DEDHAM, MA – The Trustees of the Yawkey Foundation have announced 10 new Youth & Amateur Athletics (Y&AA) Program & Small Capital grants totaling $430,000 to nonprofit organizations across Greater Boston that are dedicated to providing inclusive, high-quality athletic, and recreation programs.
In announcing these grants, the Foundation continues its longstanding commitment to youth and amateur athletics, an area deeply rooted in the legacy of Jean and Tom Yawkey. Since 1977, the Foundation has invested more than $95 million in support of athletic programs that foster teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship — values demonstrated by the Yawkeys’ love for sports, especially baseball, during their lifetimes.
This year’s cohort of grantees reflects a shared commitment to breaking down barriers to participation, expanding access to baseball and softball, and using athletics as a powerful tool for positive youth development. These organizations ensure that young people of all abilities can experience the benefits of physical activity, teamwork, and inclusion.
The 2025 Y&AA Program & Small Capital grantees include:
These newly awarded grants complement more than $9.7 million in existing multiyear commitments in this category to organizations such as Camp Harbor View, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and Youth Enrichment Services. Among these valued partnerships is a Transformational Capital Grant awarded to The BASE, a longstanding nonprofit partner creating pathways for urban youth to succeed and thrive through baseball, education, and career development. The Foundation’s $1.5 million grant to The BASE helped the organization purchase its facility at 150 Shirley Street in Roxbury’s Newmarket neighborhood – an investment that marks the beginning of a new era for The BASE and demonstrates its commitment to its community.
The Yawkey Foundation is dedicated to perpetuating the philanthropic legacy of Tom Yawkey and Jean Yawkey, whose quiet generosity over eight decades supported individuals and families in the communities closest to their hearts – Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina. With more than $600 million awarded to date in charitable grants, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations working in health care, education, human services, youth and amateur athletics, arts and culture, and conservation and wildlife.
For more information and the latest announcements, please visit the Foundation’s website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.