them to thought leaders in philanthropy: Donors were invited to a “Jeffersonian Dinner” with Dr. Atul Gawande, and to a concert and conversation with Peter Buffett at the Isabel Stewart Gardner Museum. We offer a series of philanthropic workshops each year to help donors and their friends learn more about the mechanics of estate and charitable gift planning from experts in the field. Past programs have included:
Following up on our 2025 survey of Massachusetts nonprofit leaders, we partnered with the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and The MassINC Polling Group to learn how orgnaizations, staff and communities were navigating the actions of the Trump Administration.
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A Boston Indicators analysis finds that Greater Boston is seeing real but modest benefits from the MBTA Communities Act, with nearly 7,000 units of new housing in the pipeline - but only a third near transit.
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As Greater Boston’s community foundation, we are undeterred from our commitment to bring people and resources together to build a thriving and equitable future for our region. Forward Together, TBF's 2025 Annual Report, reflects what's possible when we move forward together and highlights how our collective work comes to life.
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Published with TBF support, this report from the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations looks at how community organizations across Massachusetts are working to preserve "naturally occurring affordable housing" in places across the region.
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In data and interviews, Kelly Harrington and the team from Boston Indicators highlight the success of the first year on the ONE+ Program, which provided financial assistance to over 200 low-and moderate-income first-time homebuyers across Massachusetts.
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More than 400 people gathered in person and online to hear the results of the second Nonprofit Federal Impacts Survey, which showed Massachusetts nonprofits are working to meet increased demand even at the risk of their own financial and staff wellbeing during the first year of the Trump Administration.
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A powerful panel discussion at TBF highlighted the unique role of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other mission-driven financing organizations on the growth of small businesses, and the harm that could result from a cancellation of the federal CDFI Fund.
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At a time of mounting pressure on nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts, leaders and funders gathered for Sustained Collaboration in a Changing Sector: Celebrating the launch of The Massachusetts Nonprofit Collaboration Fund (MassCollab), a discussion about new strategies for partnering with peer organizations.
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At a well-attended author's briefing on her new report, Amy Dain explored her findings and answered questions about the 'real but modest' gains in housing made since the passage of the MBTA Communities Act
Read MoreAs the cost of market rate housing climbs, what can community organizations do to pretect and preserve affordable properties for lower-income families? That was the focus of a new report and discussion hosted by TBF with the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
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