Annual Reports

Capturing the essence of our community - year by year

Each year, the Boston Foundation publishes an annual report, sharing not only annual updates on our financial information and a listing of our funds, but also capturing some of the stories and themes that make each year special. The reports are a snapshot of the Foundation's connection to Greater Boston and its many communities, and a way for us to recognize and thank the donors, nonprofit and civic leaders, and residents who make Greater Boston a special place to live, work and grow. Note: The Foundation also posts its most-recent audited financial statements online - they can be found in the Financial Information section of the website.

Rooted In Service: Barbara's Impact: Boston's Future

For 40 years, the Boston Foundation’s story, which is the story of our city’s neighborhoods, its people, its challenges and its vision for a beautifully diverse and equitable future—has been captured by one of the greatest storytellers we have known: Barbara Hindley.

Among her countless contributions to the Foundation’s image and influence, most notable may be the annual reports produced over the last 40 years. 

Barbara’s talent, magic, generosity and kindness are woven forever into the fabric of TBF’s story. As she enters the next chapter of retirement, we thank her for sharing herself with us these many years and for being a part of our history. To recognize Barbara's iconic tenure, we have prepared a report of Barbara's own story detailing her time and impact at TBF—spanning 10,400+ days worked, 110+ newsletters written, 40 annual reports conceived, 7 U.S. Presidents, 3 TBF Presidents, and infinite connections!

Read Barbara's Retirement tribute here
Rooted in Service: Barbara's Impact, Boston's Future. The Boston Foundation 2025 Barbara Report. Photo of a younger Barbara Hindley edited into a forest background with the TBF arrow icon
2024 annual report cover on black and white background photo of the Pryde

2024: Powering a Culture of Philanthropy

For the 2024 report, we feature six donors whose initiative and generosity across the work of the Boston Foundation is making a difference for some of Greater Boston's most vital and vibrant nonprofits.

Explore the 2024 Annual Report

2023: Pathways to Equity

As we embarked on a new era with our four pathways to equity, the 2023 Annual Report shared a dozen stories emblematic of the pathways, and the ways they interconnect to create a more equitable city and region.

Explore the 2023 report
2023 AR web cover on background
2022 AR cover on white
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

2022: A City Reawakens

In 2022, the Boston Foundation features the work of six photographers capturing the vibrancy of events across multiple communities, a sign of a city reemerging with a new commitment to equity. The report recognizes some of the ways that TBF, our community of donors, community members, nonprofits and civic leaders have come together to embrace and demand needed change.

Click here to explore the 2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report Cover on white background
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

2021: Closing Boston's Equity Gap

For the 2021 Annual Report, we featured ten leaders and community advocates who are transforming this moment for equity in social justice into a movement. In the arts, housing, education, health care and wealth creation, they are working to shape systems and activate communities to create lasting change. 

Click here to explore the 2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
Vitas mori. Albus orexiss ducunt ad gabalium. Ubi est altus nomen? Liberi de castus bubo, pugna species! Persuadere diligenter ducunt ad bi-color barcas.

2020: Meeting this Moment: 20 Leaders on Boston in the 2020's

Our 2020 Annual Report features interviews with twenty community leaders, from social justice advocates to volunteers, who are taking a lead role in reshaping Greater Boston for the post-pandemic era. Visit our 2020 Annual Report page to explore the report, and read through the full interview transcripts with these activists for social and racial justice

Click here to explore the 2020 Annual Report

2019

Over a white background: at the top of the image is large text that reads "2019." It is filled in with photos of diverse community members. Orange sans serif text below that reads "Look at What We Accomplished Together." Black serifed text below that reads "The Boston Foundation 2019 Annual Report." Look at What We Accomplished Together

2018

Large, sans serif white and blue text at the top of the image reads "BETTER TOGETHER". Below that is smaller, sans serif white text that reads "Together we're better, we're stronger, smarter and far more effective - especially when we take on the most complex challenges we face today." To the left of that is a photo of racially diverse people on standing on a stage, smiling and talking to each other. Behind them are more people standing on the stage. White text at the bottom of the image reads "The Boston Foundation 2018 Annual Report." Better Together

2017

Gold text at the top reads "The Problem Solvers." The Black text below it reads "How a group of unusually creative philanthropists are helping to solve some of Boston's big problems." Below that are 4 photos; of TBF donors in various settings. Gold text below that reads "The Boston Foundation 2017 Annual Report." The Problem Solvers

2016

A photo of a man standing a table of young children. He's smiling, wearing a purple shirt and a backwards black baseball hat. White text in the tope left reads "This is how we build Boston's future." Black text below that is "One opportunity at a time." This is How We Build Boston's Future

2015

Gold, stacked text at the top of the image on a Black background reads, "Responding Seeding Changing." Three stacked photos below that of, from top to bottom: an old b&w photo of a Black family. A b&w photo of a White child peaking out from behind a wall. A color photo of young Black children in maroon & tan school uniforms playing with hoola hoops on a playground. Responding, Seeding, Changing: The Boston Foundation's Centennial Report

2014

Corridor of Promise

2013

When People Thrive: Stories of Impact

2012

Rainbow text in sans serif font reads: "They Are The Philanthropists, The Visionaries And The Social Entrepreneurs. Some Of Them Are All Three. They Look At Problems And See Nothing But Opportunities. They Never Walk Away From A Challenge And they Are Never Satisfied With The Status Quo. They Are The Healers, The Educators, The Community Leaders." Then blue text reads, "They Are The Change Makers." Below that is serifed black font that reads "The Boston Foundation 2012 Annual Report." They Are the Change Makers

2011

On a black background, in the center of the image, a b&w photo of a man with white hair wearing a suit and bowtie, children holding drums surrounding him. They are standing on concrete steps. Yellow and orange text above the photo reads "Changing Lives." White text below the photo says "In 1930, he made his first charitable contribution, writing a check for $10, which was one third of his weekly salary..." White text at the bottom of the image reads "The Boston Foundation 2011 Annual Report." Changing Lives

2010

An image of a young girl wearing a white tank top with her dark hair in a pony tail. She's smiling, and facing towards the right. The background is green with shrubbery or trees. White text the right of her face says "Facing Our Common Future." Smaller white text below that says "The Boston Foundation 2010 Annual Report." Facing Our Common Future

2009

My Neighborhood: Boston

2008

A woman sits facing a man, smiling. They appear to be having a conversation, and are pictured from the waist up. She is wearing a white t shirt, he is wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt. White serifed text at the top reads "Boston Foundation." Orange text below that and to the right, in a more handwritten font reads "Stories from the City." Stories of Our City

2007

A yellow background with white text at the top that reads "The Opportunity Pipeline." Black text below it reads "The Boston Foundation Annual Report 2007." 5 students of different races standing from shortest to tallest/youngest to oldest/left to right. The Opportunity Pipeline

2006

A picture of the Rose Kennedy Greenway - lush green trees and grass in the foreground, along with a paved walkway with 2 people walking on it. The Custom House Tower and light blue sky are in the background. Turning the Corner

2005

Over a background that looks like light brown, crinkled paper, are old and new photos of racially diverse Boston community members. Purple text at the top reads "The Boston Foundation|2005 Annual Report." Honoring Our Past. Shaping Our Future.

2004

TBF board members wearing dark colored professional attire, standing on a white floor and background. They are standing in a row, smiling and talking to each other. Slate blue text at the top reads "Helping to Build the Good City." Text of the same color at the bottom reads "The Boston Foundation|Annual Report 2004." Helping to Build the Good City

2003

TBF leadership all wearing dark colored clothing, standing on a dark blue floor, looking up at the camera, smiling The Leading Edge of Innovation