Copeland Family Foundation Inc.

## How to Approach the Copeland Family Foundation

The Copeland Family Foundation is a well-established private foundation based in Milton, Massachusetts, operating since 1983 with $43.2 million in assets. The foundation is led by President Martha Verdone, Treasurer John Tobin, and Clerk Joyce Tobin, along with four additional directors.

Critical caveat: The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This means the traditional grant application approach will not work. Instead, organizations seeking funding must focus on relationship-building and community visibility.

How the foundation selects grantees: The preselected model suggests the foundation identifies potential grantees through its own research, board member connections, and community awareness rather than responding to proposals. The foundation's deep roots in Milton and the South Shore of Massachusetts — spanning over 40 years — mean board members are likely well-connected to local nonprofits and civic organizations.

Alignment signals to emphasize: - Strong presence in Milton, MA or the broader Massachusetts community (geographic location is explicitly noted as "a factor but not the only determinant") - Work in education, animal welfare, hospitals, health, human services, or community development - Demonstrated community impact with measurable outcomes - Fiscal responsibility and organizational stability — given the foundation's own past governance scrutiny by the Massachusetts Attorney General, they are likely attuned to organizational accountability - Connection to Christian community organizations (one of their stated giving areas)

Relationship pathways: - Visibility at Milton community events, civic organizations, and local nonprofit networks - Board member introductions through shared community service - Participation in South Shore/Greater Boston philanthropic convenings - Building organizational reputation through sustained, visible local impact

## Funding Patterns

Annual Grantmaking Volume: The Copeland Family Foundation distributes approximately $1.2-2.5 million annually in charitable grants, representing roughly 3-6% of total assets.

Grant Size Range: Typical individual grants range from $1,000 to $50,000, though the foundation has demonstrated capacity for transformative gifts — the $2.5 million commitment to the Milton Animal League shelter shows willingness to make major capital grants for high-priority projects.

Award Volume: In 2022, the foundation made 121 awards, suggesting a broad-based giving portfolio with many smaller grants rather than concentrated large gifts. The 2024 data showing $2.5M in a single grant may represent an anomalous year driven by the animal shelter capital commitment.

Sector Distribution: Education, animal welfare, hospitals, health associations, human services, community development, and Christian agencies/churches. Sub-categories include science education, STEM initiatives, environmental education, community gardens, and food security programs.

Geographic Distribution: Primarily Massachusetts (with emphasis on Milton), with some grants to organizations in Maine, New York, and Washington, DC. Geographic location is explicitly noted as "a factor but not the only determinant" in funding decisions.

Financial Health: Assets have been relatively stable in the $40-47 million range since 2019. Revenue comes primarily from investment returns (dividends, interest, capital gains). The foundation employs paid staff with notable compensation: President Martha Verdone ($131K), Treasurer John Tobin ($137K), and Clerk Joyce Tobin ($99K), plus four directors at $10K each. Total employee benefits of $379K annually.

## Peer Comparison

The Copeland Family Foundation is a mid-to-upper tier private foundation in the Massachusetts philanthropic landscape. With $43.2 million in assets, it falls within the substantial but not mega-foundation category in a state with 4,191 private foundations holding a combined $40.4 billion.

Key Differentiators: - Longevity: Established in 1983, the Copeland Family Foundation has over 40 years of grantmaking history — longer than many peer foundations, providing institutional knowledge and deep community relationships. - Local concentration: Unlike larger peers that give across Greater Boston or statewide, Copeland has a particularly strong focus on Milton and the South Shore, making it a disproportionately important funder for that specific community. - Preselected model: Unlike the Cummings Foundation (open application for 150 grants annually) or the Smith Family Foundation (standard proposal process), Copeland's preselection model makes it less accessible but potentially more relationship-driven. - Broad portfolio: With 121 awards in 2022, Copeland distributes grants more widely than its asset size might suggest, taking a "many small gifts" approach rather than concentrating on a few large commitments. - Paid governance: Unlike many family foundations of similar size that rely on volunteer boards, Copeland compensates its officers ($131K-$137K for president/treasurer), reflecting a more professionalized operation. - Governance history: The foundation underwent AG scrutiny in the mid-2000s over trustee pension plans, resulting in $1.2 million in repayments and enhanced oversight — a unique governance chapter among Massachusetts peer foundations.

## Recent Activity

2024 Grantmaking: The Copeland Family Foundation distributed $2,544,131 in grants during 2024, a significant increase from historical giving levels of $1.1-1.6 million annually. This spike was likely driven by the $2.5 million capital commitment to the Milton Animal League for construction of a new, state-of-the-art animal shelter exceeding 5,000 square feet on town land near Randolph Avenue. Attorney Michael Cody represented the foundation in this major gift.

Financial Trajectory: Foundation assets have grown from $41.8 million in 2019 to $43.2 million in 2024, reflecting modest but steady growth. The foundation weathered a negative revenue year in 2022 (-$340K) — likely driven by investment market conditions — without significantly reducing grantmaking. Revenue recovered to $764K in 2023.

Grantmaking Scale: The foundation made 121 awards in 2022, demonstrating a broad-based giving approach. Focus areas have expanded to include science education, STEM initiatives, environmental education, community gardens, and food security — reflecting contemporary priorities alongside traditional education and human services giving.

Governance History: The foundation experienced a significant governance episode in the mid-2000s when the Massachusetts Attorney General investigated trustees for using foundation funds to establish personal pension plans. President Martha Verdone and CEO John Tobin returned $45,000 each, and the total pension fund of $1.2 million was returned to the foundation. The AG gained enhanced oversight authority through a new governance agreement. Despite this historical episode, the same leadership (Verdone and Tobin) continues to lead the foundation, suggesting the matter was resolved to the AG's satisfaction.

Leadership Continuity: Martha Verdone (President), John Tobin (Treasurer), and Joyce Tobin (Clerk) continue to lead the foundation with compensated roles ($131K, $137K, and $99K respectively). Four additional directors each receive $10K compensation. This leadership continuity spanning decades indicates institutional stability.

## Application Tips

The Critical Reality: No Unsolicited Applications The Copeland Family Foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." While applications are technically accepted any time, this policy means cold proposals are unlikely to succeed. The foundation operates on a preselection model where grantees are identified through the board's own research and community connections.

How to Become a Preselected Organization:

1. Build visibility in Milton and the South Shore: The foundation has deep roots in Milton, MA, spanning over 40 years. Organizations operating in or serving this community have the strongest geographic advantage. Participate in local events, partner with established Milton organizations, and build a visible track record.

2. Leverage local networks: The foundation's leadership — Martha Verdone, John Tobin, and Joyce Tobin — are long-standing Milton community figures. Introductions through mutual contacts, shared board service, or civic engagement are likely the most effective pathway to the foundation's attention.

3. Demonstrate alignment with stated priorities: Education (especially STEM and science education), animal welfare, hospitals/health, human services, community development, community gardens, food security, and Christian organizations. Proposals that naturally fit these categories are more likely to be preselected.

4. Start small, grow over time: With a typical grant range of $1,000-$50,000 and 121 awards in a single year, the foundation clearly makes many modest grants. However, the $2.5 million Milton Animal League commitment shows they can make transformative gifts for the right project. New relationships likely start at the lower end.

If You Do Submit an Inquiry: - Address it to Martha Verdone, President, at 1183 Randolph Avenue, Milton, MA 02186 or call (617) 698-5980 - Keep it brief and focused on community impact - Emphasize geographic relevance to Milton/Massachusetts - Highlight organizational accountability and fiscal transparency — given the foundation's own governance history, they may value these qualities in grantees - Note any existing relationships with Milton community leaders or organizations the foundation has previously supported

What NOT to Do: - Do not submit lengthy, formal proposals without an existing relationship - Do not expect a published deadline or formal RFP — this foundation does not operate that way - Do not assume geographic focus is limited to Milton; they give in Maine, New York, and DC as well, though Massachusetts is primary

Grant Size Expectations: Most grants fall in the $1,000-$50,000 range. For established relationships, the foundation has shown willingness to commit significantly more for capital projects (up to $2.5 million). First-time grants will almost certainly be at the smaller end of the range.