https://www.tbf.org/rss-feeds/blogBlog Posts from the Boston Foundationen{2B46F399-54B5-4D37-9625-AC8847F677A6}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2026/april/climate-careers-fund-q-and-aMassachusetts has a unique opportunity to unlock millions of dollars to help create thousands of climate-firendly jobs, if philanthropy can unlock matching funds for the Massachusetts Climate Career Fund. Orlando Watkins and Tracy Palandjian of Saocal Finance discuss the Fund's promise for sustainable careers.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400{3C2332A6-3D90-47D1-B2D7-5B2E501FA6A0}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2026/march/understanding-qcd-and-ira-through-basketballApril is a time for basketball--and taxes, but it turns out not all winning strategies are made on the court. Director of Planned Giving Elisa Pasche uses hoops to explain how you can use your IRA to score for the nonprofits you care about. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400{1F147C50-0BA1-476D-BC17-F2D79C5D66B9}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2026/march/supporting-our-immigrant-neighbors-city-hallRead Lee Pelton's statement at the City Hall launch of Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors, as part of a new public-private partnership with the City of Boston, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, and the Barr Foundation.Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400{3C7093AD-B90F-4805-A366-B33351DB5D26}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2026/march/strategy-for-supporting-immigrant-neighbors-lee-peltonIn this opinion piece originally shared by CommonWealth Beacon, TBF President and CEO Lee Pelton reflects on the reach of recent federal actions, offering TBF's three-pronged strategy as a road map for people seeking to support their neighbors.Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500{F5E8E49C-E1C4-4506-A74B-81A11B637E71}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2026/march/paying-opportunity-forwardTBF Vice President of Public Affairs Keith Mahoney testified at a U.S. Senate field hearing, naming the disparities for businesses owned by people of color in MA and outlining longstanding efforts by TBF to advance equity and opportunity for the people and communities of Greater Boston.Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500{9847B9DD-9573-4752-92D8-7C18F393F229}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2026/january/protecting-immigrant-communities-tbf-giving-guideTBF has compiled a list of local organizations who you can support in order to respond to this moment and to support all of our neighbors who call Greater Boston home.Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500{BEEC106B-139A-4274-B7E3-30C8691B41BF}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/december/top-research-of-2025In a year that challenged assumptions and stretched resources across several areas, this is the most widely read research produced in 2025 by Boston Indicators and the Boston Foundation in collaboration with our research partners.Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500{643E33A1-29BA-431F-925C-EB5E5B8811DC}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/december/why-study-heat-20251215Though it's winter that approaches, heat is on our mind. TBF's Senior Program Officer for Climate shares reflections from a conversation with environmental health expert M. Patricia Fabian, Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Associate Director of the Institute for Global Sustainability at Boston University.Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500{9E38646A-FC2C-432A-869C-6164E99984EC}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/december/mental-health-in-pediatric-careTBF began investing in HealthySteps as part of our goal to integrate behavioral and mental health into pediatric care. The evidence spoke for itself: When families experience consistent, trust-based care, the outcomes for both children and adults improve. But we also knew that evidence alone wouldn’t change systems. To help HealthySteps take root and flourish in our state, we needed to aim for both program expansion and policy change.Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500{6047F3B9-7468-4F9C-81FC-73254020EE01}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/december/planned-giving-and-meeting-the-momentWhile dozens of Boston Foundation donors have used current dollars from their donor advised funds to provide some of those resources, those dollars are working alongside funds given years––or even decades––ago. Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500{B26969B5-1523-409C-9BFF-711C55679E22}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/november/housing-data-into-policy-mahoney-20251103For the past two decades, TBFs Greater Boston Housing Report Card has been tracking housing policy in Massachusetts and helping to translate data into action. As we prepare to publish the 2025 edition, we just witnessed how 2024's report helped shift the conversation—and the outcomes—on housing in our region. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500{C70FD095-DE83-4A5A-9DC1-D3FCA5A37E93}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/october/lee-pelton-remarks-at-snap-event-20251031TBF President and CEO Lee Pelton joined Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to highlight a new collaboration to support Greater Boston food providers in the face of Federal failure to pay for food safety net programs during the Government shutdown. These are his full prepared remarks.Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400{BDD81E26-99C0-49AF-A061-F9C017A0938C}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/october/connie-forbes-interview-tbf-news-fall-2025Connie Forbes is the finance and operations associate at Future Chefs, a nonprofit that provides early employment, transferable skills training, and ongoing coaching and support to adolescents and young adults in a culinary arts setting. Forbes served as a community reviewer for TBF’s Safety Net Grants special round in spring 2025. We spoke to her about her experience. Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400{9C862389-E21B-4B78-BE3C-13B41D5E108A}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/october/nickey-nesbeth-interview-tbf-news-fall-2025Community leader Nickey Nesbeth, who founded the Caribbean Youth Club in 2010 and the Boston Girls Empowerment Network in 2013 and has headed the Black Refugee and Immigrant Community Coalition and Immigrant Workforce Development Initiative, was the spark that fired up the English for a Strong Economy coalition. We spoke to her about her overlapping projects shortly after she appeared on a TBF panel in June.Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400{00EDA197-E91B-409B-8B51-7BCFDC3AA883}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/october/systems-for-esol-green-op-ed-cw-beaconAs SkillWorks' Executive Director Andre Green emphasizes in an op ed for CommonWealth Beacon, with the funding in place that invests in ESOL, now is the time to build upon our advocacy wins and build out the systems to help our immigrant workforce learn English.Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400{16D426C8-D77C-44C6-95B8-8EA75B6CF43B}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/august/pelton-power-of-data-for-solutions-20250831In this piece published in Commonwealth Beacon, TBF President and CEO Lee Pelton highlights the Trump Administration's denial of data and calls for Boston and other cities to highlight the proven power of data-driven solutions.Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400{BD135A7F-A2D9-4C4F-8CF2-398F86548958}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/july/lead-with-moral-courage-lee-pelton-op-ed-bbj-20250724As federal changes threaten the most vulnerable across our region, TBF President and CEO Lee Pelton reflects on moral courage and leadership as TBF plans to lead a coordinated philanthropic response to mobilize resources and galvanize collective action, shared in his op ed for the BBJ.Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400{9859D50C-A537-467D-941D-A8BCAD9348B5}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/july/get-funds-flowing-candace-burton-npq-20250710In her article for Nonprofit Quarterly, Candace Burton reflects on her work leading the Safety Net Grants program at TBF and the lessons we've learned about trust-based grantmaking, streamlining systems, and centering equity as we meet this moment.Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400{F2502AD2-A218-4974-A542-E99E69F9D438}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/june/economics-of-esol-mahoney-blog-postIf we are to embrace our full potential as a city and region, says Keith Mahoney, we must recognize, support, and invest in the potential of our region's immigrants through English language education. Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400{995D4A25-9F49-4144-9FBE-D76218927895}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/may/dwight-poler-impact-investing-20250528Dwight Poler, Chair of the Boston Foundation, is the founder and CEO of AccelR8 Ventures, a fund investing in early-stage climate change mitigation technologies. A condensed and edited version of this interview appeared in the Spring 2025 Issue of TBF News.Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400{55AF3ABD-2BDC-4084-BCFE-00A5A1D9CAE7}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/may/climate-work-as-a-marathon-20250522Julia Howard, TBF Senior Program Officer, Climate, shares five reflections on for how she is approaching building the Foundation’s first programmatic climate strategy with parallels to her experience of running the Boston Marathon route.Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400{6CC4D0A2-8CC8-4A4B-9224-BE6AD9836092}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/may/efforts-to-meet-the-moment-20250502As the federal government continues to compound its assault on the rights and freedoms of our democratic values, seeking to erase the cultural, social and even human identities of those we serve, while starving vulnerable communities of resources that sustain life and wellbeing, the Boston Foundation has redoubled its efforts to not only advance equity and justice, but to protect and sustain it. Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400{C8921A00-C278-4CA2-BA9B-8209690D2B5B}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2025/january/los-angeles-fires-giving-guideEven as fire still rages in Southern California, community foundations and other organizations are working to comfort and support the victims. This giving guide includes organizations that could use your support.Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500{B366F866-C29A-4169-9D9D-E30B311A48C3}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/december/top-research-of-2024In an exceptionally busy year, these are the reports and pieces of research from TBF and Boston Indicators that jumped to the top of the list for 2024, led once again by the Greater Boston Housing Report Card.Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500{D0CF2785-95D9-4E1B-ABBE-7F327DC6B0DD}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/december/story-from-the-bef-tartts-day-care-centersA series of significant financial investments by TBF's Business Equity Fund in TARTTs Day Care Centers highlights the wealth-building power that can be unleashed when a company owned by people of color has access to the advice and capital they need to grow.Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500{AD8B2049-D66D-4E45-A0DC-4FAECBC69A27}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/november/national-native-american-heritage-monthDesignated as National Native American Heritage Month, November finds many Americans reflecting on the historic and present-day harms committed against Native people in our country. We have accumulated information and resources to guide our own education and action this month, and are happy to share for others to explore.Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500{759B6503-02D5-484E-9334-7B29F361FC5F}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/november/our-promise-to-youAt our 2024 Annual Meeting, TBF President and CEO Lee Pelton shared his thoughts on our work, where we are as a nation and a community, and where we can and must go to build a more equitable future for Greater Boston. Read the full text here.Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500{29A7A55E-B763-48A1-B2DA-9903E8933448}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/october/arts-and-humanities-monthOctober is National Arts & Humanities Month. In this blog post by Laura Reyes, Program Officer, Arts and Creativity at TBF, we're spotlighting the importance of arts in our community, celebrating and sharing several artists and organizations and contributions to the creative communities in recognition of the month.Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400{1785D724-508D-4783-8140-70EC6909A48E}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/october/hurricane-helene-giving-guideIn the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, there are a number of places where donors can help support the communities that are affected. This giving guide has been compiled as a resource for donors.Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400{B2F7B5CF-4EB0-4B70-BF52-6D7129D934EB}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/september/democracy-giving-guideWith the 2024 Election approaching, many donors are looking for ways to support organizations focused on voting rights and democracy. TBF has compiled a list of non-partisan organizations working to increase civic engagement and strengthen democracy in both Massachusetts and across the country.Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400{CC0B8714-D35F-4F03-B434-AF2B8B7BA29D}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/august/wage-equity-act-signed-in-ma-20240807Yesterday, at the Massachusetts State House, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law the Frances Perkins Wage Equity Act. The Boston Foundation is a proud partner, leading advocate and convenor of the Wage Equity Now coalition, which has been working for years to bring this new law to fruition. Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400{47847AAE-7B21-4620-83F6-CAC8C09C72E0}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/july/power-of-permanent-spaces-by-orlando-watkinsA thread running through much of the work of the Boston Foundation is the concept of spatial justice—the equity-centered preservation of communal spaces that define and exemplify the character of Boston’s neighborhoods. Faced with the increasingly rapid loss of spaces that are welcoming and meaningful, especially to residents of color, we believe there is a critical need to proactively preserve these invaluable community assets. Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400{054E372C-8751-4676-B254-433A28FD16E7}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/june/tbf-climate-change-space-health-equity-focus"As we look through an equity lens, and with an understanding of history, we see it is no coincidence that the neighborhoods that are experiencing the first and worst impacts of climate change are the same neighborhoods that have faced the harshest impacts of other systemic inequities," - TBF enters the climate change space with a focus on health equity.Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:00:00 -0400{B470CDA4-B943-4470-BFAB-0ECF75A78382}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/june/sudan-giving-guideSudan was already in the midst of a humanitarian crisis when the long-standing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces burst into full-out war in 2023 and threw the entire country into crisis. A year later, over half of the country, 25 million people, is in desperate need of aid as they face overwhelming violence and the threat of famine with staggering rates of malnutrition. Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400{D06722DD-D618-43CD-9AE4-E47B334EFCE8}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/may/latino-equity-fund-aixa-beauchamp-tributeThe Latino Equity Fund pays tribute to co-founder and advisory board co-chair Aixa Beauchamp for her vision and leadership making the fund an influential and important grantmaker for Massachusetts' Latino communities. Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400{EDD923C6-8066-4424-A5C2-7E185AA64B14}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/may/our-community-based-philanthropy-journeyIn the first of a new series of posts from VP/Chief Program Officer Orlando Watkins, he and Candace Burton, Program Officer for our Safety Net Grants program, lay out the years of work leading up to our efforts to engage (and reward) community review processes as a part of our discretionary grantmaking process.Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400{31C7C21D-0494-4158-A1BB-02ACDBC8E3A7}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/april/shifting-power-advancing-justice-casadoVetto Casado, TBF's Director of the new Shifting Power, Advancing Justice partnership, traces a pathway that began in his mother's living room to a powerful evening with six remarkable leaders and a new effort to amplify their leadership.Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400{9F97A1EA-77A3-4C97-98BA-0A514AF497B9}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/march/luc-schuster-interview-tbf-news-winter-2024With a background in research, data analysis, communications, and public policy, Luc Schuster’s areas of expertise include demographic change, housing, education, transportation, and economic development. Under his leadership, Boston Indicators has become a trusted source of data-driven insights that support policymakers, community leaders, and advocates in their efforts to make Greater Boston a more thriving, equitable and inclusive region.Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:00:00 -0500{70301F48-4A9F-4047-8A51-BC1C605EAB77}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2024/january/affordable-homes-act-statehouse-testimony-20240118Keith Mahoney, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at TBF, shares key takeaways from his January 18, 2024 testimony to the state legislature on behalf of TBF on the latest—and most potentially transformative—policy proposals from the Healey-Driscoll administration: The Affordable Homes Act.Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500{94FC5D62-6B25-4E5C-A97A-6C31C3260C97}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/december/leadership-longevity-fellowships-2023-12A new TBF program, the Leadership Longevity Fellowship, puts a critical focus on the impact of health and well-being on nonprofit leaders and the next generation of nonprofit workers who will succeed them.Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500{990D8AAB-155F-4CA6-AA73-CB42DDC975BD}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/november/season-of-givingIn the final month of 2023, our Season of Giving campaign highlights some of the many remarkable leaders and organizations we partner with as you consider your end-of-year giving.Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500{4BE5C806-AC91-4BA8-A10D-926DE8C05817}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/november/thomas-j-ruffen-fund-grants-announcementVetto Casado reflects on the loss of his friend and nonprofit partner Thomas Ruffen, and the fund bearing his name that is recognizing and inspiring a new generation of community leaders, including four winners this fall.Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500{2C5FAC49-ABE8-43AC-A9B6-A09694769349}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/october/tbf-statement-on-events-in-israel-20231010The Boston Foundation joins in solidarity with those in our community, our nation and the world who condemn the horrific and brutal attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel this past weekend.Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400{02D3C153-35CB-4E74-B03C-8FEF6444DDA5}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/september/libya-and-morocco-giving-guideTwo major disasters in a two-day period - the devastating earthquake in Morocco and catastrophic flooding in Libya - have killed thousands and displaced entire communities. These organizations are doing the challenging work of leading the recovery efforts.Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400{851DCE68-A8BD-4CE4-998A-7D7E495236BB}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/september/migrant-youth-and-families-giving-guideFor donors interested in finding ways to help amidst the migrant crisis in MA, TBF has compiled a list of direct service organizations with a specific focus on migrant youth and families.Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400{6AD72115-2E24-485E-A194-E037110D3E0D}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/august/maui-fires-giving-guideThe Hawai'i Community Foundation and many other Hawai'i-based organizations are leading the recovery effort on the island of Maui after this month's catastrophic wildfires. We have pulled together a list of some ways you can help as a donor.Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400{2826E68B-AB65-4075-91B1-A1038376E32B}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/july/the-magic-kingdom-supreme-court-affirmative-actionThe Supreme Court decisions upending decades of affirmative action were "magical thinking, untethered from the reality of America as it is," says Boston Foundation President and CEO Lee Pelton in a powerful exploration of the cases, the facts, and flawed logic that has weakened our higher education system and turns the concept of 'equal protection under the law' on its head.Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400{10AB0262-B70F-4E25-BE61-C2962ECB0989}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/june/joint-statement-scotus-from-sb-boaJoint statement from Success Boston, Boston Opportunity Agenda, New Skills Boston, and Opportunity Youth Collaborative on the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling.Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400{A301126E-4EC3-4692-9F0B-4CF2653B5112}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/june/scotus-reactionIn limiting the efforts to promote diversity in our institutions of higher education, the court’s decision threatens our progress toward a nation where opportunity is available to all.Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400{0BFBB436-CE3D-41E1-B4C1-C80CBBE0E6B6}https://www.tbf.org/blog/2023/june/building-the-new-brandOur new logo is an outward expression of who we are and what we do, and represents a much larger and deeper transformation of our work as part of Our New Pathway, says Keith Mahoney.Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400