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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 91-2170962

The Ceres Foundation Inc

A private foundation in Groton, MA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 64 grants and $7.9 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

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
Amanda L Northrop
PO Box 578
Groton, MA 01450
(401) 368-5675
[email protected]
Form and materials
Online application, which can be found at https://www.ceresgiving.org/page/application-process
Deadlines
None
Restrictions
We invest in strong leaders and support organizations that range from small grassroots efforts to more established programs. Our grantees are united in their passion to create long-term positive change for individuals and families. We fund a mix of innovative and proven models, but all grantees must demonstrate or have a plan to demonstrate measurable outcomes. We fund nonprofit organizations in los angeles + orange county, ca; washington, DC; and western, ma focused on advancing education and employment outcomes for disadvantaged youth through college access & success, career pathways, and family strengthening programs. Grantees must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations under irc sec 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or (in certain cases) 509(a)(3).

Assets and giving by year

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

  • Tax year 2024

    $7,865,000

    Grants listed
    64
    Assets, end of year
    $169,555,715

  • Tax year 2023

    $6,740,000

    Grants listed
    63
    Assets, end of year
    $173,580,774

  • Tax year 2022

    $3,985,000

    Grants listed
    39
    Assets, end of year
    $175,242,197

  • Tax year 2021

    $2,025,000

    Grants listed
    22
    Assets, end of year
    $114,461,876

  • Tax year 2020

    $1,688,000

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $19,830,231

Grants paid in 2024

64 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Thrive ScholarsLos Angeles, CA

    Support the expansion of the thrive scholars' los angeles and boston programs

    $2,000,000
  2. Friendship Shelter IncLaguna Woods, CA

    Support the home for good initiative and henderson house permanent supportive housing program

    $360,000
  3. Schoolhouse Connection IncWashington, DC

    Support the youth leadership scholarship program for youth having experienced homelessness

    $275,000
  4. Community Adolescent Resources and Education Center IncHolyoke, MA

    Support the expansion of the bard microcollege program for low-income women

    $250,000
  5. Future Link IncRockville, MD

    Support the expansion of programmatic model to expand career coaching, internship, and mentoring

    $200,000
  6. Lift IncWashington, DC

    Support the expansion of financial coaching model for low-income families in los angeles and washington D.C.

    $200,000
  7. STEM AdvantageHuntingtn BCH, CA

    Support program expansion to mentor, prepare, and inspire primarily first-generation college students from low-income families for careers in S.T.E.M.

    $200,000
  8. More Than Words IncWaltham, MA

    Support advocacy work rollout of its expanded model to address systematic barriers for vulnerable massachusetts youth

    $160,000
  9. Corporation of the Washington Latin SchoolWashington, DC

    Support campaign to provide classical liberal arts education, emphasizing the socratic mehod, for an additional 750 students

    $150,000
  10. Monument Academy IncWashington, DC

    General operating support for the 2024-2025 academic school year

    $150,000
  11. New Village Charter School IncLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support and creation of a new student recruitment position, to provide high quality educational opportunity for girls who have not been successfully served in traditional public schools

    $150,000
  12. Capital Partners for Education DBA Spark the JourneyWashington, DC

    Support multi-year expansion plan to double the number of students it serves by 2025, to provide mentorship and a community support for young adults to chart their own path to achieving college and career success

    $150,000
  13. Tech Foundry IncSpringfield, MA

    General operating support for job training program that prepares individuals for sustainable careers in technology fields

    $150,000
  14. DC Volunteer Lawyers ProjectWashington, DC

    Support it comprehensive pro-bono legal services for domestic violence victims, vulnerable imigrants, and at-risk children

    $130,000
  15. Taller San Jose Hope BuildersSanta Ana, CA

    Support the expansion of career pathways program for disconnected young adults

    $125,000
  16. Orangewood FoundationSanta Ana, CA

    General operating support for its education and workforce development services for foster and transitional aged youth

    $115,000
  17. Child Advocates of San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino, CA

    Support for its work with youth in foster care and to continue it organizational capacity and sustainability

    $100,000
  18. Community PartnersLos Angeles, CA

    Support the southern california college attainment network, for college access and success programs to increase the rate at which underrepresented students, from the greater los angeles region, access and complete postsecondary education

    $100,000
  19. Covenant House CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA

    Support los angeles alumni program and aftercare support with a focus of its data tracking capacity

    $100,000
  20. Families ForwardIrvine, CA

    Support its work to address homelessness for orange county families

    $100,000
  21. Friends of the Children IncLos Angeles, CA

    Support its expansion to serve foster impacted families across los angeles county

    $100,000
  22. Hopewell IncDedham, MA

    Support for its work with children, youth, and families involved with the child welfare system in western massachusetts

    $100,000
  23. Jovenes IncLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support to help youth, age 18-24, end their cycle of homelessness throughout southeast los angeles county

    $100,000
  24. Kid Power IncWashington, DC

    Support for continued expansion of mentors, inc. And powerup!

    $100,000
  25. Lost Angels Childrens Project IncLancaster, CA

    Support for its intense vocational training program in the antelope valley

    $100,000
  26. Massachusetts Alliance for Early CollegeWeston, MA

    Support the rollout of its strategic plan to increase the number of students with access to high-quality early college programs in massachusetts schools

    $100,000
  27. Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership IncSpringfield, MA

    Support further scaling of its early college and work-based learning programs at springfield high schools

    $100,000
  28. ManifestworksLos Angeles, CA

    Support its job training program that prepares individuals for production careers in film, television, and new media

    $90,000
  29. DC Public Charter School Cooperative IncWashington, DC

    Funding pilot program and scale the empowerment program for students with disabilities

    $85,000
  30. The Harmony ProjectLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support for the 2024-2025 academic school year

    $85,000
  31. Jobs Have Priority IncWashington, DC

    Support for its shelter and employment programs for those experiencing housing insecurty

    $85,000
  32. The Wooden Floor for Youth MovementSanta Ana, CA

    General operating support for comprehensive dance and college access programs

    $85,000
  33. Achievement Institute of Scientific StudiesSanta Ana, CA

    Support the infrastructure to serve an annual cohort by 2024

    $80,000
  34. College Bound IncWashington, DC

    Support rollout of its strategic growth plan to serve 500+ students annually by 2027

    $75,000
  35. La Cocina VaArlington, VA

    Support its zero barriers training and entrepreneurship center, as well as the expansion of its culinary training programs

    $75,000
  36. New Directions for Women FoundationCosta Mesa, CA

    Fund need based scholarships in support of addiction treatment services for women

    $75,000
  37. Propel AmericaBoston, MA

    Support for its medical assistant career pathway programs in los angeles

    $75,000
  38. Roca IncChelsea, MA

    Support for its young mothers program in western massachusetts

    $75,000
  39. William Wendt Center for Loss and HealingWashington, DC

    General operating support and underwrite the participation of ceres grant recipients in its trainings

    $75,000
  40. Young Eisner ScholarsInglewood, CA

    General operating support as it deepens its support for scholars from lowest-income households

    $75,000
  41. Youth GuidanceChicago, IL

    Support its becoming a man program in washington, D.C. Public schools

    $75,000
  42. Casa of Los AngelesMonterey Park, CA

    Expand its support of foster youth in los angeles county

    $70,000
  43. Eastside College Prep School IncEast Palo Alto, CA

    Support the residential program providing a supportive living environment for students and alumni for the 2024-2025 school year

    $65,000
  44. Service Workers Training and Education PartnershipColumbia, MD

    Support for capacity building

    $60,000
  45. Best Kids IncWashington, DC

    General operating support to assist foster care children in the washington, D.C. Child welfare system

    $50,000
  46. Caroline Freiss Center IncBaltimore, MD

    Support for employment program for low-income women

    $50,000
  47. Collegiate Directions IncBethesda, MD

    General operating support for closing the education, achievement, and opportunity gap for first-generation-to-college students in montgomery county, MD and washington, D.C.

    $50,000
  48. Convention of P E Church of the Diocese of WashingtonWashington, DC

    Support for expansion of its outplacement and graduate support programs

    $50,000
  49. Edc 413 Works IncSpringfield, MA

    Support for springfield works cliff effect pilot program, that will test the impact of supplemental cash payments to participants experiencing public benefit cliff effects

    $50,000
  50. Fore Batten FoundationScottsdale, AZ

    Support its project butterfly, an n-of-2 trial treating a unique mutation of CLN3 and creating a road map for the future of personalized medicine

    $50,000
  51. Fund for Educational Excellence IncBaltimore, MD

    Support continued expansion of its mentoring program

    $50,000
  52. San Miguel School IncWashington, DC

    Support expansion of the graduate support program for the middle school serving under-resourced latino boys

    $50,000
  53. Steadfast - Standing Firm Against Youth HomelessnessFrederick, MD

    General operating support to provide safe housing, life skills, and job skills training for unaccompanied homeless youth and those transitioning out of foster care

    $50,000
  54. Friends of Compass IncWashington, DC

    General operating support to provide probono support and board matching services to D.C. Based grant recipents of the ceres foundation

    $35,000
  55. Community Adolescent Resources and Education Center IncHolyoke, MA

    Support for its continuum of educational programming for low-income women

    $30,000
  56. Center on Race Poverty & the EnvironmentDelano, CA

    General operating support for strengthening community power to protect land, air, and water in california's heartland

    $25,000
  57. Los Angeles Room & BoardLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support to ensure that california community college students realize their postsecondary education goals by providing affordable transitional housing designed to end homelessness, and complete educational goals

    $25,000
  58. Sierra HouseEast Orange, NJ

    General operating support to help young women open the door to self-sufficiency

    $25,000
  59. Sanctuary Art CenterShoreline, WA

    General operating support for providing a safe, calm, and warm environment for homeless and underserved youth and young adults to experience creativity and success through relationship-based artistic programs and employment internships

    $25,000
  60. Social and Environmental EntrepreneursCalabasas, CA

    General operating support for miry's list to provide a mechanism for people to directly help new arrival refugee families with the incredible challenge or resettlement in the united states

    $25,000
  61. Voices of A Sustainable Future IncTakoma Park, MD

    General operating support to secure an ecologically sustainable and economically just future by uniting labor and climate forces in a shared struggle for systemic change

    $25,000
  62. Covenant House CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support for its work with housing insecure youth

    $10,000
  63. Jovenes IncLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support for its continuum of care that provides housing options for homeless youth

    $10,000
  64. Orangewood FoundationSanta Ana, CA

    General operating support for its education and workforce development services for foster and transitional aged youth

    $10,000

Approved for future payment

12 grants

Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.

  1. Thrive ScholarsLos Angeles, CA

    Support the expansion of the thrive scholars' los angeles and boston programs

    $3,000,000
  2. Schoolhouse Connection IncWashington, DC

    Support the youth leadership scholarship program for youth having experienced homelessness

    $565,000
  3. Massachusetts Alliance for Early CollegeWeston, MA

    Support the rollout of its strategic plan to increase the number of students with access to high-quality early college programs in massachusetts schools

    $300,000
  4. New Village Charter School IncLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support and creation of a new student recruitment position, to provide high quality educational opportunity for girls who have not been successfully served in traditional public schools

    $225,000
  5. Future Link IncRockville, MD

    Support the expansion of programmatic model to expand career coaching, internship, and mentoring

    $200,000
  6. DC Public Charter School Cooperative IncWashington, DC

    Funding pilot program and scale the empowerment program for students with disabilities

    $165,000
  7. More Than Words IncWaltham, MA

    Support advocacy work rollout of its expanded model to address systematic barriers for vulnerable massachusetts youth

    $160,000
  8. College Bound IncWashington, DC

    Support rollout of its strategic growth plan to serve 500+ students annually by 2027

    $150,000
  9. Corporation of the Washington Latin SchoolWashington, DC

    Support campaign to provide classical liberal arts education, emphasizing the socratic mehod, for an additional 750 students

    $150,000
  10. Friends of the Children IncLos Angeles, CA

    Support its expansion to serve foster impacted families across los angeles county

    $100,000
  11. Service Workers Training and Education PartnershipColumbia, MD

    Support for capacity building

    $60,000
  12. Sierra HouseEast Orange, NJ

    General operating support to help young women open the door to self-sufficiency

    $40,000

Where the money goes

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

  1. Education18 grants $3,825,00056% of the total
  2. Human services12 grants $1,090,00016% of the total
  3. Housing and shelter4 grants $565,0008% of the total
  4. Youth development4 grants $425,0006% of the total
  5. Jobs and employment2 grants $285,0004% of the total
  6. Crime and legal aid3 grants $150,0002% of the total
  7. 7 other causes8 grants $505,0007% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. California27 grants $4,380,000
  2. District of Columbia16 grants $1,710,000
  3. Massachusetts10 grants $1,090,000
  4. Maryland6 grants $435,000
  5. Illinois1 grant $75,000
  6. Virginia1 grant $75,000
  7. North Carolina1 grant $50,000
  8. New Jersey1 grant $25,000
  9. Washington1 grant $25,000

Officers, directors and trustees

6 people as filed

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

  • Daniel C MilderPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Donald B MilderTREASURER Hours 1Pay $0
  • Terri L MilderSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Emily B MilderDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Ryan F BradleyDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Zachary D MilderDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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