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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 04-6036092

Theodore Edson Parker Foundation

A private foundation in Lowell, MA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 43 grants and $1 million paid in grants.

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Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Karen Carpenter
55-67 Middle Street Suite 501
Lowell, MA 01852
(617) 314-0417
Form and materials
Applicants are encouraged to apply for mini grants (7500 maximum request) online at http://parkerfoundationlowell.org. Mini grant proposals should include a short description of the purpose, program, and history of the organization, a description of the project for which financial assistance is requested, the amount desired, and plans for continuation of the project after the foundation's funding has ended. For regular grants, the above items are required, and in addition, a list of board members, with an indication of their organizational affiliations, special skills, and links to the community, a completed diversity form detailing the ethnic compositions of the board, staff, and constituents, a copy of the organization's most recent audited financial statements, a copy of the most recent IRS form 990, with all attachments and schedules, a current organziational budget, including projected income and expenditures, bio statements or resumes of key project staff and a project budget.
Deadlines
The trustees usually meet four times a year for grant making purposes: in january, april, july and o
Restrictions
Trustees do not usually award funds for the operating expenses of charitable organizations, for endowment, or to fund deficits. Grants are restricted to organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code and are classified as -not a private foundation" under section 509(a). No awards are made to individuals.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $1,032,569

    Grants listed
    43
    Assets, end of year
    $34,847,193

  • Tax year 2023

    $1,300,865

    Grants listed
    37
    Assets, end of year
    $32,196,958

  • Tax year 2022

    $1,497,500

    Grants listed
    31
    Assets, end of year
    $28,514,689

  • Tax year 2021

    $1,192,150

    Grants listed
    32
    Assets, end of year
    $36,879,701

  • Tax year 2020

    $1,768,650

    Grants listed
    50
    Assets, end of year
    $33,302,784

  • Tax year 2019

    $992,000

    Grants listed
    37
    Assets, end of year
    $30,269,936

Grants paid in 2024

43 grants, largest first

As listed on the return. Grants to individuals show as “Individual”, with purpose and amount only.

  1. Lowell Parks Conservation TrustLowell, MA

    20-acre pawtucket farm wildlife sanc

    $125,000
  2. Whistler House Museum of ArtLowell, MA

    Capital campaign

    $85,000
  3. Greater Lowell Community FoundationLowell, MA

    Newell flather legacy fund

    $75,000
  4. Individual

    Outreach program

    $75,000
  5. Bridge Club of Greater LowellLowell, MA

    Culinary training & employment progr

    $60,000
  6. Girls Incorporated of Greater LowelLowell, MA

    Connect: stronger together

    $50,000
  7. Merrimack Valley Food BankLowell, MA

    Feed & nourish capital campaign

    $50,000
  8. Fortaleza IncLowell, MA

    Support to acquire new donors

    $50,000
  9. Eliot Presbyterian ChurchLowell, MA

    Eliot day center

    $45,000
  10. Middlesex Community CollegeLowell, MA

    Luis m pedrosa scholarship fund

    $30,000
  11. Middlesex Community College FoundatLowell, MA

    Paraprofessional to PK-12 teacher pa

    $29,615
  12. Aaron's PresentsAndover, MA

    Support for growth of program

    $25,000
  13. Lantern Light CampsNorthwood, NH

    Natures gateway

    $25,000
  14. Massachusetts Alliance of PortuguesCambridge, MA

    Office renovation project phase II

    $25,000
  15. Project CitizenshipBoston, MA

    Support citizenship services for met

    $25,000
  16. Project KompassN Chelmsford, MA

    Accomodate unhoused women

    $25,000
  17. Individual

    Building improvements

    $25,000
  18. One Can HelpWaban, MA

    At-risk foster children

    $20,000
  19. Eliot Presbyterian ChurchLowell, MA

    Assist with the homeless

    $15,000
  20. Individual

    Find perm adoptive homes for youth

    $15,000
  21. Massachusetts Society for the PreveBoston, MA

    Lowell community outreach

    $12,500
  22. Carroll Center for the BlindNewton, MA

    Age with independence program

    $10,000
  23. African Cultural AssociationLowell, MA

    African festival

    $7,500
  24. Coalition for A Better AcreLowell, MA

    Furnishings for the new youth & comm

    $7,500
  25. Coalition for A Better AcreLowell, MA

    Legends of little canada books

    $7,500
  26. Individual

    LA FUERZA OBRERA [individual]

    $7,500
  27. Greater Lowell Community FoundationLowell, MA

    Lowell southeast asian winter festiv

    $7,500
  28. Individual

    IMPROVEMENT OF [individual] FOLK [individual]

    $7,500
  29. Individual

    Certified nursing assistant training

    $7,500
  30. Individual

    Barriers to education

    $7,500
  31. Individual

    Youth programs

    $7,500
  32. The Cervitude CoalitionLowell, MA

    Phase II community clinic

    $7,500
  33. St Patricks School Educational CeLowell, MA

    Chromebooks & screens for students

    $7,454
  34. On the MoveMethuen, MA

    Book distribution in lowell schools

    $7,000
  35. Greater Lowell Community FoundationLowell, MA

    Board diversity training program

    $6,000
  36. Allies in Music Education IncLowell, MA

    The common voice: community chorus

    $5,000
  37. Annie Powell IncNorth Andover, MA

    Chasing annie powell program

    $5,000
  38. Individual

    Lowell youth program collaboration

    $5,000
  39. City of Lowell - the Office of CultLowell, MA

    Winter fest

    $5,000
  40. Coalition for A Better AcreLowell, MA

    Points of light lantern celebration

    $5,000
  41. Generation CitizenNew York, NY

    PD and coaching

    $5,000
  42. Image TheatreLowell, MA

    Lost cellphone weekend musical

    $5,000
  43. Project PLAY2LEARNLexington, MA

    Play2learn progrm

    $5,000

Approved for future payment

4 grants

Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.

  1. Merrimack Valley Food BankLowell, MA

    Feed & nourish capital campaign

    $190,530
  2. Middlesex Community CollegeLowell, MA

    Luis m pedrosa scholarship fund

    $114,318
  3. Lowell Parks Conservation TrustLowell, MA

    20-acre pawtucket farm wildlife sanc

    $13,679
  4. Girls Incorporated of Greater LowelLowell, MA

    Connect: stronger together

    $5,840

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture2 grants $92,50020% of the total
  2. Philanthropy and grantmaking3 grants $88,50019% of the total
  3. Education3 grants $85,00018% of the total
  4. Youth development4 grants $57,00012% of the total
  5. Food and agriculture1 grant $50,00011% of the total
  6. Housing and shelter4 grants $45,00010% of the total
  7. 4 other causes4 grants $47,50010% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Massachusetts32 grants $845,069
  2. New Hampshire1 grant $25,000
  3. New York1 grant $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Karen CarpenterPRESIDENT, D Hours 8Pay $17,000
  • Sophy TheamCLERK, DIREC Hours 3Pay $22,000
  • David Wdonahue JrTREASURER, D Hours 4Pay $17,000
  • Maria A CunhaDIRECTOR Hours 3Pay $17,000

The return

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