What New Commonwealth Fund does

The New Commonwealth Fund (NCF) is a Massachusetts-based private philanthropic foundation founded in 2020 by a coalition of 19 Black and Brown executives from major Massachusetts corporations, including Eastern Bank, Fidelity, Rapid7, Latham & Watkins, Boston Celtics, Liberty Mutual, State Street, Cambridge Associates, Fallon Health, Henry Schein, and Boston Medical Center. Headquartered in Roxbury at 67 Kemble Street Suite 3.3, NCF operates a 'respect-based philanthropy' grantmaking platform across four pillars: Health & Longevity, Family & Community, Economic Mobility, and Public Safety, Legal Reform, Cultural Narratives & Innovation.

NCF's product is structured grantmaking delivered through three annual tiers - Incubation Grants ($30,000), System Disruption Grants (up to $50,000), and System Reckoning Grants (up to $150,000) - plus Immediate-Need Investments for urgent situations. Grantees also receive multi-year capacity-building support covering Transformative Leadership Development, Data and Impact, Fundraising, HR Compliance and Innovation, Branding and Marketing, and Legal and Financial Infrastructure. NCF additionally convenes leaders through its annual Disruption Dialogue event on Martha's Vineyard, co-hosted in recent years with the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. Since inception, the foundation has raised nearly $50 million, committed over $16.3 million through 448 grants to 250+ organizations, and was recognized in Boston Magazine's 2024 Most Influential Bostonians.

NCF is funded by individual donors, corporate sponsors, and institutional philanthropists (with documented support from Point32Health Foundation), and accepts credit card, check, Donor Advised Fund, ACH/wire, and matching gift contributions. Grantees and partners span greater Boston, Worcester, Lawrence, Brockton, Springfield, Chelsea, and Roxbury, with named anchors including Neighborhood Birth Center, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, Lawyers for Civil Rights, the ACLU of Massachusetts, 826 Boston, Elevated Thought, La Colaborativa, Boston Impact Initiative, and Justice for Housing.

Name

New Commonwealth Fund

Legal name

The New Commonwealth Fund

Website

https://newcommonwealthfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New Commonwealth Fund is a Massachusetts-based philanthropic foundation founded in 2020 that distributes tiered grants ($30K-$150K) and capacity-building support to Black and Brown-led nonprofits advancing health equity, economic mobility, public safety reform, and youth leadership across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Racial equity philanthropy
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Capacity building support
• Community grant funding
• Philanthropic foundation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations and Grants: NCF raises funds from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and institutional philanthropists. The organization accepts credit card donations, check payments, Donor Advised Fund (DAF) grants, ACH/wire transfers, and matching gifts. EIN/Tax ID: 85-1850139. They also pursue corporate sponsorships for events and community affairs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Commonwealth Fund (NCF) is a Massachusetts-based philanthropic foundation that makes multi-year, tiered grants to nonprofits led by Black and Brown executives through Incubation ($30,000), System Disruption (up to $50,000), and System Reckoning (up to $150,000) grant tiers, plus Immediate-Need Investments. Beyond capital, NCF provides comprehensive capacity building — including Transformative Leadership Development, fundraising, HR compliance, branding, and legal/financial infrastructure — and convenes leaders through its annual Disruption Dialogue on Martha's Vineyard.

Product overview

The New Commonwealth Fund (NCF) is a philanthropy organization rather than a technology product company. NCF offers a structured grantmaking platform organized into three tiers: Incubation Grants ($30,000), System Disruption Grants (up to $50,000), and System Reckoning Grants (up to $150,000). These are complemented by Immediate-Need Investments for urgent situations. All grantees receive capacity building support covering leadership development, data and impact, fundraising, HR, branding, and legal/financial infrastructure. NCF's distinct methodology is its Respect-Based Philanthropy Model, which treats nonprofit leaders as experts and emphasizes trust-based relationships over traditional grantmaker-grantee dynamics. The organization also hosts the annual Disruption Dialogue event on Martha's Vineyard. Since its founding in 2020, NCF has committed over $16.3 million through 448 grants to more than 250 organizations across Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phased Investments — Incubation Grants $30,000 grants with potential for renewal, paired with capacity-building resources, targeted at earlier-stage Massachusetts nonprofits seeking multi-year support.
• Phased Investments — System Disruption Grants Grants of up to $50,000 with cohort-based learning opportunities, designed for organizations advancing systemic change in NCF's priority areas.
• Phased Investments — System Reckoning Grants Substantial grants of up to $150,000 for organizations leading significant institutional or legislative policy initiatives, awarded as the highest tier in NCF's phased grantmaking structure.
• Immediate-Need Investments Rapid-response funding for urgent community needs outside NCF's regular annual grant cycle, supporting time-sensitive community priorities in Massachusetts.
• Capacity Building Support Comprehensive capacity building support for grantees covering Transformative Leadership Development, Data and Impact, Fundraising, HR Compliance and Innovation, Branding and Marketing, Legal and Financial Infrastructure, and convening/networking opportunities.
• Disruption Dialogue Annual Convening Annual gathering held on Martha's Vineyard that brings together nonprofit leaders, funders, and partners for conversation, community, and collective design focused on social justice and racial equity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised nearly $50 million and invested over $16.3 million through 448 grants to 250+ organizations since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• 19 Black and Brown Massachusetts Executives (Founding Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NCF was founded by a coalition of 19 Black and Brown executives from across Massachusetts who came together in 2020 following George Floyd's murder. Founding leaders include Quincy Miller (Eastern Bankshares/Eastern Bank), Pamela Everhart (Fidelity Investments), Corey Thomas (Rapid7), and others representing major Massachusetts corporations.
• Boston Impact InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded System Reckoning grant up to $150,000 as part of fifth annual grant cycle. Organization is dedicated to building economic, social, and political power for Black and Brown entrepreneurs.
• Citizens for Juvenile JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly independent, non-profit, statewide organization working exclusively to improve the juvenile justice system in Massachusetts. Received System Reckoning grant up to $150,000 for policy initiatives.
• 826 BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit helping young people become stronger writers and confident voices. Awarded System Reckoning grant up to $150,000. Demonstrated courage by declining $250,000 federal grant that conflicted with organizational values.
• Elevated ThoughtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt and social justice organization based in Lawrence. Awarded System Reckoning grant up to $150,000 for leading significant institutional or legislative policy initiatives.
• Neighborhood Birth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston's first and only community birth center emphasizing midwifery care in Roxbury. NCF committed over $600,000 including $300,000 grant during Black Maternal Health Week 2024. Will be only second birth center in Massachusetts. Has Transfer Agreement with Boston Medical Center.
• ACLU of MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCF invested $75,000 with ACLU for work on justice reform and individual rights.
• Lawyers for Civil RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCF invested $110,000 with Lawyers for Civil Rights for fostering equal opportunity and fighting discrimination.
• Justice for HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCF invested $110,000 with Justice for Housing following collaboration with Mayor's Office of Returning Citizens for housing and family reunification.
• Incubation Tier Grantees (20 organizations)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizations receiving $30,000 grants with renewal potential and capacity-building resources: Boston Education Fund, GenUnity, Educators for Excellence, Haley House, Bottom Line, Thrive Scholars, Action for Boston Community Development, Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice, The Life After Prison, Boston Women's Heritage Trail, Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers, GreenRoots, Brothers in Arms Men's Support Circle, Jumpstart for Young Children, The SpaceMakers Society, Families First, Restless Books, Tides for Reproductive Freedom, The Center for Hope and Healing, and Collective Power.
• System Disruption Tier Grantees (11 organizations)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizations receiving grants up to $50,000 with cohort-based learning opportunities: Nectar Community Investments, BECMA, Boston Community Pediatrics, Phoenix Charter Academy, The Calculus Project, Esperanza Academy, Neighborhood Birth Center, Health Equity Compact, Roxbury Community College, Transformational Prison Project, and NECAT.
• Nellie Mae Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Gisele Shorter, President and CEO of Nellie Mae Education Foundation, co-hosted Disruption Dialogue with NCF President Dr. Makeeba McCreary on Martha's Vineyard to discuss importance of deep conversations focusing on social justice.
• Boston Xchange (BXC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJaylen Brown's new nonprofit aiming to close the racial wealth gap in Boston by backing entrepreneurs of color in the creative economy from design and music to fashion and culinary arts. NCF President Makeeba McCreary expressed support for the initiative.
• Boston CelticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple connections: Board member Allison Feaster is VP of Team Operations & Organizational Growth; Devin McCourty is Board member and retired NFL player who co-authored testimony with NCF President for Raise the Age legislation; team supports racial equity initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston Foundation: Largest community foundation in New England and one of the oldest in the U.S., based in Boston with focus on Greater Boston civic and racial-equity grantmaking. Most directly comparable peer: same geography, same community-foundation grantmaking model, overlapping grantee ecosystem (e.g., Boston nonprofits working on equity), and similar mix of donor-advised and discretionary grantmaking.
• Point32Health Foundation: Massachusetts-based philanthropic foundation of Point32Health focused on health equity, particularly in communities of color and aging populations. Direct peer: already a documented 2022 grant funder of NCF-style work, same MA geography, same health-equity grantmaking pillar that NCF funds under Health & Longevity.
• Nellie Mae Education Foundation: New England-based private foundation focused on equitable education and student-centered learning, which has co-hosted NCF's Disruption Dialogue on Martha's Vineyard. Strong peer: same MA footprint, same equity-focused grantmaking ethos, and direct convening partnership documented in NCF's data.
• Hyams Foundation: One of Boston's oldest foundations focused on combating structural racism and economic inequality, with grants primarily in Massachusetts. Direct peer: long-standing MA-based racial-equity grantmaker, similar proximity-based grantmaking approach targeting Black and Brown communities and overlapping grantee universe.
• Boston Impact Initiative: Massachusetts-based fund focused on building economic, social, and political power for Black and Brown entrepreneurs. Directly comparable: NCF lists it as a System Reckoning grantee, but operationally it functions as a peer in the same MA racial-equity ecosystem with overlapping mission areas in economic mobility.
• Health Equity Compact: Massachusetts-based coalition of health and equity leaders focused on health-equity policy reform. Directly comparable: NCF lists it as a System Disruption grantee, and both organizations operate in the MA health-equity space, NCF as a funder and Compact as a policy convener - a common operating complement for racial-equity foundations.

Broad incumbents

• Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation: Corporate charitable foundation of Eastern Bank (where NCF founder Quincy Miller serves as Chair of Eastern Bankshares). Comparable in mission because of the founders' overlap and MA focus, but operates as a corporate-affiliated CSR arm rather than an independent community-led coalition - making it a broader incumbent rather than direct peer.
• Barr Foundation: Boston-based private foundation with significant Arts & Culture, Climate, and Education grantmaking in Greater Boston. Broad incumbent: comparable Massachusetts geography and meaningful grant size scale, but a much larger and more institutionally conventional endowment model rather than NCF's community-coalition governance.
• United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the Merrimack Valley: Large regional philanthropic intermediary serving Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley with workplace-giving and equity-focused grantmaking. Broader incumbent: similar MA geography and broad nonprofit grantmaking portfolio, but a much more mature and institutionalized operating model rather than NCF's community-coalition structure.

Emerging players

• Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation: Charitable arm of the Boston Celtics supporting youth, education, and equity initiatives in Massachusetts, connected to NCF through board member Allison Feaster (VP of Team Operations) and Devin McCourty. Emerging/thematic peer: overlapping regional mission and racial-equity grantmaking with NCF, but operating from a sports/celebrity-driven donor network rather than NCF's executive-coalition base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-commonwealth-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncfmass
• Xx.com/NCFMass

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Commonwealth Fund