Legacy Fund for Boston Supports 11 Nonprofit Initiatives to Advance Historic Preservation Efforts in the City
BOSTON (February 17, 2026)—The Legacy Fund for Boston (LFB), a public charity that distributes grant money drawn from local real estate mitigation funds for the purpose of preserving and enhancing the historic places in Boston, announced today that it awarded $140,509 in grants to 11 nonprofits in December 2025, to advance historic preservation projects across seven Boston neighborhoods.
The focus of the 2025 grants was to support planning, research, and educational projects that advance historic preservation efforts throughout Greater Boston. The grants supported planning efforts to help organizations prepare for or move closer to capital projects or other long-term preservation goals.
The 2025 grants cover a range of projects and include planning for a memorial in Boston’s Little Saigon Cultural District honoring Vietnamese families and communities affected by the Vietnam War, the design of accessible seating at the iconic Old North Church in Boston’s North End, and planning for the historic preservation of Paige Academy in Roxbury.
Funding for the grants comes from mitigation agreements made by Boston-based real estate development projects for the benefit of communities and residents across the city. Major contributors to the Legacy Fund include Massachusetts General Hospital and its current expansion program, and MCAF Winthrop LLC at Millennium Partners, developers of the Winthrop Center, an office building and residences in downtown Boston.
“Boston is a diverse, dynamic city and its unparalleled history, reflected in every neighborhood, is its greatest economic, cultural, and environmental strength. Preserving that heritage means supporting organizations that safeguard spaces and tell the stories that define our city and inspire future generations. We’re proud to invest in projects that enrich the lives of Boston’s residents and those who come to experience the City,” said Legacy Fund President Carissa Demore.
Read more about Legacy Fund recipients.
The 11 recipients were selected from an initial pool of 28 applications. To be eligible, organizations must be registered nonprofits engaged in work that benefits the City of Boston, with an emphasis on restoration, rehabilitation, or preservation of historic resources.
The Legacy Fund plans another round of grants in fall 2026. A call for applications will be announced soon on the Legacy Fund website.
Recipients of the Legacy Fund for Boston 2025 Grants
- Boston Little Saigon
- Community Service Care, Inc.
- Friends of the Public Garden, Inc.
- Gibson Society, Inc.
- Historic Boston Incorporated
- Madison Park Development Corporation
- Old North Foundation of Boston, Inc.
- Paige Academy
- South End Historical Society, Inc.
- St. Mary's Episcopal Church
- United South End Settlements
About the Legacy Fund for Boston
The Legacy Fund for Boston (LFB) was established in 2018 with the sole purpose of managing charitable funds for the benefit of the City of Boston and its residents. The principal activity and purposes of LFB are to receive and distribute funds to enhance and preserve the character, sense of community and space, and cultural aspects of the City of Boston, with a particular focus on historic preservation. More specifically, LFB’s efforts would result in Boston’s continued presence as a vibrant, diverse, world-class city that respects, protects, and celebrates its historic resources coincident with enlightened development and change. LFB was incorporated as a public charity in 2022 as it began to receive charitable funds. LFB is managed by the Philanthropic Advisory Practice at Hemenway & Barnes LLP.
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