Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust
Accepts applications
Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust is a private foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. In tax year 2025 it gave $406,250 in 7 grants; the typical grant was $27,500 and the largest $110,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$406,250
- Number of grants7
- Typical grant$27,500
- Largest grant$110,000
- Assets$10.9 million
- New grantees71%
Giving in 2025 was up from $356,250 the year before.
71% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $252,500 | 5 | $9.3 million |
| 2024 | $356,250 | 4 | $10.1 million |
| 2025 | $406,250 | 7 | $10.9 million |
How to apply
| Contact | M Bradford Bedingfield Hemenway Barnes 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (617) 227-7940 |
| What to submit | In letter form to include general information, audit, budget and tax exempt form of determination. |
What Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 2 states, the most to Massachusetts.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 6 | $387,500 |
| Connecticut | 1 | $18,750 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietors of the Boston Atheneaum | For american art and culture related to the polly thayer starr fellowship. | $110,000 |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum | To support studio through virtual and in-person public programs. | $100,000 |
| Norwell Visiting Nurse Association Inc | In support of the pat roche hospice home's fund. | $100,000 |
| Trustees of Tufts College FBO School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts | The smfa at tufts polly thayer starr charitable trust term scholarship and polly thayer starr studio internship at the isabella stewart gardner museum | $27,500 |
| Boston Arts Academy Foundation Inc | Visual arts and design at boston arts academy | $25,000 |
| Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry | A teaching artist as part of the roxbury youth programs. | $25,000 |
| New Britain Museum of American Art Inc | Polly thayer starr research fellow in american art | $18,750 |
Officers and trustees
- Dinah Starr
- Arthur B Page
- M Bradford Bedingfield
- Ryan P McManus
Questions people ask
Does Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications.
How much does Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust give?
$406,250 in tax year 2025, across 7 grants, with a typical grant of $27,500.
Who runs Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust?
Its 2025 filing lists Dinah Starr (Trustee), Arthur B Page (Trustee), M Bradford Bedingfield (Trustee) and Ryan P McManus (Trustee).
What does Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust fund?
Based on its grants, mainly arts and culture and education.