Free For All Concert Fund Inc.

## Approach Strategy

The Free For All Concert Fund Inc. is a non-operating private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, classified under NTEE code A69 (Performing Arts Organizations). It was established in 2011 and is managed by Cambridge Trust Company (75 State Street, 18th Floor, Boston, MA 02109).

### Key Characteristics - Does not accept unsolicited applications. This foundation makes grants to preselected organizations at the discretion of its trustees. - Principal/contact: Grenville Anderson - Foundation type: Private non-operating foundation (IRS Foundation Code 4) - The foundation operates from an endowment of approximately $7-8 million and distributes $275,000-$400,000 annually in grants.

### How to Approach Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, the best strategy for prospective grantees is: 1. Build relationships with the trustees and Grenville Anderson through Boston-area performing arts networks 2. Demonstrate alignment with the foundation's mission of making concerts and performing arts accessible to the public at no cost 3. Participate in Boston's performing arts ecosystem — the foundation likely supports organizations it knows through community involvement 4. Contact Cambridge Trust Company to inquire about the foundation's giving interests

## Funding Patterns

### Analysis - Grantmaking is trending upward: From a consistent $275,000 (2019-2021) to $350,000 (2022) and $400,000 (2023) — a 45% increase over 4 years. - Self-funded from endowment: The foundation receives zero or minimal external contributions (only $4,386 in 2022, $0 in 2023). All grant funding comes from investment returns on the ~$7M endowment. - Investment income: Primarily from corporate stocks ($4.1M), government obligations ($700K-780K), and corporate bonds ($743K-993K). - Administrative expenses are minimal: ~$60K-70K annually, indicating lean operations through the Cambridge Trust trustee structure. - Payout rate: The foundation distributes approximately 4-5% of assets annually, consistent with IRS minimum distribution requirements for private foundations. - Historical note: In its early years (2011-2015), the foundation had higher expenses ($560K-$1.3M), possibly indicating it was directly producing concerts before transitioning to a pure grantmaking model.

## Peer Comparison

The Free For All Concert Fund operates in the niche of free public concert funding in the Boston area. Comparable foundations and organizations include:

### Similar Funders in Boston Performing Arts - Boston Foundation — Much larger ($1.5B+ assets), broader focus, but includes arts/culture grants in Greater Boston - Barr Foundation — Major Boston philanthropy with arts & creativity program area - Highland Street Foundation — Known for "Free Fun Fridays" program providing free admission to cultural venues across Massachusetts - Yawkey Foundation — Boston-focused philanthropy supporting arts and culture among other areas

### Distinguishing Characteristics - Narrow focus: Unlike the larger foundations above, the Free For All Concert Fund has a laser focus on free public concerts specifically - Modest scale: At $7.5M in assets and $275K-$400K in annual grants, it is a small but consistent funder - Preselected grantees: Unlike many peer foundations that accept open applications, this fund operates on a trustee-directed basis - Endowment-driven: The fund is entirely self-sustaining from investment returns, with no fundraising or outside contributions - NTEE A69 peers: Among performing arts foundations in Massachusetts, this fund is mid-sized and unusually focused on free access

## Recent Activity

### Most Recent Filing (Tax Year 2023) - Total assets: $7,178,545 (up from $6,652,201 in 2022) - Grants paid: $400,000 (highest recorded level) - Investment income: $462,452 (dividends: $139,696, capital gains: $305,854, interest: $16,902) - Administrative expenses: ~$65,111 - Minimum investment return requirement: $339,323 (foundation exceeded this with $400,000 in distributions)

### Observations - The foundation has been increasing its grantmaking over the past 3 years, from $275K to $400K - Asset growth has been steady despite increased giving, indicating strong investment management by Cambridge Trust - The most recent IRS data (tax period 2024-12-01) shows total assets of $7,480,870 and income of $1,913,638, suggesting 2024 was a particularly strong investment year - No officer compensation is paid — the foundation is managed entirely through the Cambridge Trust fiduciary relationship - Website domain (freeforallconcertfund.org) has expired and is currently occupied by an unrelated third party. The foundation does not appear to maintain a web presence.

## Application Tips

### Important: This Foundation Does Not Accept Unsolicited Applications

The Free For All Concert Fund is a trustee-directed private foundation. There is no public application process, no grants page, and no published guidelines.

### For Organizations Seeking Support 1. Confirm alignment: Your organization should be directly involved in producing or presenting free public concerts or performing arts events 2. Geographic fit: Focus on Boston and Massachusetts-based programming 3. Network approach: Connect with Grenville Anderson or Cambridge Trust Company through performing arts industry networks 4. Contact the trustee: Cambridge Trust Company, 75 State Street, 18th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 5. Demonstrate impact: Be prepared to show how your programming makes performing arts accessible to underserved or broad public audiences

### Grant Size Expectations - Recent grants range from $275,000-$400,000 annually - The foundation may make one or a small number of large grants rather than many small ones (given the total payout vs. typical grant sizes)

### What We Don't Know - Specific recipient organizations (not available from summary IRS data) - Whether the foundation funds the same organizations each year or rotates grantees - Whether there is any informal inquiry process - The specific types of concerts or performances prioritized