What Forest Foundation does

Forest Foundation is a private non-profit grant-making foundation incorporated in Massachusetts and headquartered in Andover, founded in 1993. It operates three core programs: (1) a Summer Internship Program placing 65 undergraduate college students annually in paid 10-week fellowships ($8,000 compensation, 400 hours) at vetted non-profit host agencies in Greater Boston, supplemented by professional development workshops and team-based grant writing projects that disburse $4,000-$8,000 to local non-profits; (2) FF Ventures, providing grants up to $10,000 (with potential multi-year funding) to college students, recent graduates, and emerging non-profit founders in New England and New York; and (3) Regional Grants, awarding $2,000-$8,000 operating grants by invitation to new and emerging social service agencies in Greater Boston with budgets of $500,000 or less. A Second Year Internship Program offers $8,500 for returning alumni to self-direct a 350-hour placement.

The foundation operates with a lean team of 5 staff members led by Executive Director David Sullivan (tenure since 2001). It is governed by a Board of Trustees and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external investors. Revenue derives from philanthropic donations and endowment income, with no public disclosure of financial figures. Its geographic footprint spans Essex County, Greater Boston, New England, and New York. The foundation has supported 175 interns from 19 states, 4 countries, and 73 colleges over the last three years, and partners with 25+ named host non-profits including Year Up, The Food Project, Boston CASA, TSNE, and Environment Massachusetts. The mission emphasizes leadership development for the next generation of public service leaders and structural equity for under-resourced communities.

Name

Forest Foundation

Legal name

Forest Foundation

Website

https://forestfoundation.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Forest Foundation is a 1993-founded Massachusetts non-profit foundation that funds 65 paid summer internships at Greater Boston non-profits, FF Ventures grants up to $10,000 for emerging non-profits in New England/New York, and $2,000-$8,000 regional operating grants for small social service agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Philanthropy and Grant-Making

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit grantmaking foundations
• Paid summer fellowships
• Nonprofit leadership development
• Venture grants for nonprofits
• Paid internship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Andover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Making and Philanthropy: Forest Foundation operates as a grant-making foundation that funds non-profit internships, venture grants to emerging non-profits, and regional operating grants to social service agencies. The foundation's revenue comes from philanthropic donations and endowment income, distributed through structured grant programs to support leadership development in the non-profit sector.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forest Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation that funds paid undergraduate summer fellowships at Greater Boston non-profits, awards venture grants to emerging non-profits in New England and New York, and provides by-invitation operating grants to small social service agencies in Greater Boston. It operates three core programs—Summer Internship Program, FF Ventures, and Regional Grants—plus a Second Year Internship Program for alumni.

Product overview

Forest Foundation is a non-profit grant-making foundation offering three core programs: the Summer Internship Program (65 paid 10-week fellowships at Greater Boston non-profits with $8,000 compensation and professional development workshops), FF Ventures (venture grants up to $10,000 for start-up non-profits by college students in New England/New York), and Regional Grants ($2,000-$8,000 operating grants to emerging non-profits in Greater Boston by invitation). The organization also offers a Second Year Internship Program as an add-on for alumni seeking extended non-profit experience. The foundation focuses on fostering the next generation of public service leaders through leadership development, grant writing training, and community service exposure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FF Ventures: Grant program inviting proposals from college students, recent graduates, and others who have created a start-up or emerging non-profit in New England/New York states
• Summer Internship Program
• Second Year Internship Program
• Regional Grants

Products and services

• Summer Internship Program A paid 10-week summer fellowship placing undergraduate college students at non-profit organizations in Greater Boston. The program supports 65 paid internships annually, includes professional development workshops, and features a team-based grant writing project where interns secure $4,000–$8,000 for local non-profits. Interns receive $8,000 compensation for 400 total hours.
• FF Ventures Grant program inviting proposals from college students, recent graduates, and others who have created start-up or emerging non-profits in New England/New York states. Grants up to $10,000 for operating or project expenses, with possibility of up to three years of funding through annual application.
• Regional Grants By-invitation operating grants to new and emerging non-profits in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. Supports small social service agencies with budgets of $500,000 or less, focusing on youth and families in under-resourced communities. Grants range from $2,000 to $8,000.
• Second Year Internship Program Extended internship opportunity for successful First Year Intern alumni to create and self-direct a summer internship position at a single non-profit in Greater Boston. Includes $8,500 compensation and 350-hour commitment.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Yellow Tulip ProjectminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient organization focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention. Based in Massachusetts.
• Connor's Kindness ProjectminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient focused on kindness initiatives and youth programs. Received support for organizational development.
• Passions for LifeminorOthersPartner non-profit organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for community service programs.
• Every Voice CoalitionminorOthersPartner non-profit organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for advocacy and social justice programs.
• AAC (Action for Boston's Community Development)minorOthersNon-profit partner that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for community development work.
• ACE (Alternatives for Community and Environment)minorOthersEnvironmental justice non-profit that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for community organizing and advocacy.
• Boston CASAminorOthersNon-profit partner providing court-appointed special advocate services that has hosted Forest Foundation interns.
• Corporate Accountability InternationalminorOthersNon-profit focused on corporate accountability that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for advocacy campaigns.
• Greenbelt (ECGA)minorOthersLand conservation organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for environmental advocacy.
• InnerCity WeightliftingminorOthersYouth development non-profit that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for fitness and mentoring programs.
• Social Innovation ForumminorOthersNon-profit supporting social innovation that has partnered with Forest Foundation for intern placements.
• Strong Women Strong GirlsminorOthersMentorship organization serving girls and women that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for program delivery.
• The Food ProjectminorOthersNon-profit focused on sustainable agriculture and youth development that has hosted Forest Foundation interns.
• The Home for Little WanderersminorOthersChild welfare organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for youth services programs.
• The Theater OffensiveminorOthersLGBTQ+ youth arts organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for creative programming.
• Third Sector New England (TSNE)minorOthersNon-profit support organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for capacity building work.
• Second DayminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient non-profit focused on dismantling inequitable talent pipelines into social impact.
• BreaktimeminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient focused on youth employment and workforce development.
• Level Ground MMAminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient combining martial arts training with youth development and community building.
• 826 BostonminorOthersWriting and tutoring non-profit that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for educational programming.
• Project CitizenshipminorOthersImmigration services non-profit that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for citizenship application assistance.
• Haley HouseminorOthersSocial service non-profit with soup kitchen and bakery that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for food service and community programs.
• Year UpminorOthersWorkforce development organization that has hosted Forest Foundation interns for professional training programs.
• BOSTEMminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient focused on STEM education and diversity in technology fields.
• Leadership BraineryminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient supporting first-generation college students with mentorship and guidance.
• GenUnityminorOthersFF Ventures grant recipient focused on civic engagement and intergenerational connections.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Cambridge Community Foundation: Cambridge Community Foundation is a community foundation serving Cambridge, MA. Comparable to Forest Foundation's regional community grantmaking model in Greater Boston, though smaller in scope and without an internship program.
• Third Sector New England (TSNE): TSNE is a Boston-based nonprofit providing management support and capacity building to other nonprofits. Comparable to Forest Foundation's mission of strengthening the nonprofit sector in Greater Boston, and is also a host agency partner.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation: A Massachusetts-based corporate foundation focused on healthcare access. Comparable as a Massachusetts-based private foundation making grants to support community needs, though focused specifically on health rather than nonprofit leadership development.
• Social Innovation Forum: Social Innovation Forum is a Boston-based nonprofit that builds capacity of high-impact social innovators. Comparable in being a Greater Boston-based nonprofit supporting other nonprofits, and is an active host agency partner of Forest Foundation.

Broad incumbents

• The Boston Foundation: The Boston Foundation is Greater Boston's largest community foundation, making grants across a wide range of causes. Comparable to Forest Foundation's Greater Boston grantmaking focus but operates at vastly larger scale and with broader programmatic scope.
• Barr Foundation: Barr Foundation is a Boston-based private foundation focused on climate, arts, and education. Comparable in being a regional private foundation with grantmaking operations in Greater Boston, though with much larger endowment and program scope.
• Ashoka: Ashoka is a global organization supporting leading social entrepreneurs through fellowship funding and networking. Comparable to Forest Foundation's mission of supporting emerging nonprofit leaders, though Ashoka operates globally with significantly larger resources.

Emerging players

• Posse Foundation: Posse Foundation identifies and develops young leaders through scholarship and leadership training programs. Comparable to Forest Foundation in providing leadership development pathways for underrepresented college students, though Posse's model is scholarship-based rather than nonprofit internship-based.

Direct peers

• New Profit: New Profit is a Boston-based venture philanthropy firm that invests in and builds capacity for social entrepreneurs and nonprofits. Highly comparable to Forest Foundation's grantmaking and leadership development mission with a similar Boston-based regional focus.
• Echoing Green: Echoing Green is a fellowship program that provides seed funding and leadership development to emerging social entrepreneurs. Comparable to Forest Foundation's FF Ventures program in supporting young leaders launching nonprofit initiatives, though Echoing Green operates at a national and global scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ForestFoundationSummerInterns
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-foundation-boxford-ma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest Foundation