Who We Are

What We Believe

We believe in operating with trust, integrity, empathy, and a genuine respect for all. We believe that with opportunity and access, everyone can excel to their greatest potential. We seek to know the people and communities that we fund deeply and we believe we are better at solving problems together, drawing on a diverse set of experiences and perspectives.

Watch: Feeling of Kinship
  • 01
    1988
    Carolyn and Peter

    After more than two decades of marriage, three children, extraordinary hard work and blessings; Carolyn and Peter create The Lynch Foundation with a $2M gift with the hopes to provide people with life changing opportunities through supporting innovative non profit organizations.

  • 01
    1989
    The Lynch Foundation

    Carolyn and Peter partner with Boston University, Salem Hospital, Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and the Archdiocese of Boston to create the Lynch Foundation as a supported organization charitable foundation. Organizations then appoint Ernest Wiggins, Ralph Sweetland, Nancy Coolidge, and Thomas Leahy as founding independent Board Members.

  • 01
    1990
    MENTOR

    One of the Foundation’s first gifts was seed funding to support the creation of MENTOR, which has remained partners for almost three decades and has increased the number of at-risk youth in structured mentoring relationships from 300,000 to 4.5 million.

  • 01
    1990
    Teach for America

    After receiving an unsolicited request from the college senior Wendy Kopp, Carolyn was so impressed and curious that the Lynch Foundation made a modest investment in the initial creation of TFA.

  • 01
    1991
    City Year

    The Lynch Foundation offers early support for City Year to launch the first site in Boston and begin investing in the power of young people in service. Over the next three decades, they expand to 29 cities. City Year now has more than 32,000 alumni.

  • 01
    1991
    Renew International

    Peter travels to India during a due diligence visit as Renew International continues to expand across the world, spending 10 days visiting with the local community leaders and parishes to determine the potential impact of Renew International’s programming.

  • 01
    1992
    Americares

    The entire Lynch Family travels to Russia on an Americares aid delivery trip providing life saving medicines and medical aid to those in desperate need.

  • 01
    1992
    Artists For Humanity

    The Lynch Foundation is the first foundation to support Artists For Humanity, which begins with 6 students in founder Susan Rodgerson’s South End studio. After close to three decades, AFH is serving over 500 youth in their 51,500 square-foot EpiCenter and is the largest teen employer in the city of Boston.

  • 01
    1992
    Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

    Carolyn receives the St. Julie Billiart Award from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for her outstanding leadership in the true spirit of Saint Julie.

  • 01
    1992
    NCEA

    The National Catholic Education Association presents Peter with the Mother Seton Award for his exemplary support and service of Catholic education.

  • 01
    1993
    Pine Street Inn

    The Trustees approve an innovative pilot grant to the largest homeless shelter in New England to support the transition of individuals from shelters into permanent homes. Thus, creating a solution to homelessness for thousands in the Boston area.

  • 01
    1993
    Renew International

    Carolyn traveled to Nigeria with Renew International during a due diligence visit for possible expansion into the country, spending 10 days visiting with the local leaders and parishes to learn about the community and context of the program.

  • 01
    1994
    Partners in Health

    Dr. Paul Farmer persuades the Trustees to support an innovative pilot grant to provide critical research on treating MDR-TB, which ultimately led to the discovery of a cure and prevention of the transmission of the disease, saving millions of lives all over the world.

  • 01
    1997
    Hired first staff

    After almost a decade, the Trustees hire Katie Everett as the Foundation’s first staff person.

  • 01
    1997
    Urban Catholic Teacher Corps

    Impressed with the Inner-City Teaching Corps of Chicago, in partnership with the Flatley and McGrath Families, the trustees collaborate with Boston College to create and fund the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps. A two-year post-graduate volunteer teaching program serving as urban Catholic school teachers in the Archdiocese of Boston. Since its inception, 164 teachers have graduated from the program.

  • 01
    1997
    Historic Boston Inc.

    The Trustees approve an investment to repair and preserve 52 historic houses of worship across the city of Boston through a unique and competitive public and private matching grant program.

  • 01
    1998
    Lynch School of Education and Human Development

    With profound respect for the importance of extraordinary educators, Boston College establishes the Lynch School of Education. The school is dedicated to Carolyn and Peter Lynch and a testament to their own parents’ teaching legacy.

  • 01
    1998
    Mass Mentoring Partnership

    When MENTOR presented an incredible opportunity to launch the first state expansion site in Massachusetts, the Trustees unanimously approved a critical expansion grant to establish Mass Mentoring Partnership.

  • 01
    1998
    University of Pennsylvania

    As a graduate, Carolyn serves as a Trustee for a decade from 1997-2007 during which time she commits to convening industry leaders and alumni to join her in advancing the biology department to best prepare students for careers in emerging life sciences fields.

  • 01
    1999
    Papal Honor of Order of Saint Gregory

    Carolyn and Peter receive the Papal Honor of Order of St. Gregory the Great, the highest honor for a layperson. The honor is bestowed upon Roman Catholic men and women in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through their unusual labors, their support of the Holy See, and the examples they set in their communities and their countries.

  • 01
    1999
    Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston

    Carolyn receives the Boys and Girls Club of Boston Partners of Youth Award. Recipients of the award are selected for their outstanding leadership and support, and commitment to the youth of Boston. Carolyn served as a Trustee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston from 1993-2002.

  • 01
    1999
    Ernie Wiggins Passes Away

    Founding Board Member Ernie Wiggins passes away.

  • 31
    1999
    Decade 1

    $9,803,994 was invested in 349 organizations. The average gift size was $28,091.67.

  • 01
    2000
    Hired Technical Development Corp

    More than a decade into giving, the Trustees engage a not for profit consulting firm to guide them through a process in which they formalize the Foundation’s policies, processes and mission statement.

  • 01
    2000
    International Special Olympics

    Touched personally by the inspirational leadership of Eunice Shriver, Carolyn and Peter co-chair the very first Campaign for Special Olympics with Steve and Jean Case. They successfully reached the campaign goal to double the number of athletes actively involved in Special Olympics around the world from one million to two million.

  • 01
    2001
    Inner-City Scholarship Fund

    The Trustees approve the largest gift to date in the Foundation’s history. The investment establishes endowment funds supporting scholarships, technology, and marketing for the Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools. The funds provided an immediate opportunity for students and schools as well as established a strong foundation for future generations of students.

  • 01
    2001
    Emmanuel College

    As a science major and the daughter of a chemistry teacher, Carolyn understands the importance of high-quality science teaching and learning. She partners with Emmanuel College to provide urban teachers high-quality professional development to stimulate creativity, innovation, and curiosity that can be shared with their students advancing science education in classrooms across the state through the Carolyn Lynch Institute.

  • 01
    2002
    Nonquit Street Land Trust

    The Trustees are excited by a unique challenge grant to leverage local engagement and community support in the Uphams Corner neighborhood. The Nonquit Street Green revitalizes two vacant lots into beautiful open space and includes a “magic dragon” sculpture by Nancy Schon.

  • 01
    2003
    Assumption College

    The Lynch Scholarship Program and Leadership Fund are established at Assumption College, providing scholarships and immersive experiences to graduates.

  • 01
    2003
    Year Up Foundation

    The Lynch Foundation provides early critical funding for Year Up to launch the first site in Boston enabling low-income young adults to move from poverty to professional careers in just one year through a high support, high expectation model. Year Up is now in 12 cities across the country, with more than 12,000 graduates.

  • 01
    2004
    Office Space to Establish a Presence in Boston

    The Lynch Foundation moves from their home office into office space located in Boston and hires a second employee.

  • 01
    2004
    Charles River Conservancy

    With more than 25% of Boston teens skateboarders, and not one single safe or legal place to practice and perform their sport, the Foundation’s initial grant was made at a critical time to the Charles River Conservatory to establish the largest skatepark in the Northeast.

  • 01
    2004
    Harvard Systems Biology

    The Lynch Foundation provides seed funding for the creation of the first new medical department at Harvard Medical School in decades, the Department of System’s Biology. This study of systems of biological components has become central to all areas of biology and medicine. Today, HMS’s Systems Biology Department is the world leader training in this interdisciplinary area — over 120 of the department’s alumni lead their own research laboratories across the world attempting to solve society’s most complex challenges.

  • 01
    2005
    RAW Art Works

    The Trustees’ strong belief in RAW Art Works’ mission approve funding for RAW’s capital campaign to expand from their original one-room studio to purchasing and renovating the entire building, allowing them to serve over 550 youths annually.

  • 01
    2005
    YMCA

    The Lynch Foundation provides capital support to purchase land and construct a new facility for the Marblehead/Swampscott YMCA. The new Lynch/van Otterloo facility is one of the largest non-profit organizations on the North Shore, growing from 3,000 to 15,000 members and providing over 3,500 subsidies so local individuals and families can access the YMCA’s programming.

  • 01
    2006
    Massachusetts Special Olympics

    The Lynch Foundation funds an innovative pilot grant to develop and implement the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program, enabling individuals as young as 2 to participate in sports play programming. The Young Athletes Program reduced the age limit from 8 to 2, increasing access and ability to serve more than five million athletes today.

  • 01
    2006
    Institute for Contemporary Art

    The Institute of Contemporary Art, the first new museum built in Boston in over a century, received a capital investment from The Lynch Foundation. Trustees felt a commitment to support such a new and exciting project on the waterfront that expanded the ICA’s audience tenfold and also served as a catalyst for contemporary art in Boston.

  • 01
    2006
    Early Education Initiative

    After the Massachusetts Legislature approves the Early Education For All Act, the Trustees recognize a significant opportunity for the Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools to increase their enrollment and serve more families in need. The Lynch Foundation helps create a voucher program providing subsidies for low-income families to access high-quality early education programs.

  • 01
    2006
    Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

    The Lynch Foundation provides seed funding for an innovative solar energy program, The African Photovoltaic Project, which brings electricity and pure water to Fugar, Nigeria. The installations generate electricity for multiple uses in schools, clinics, and café settings, including water purification, educational programming, and reliable communication. The project increases safety and provides educational opportunities for people living in the village.

  • 01
    2007
    Boston Children’s Museum

    The Boston Children’s Museum, the second oldest children’s museum in the United States, opens the Peter and Carolyn Lynch Early Learning Gallery. Created in partnership with innovators at MIT, the learning center houses the museum’s first space designed specifically for young children ages 0-3 to spark exploration and creativity.

  • 01
    2007
    Boston Schoolyard Initiative

    The Lynch Foundation supports the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, a public-private partnership between foundations and the Boston school system. BSI renovates all of the 88 Boston Public Schools playgrounds in every neighborhood in the city, reclaiming over 130 acres of open space that covers every neighborhood in the City of Boston.

  • 01
    2008
    Posse Foundation

    Identifying a unique opportunity to use the power of leadership, The Lynch Foundation announces a challenge grant to The Posse Foundation to create an endowment fund at an annual dinner with more than 1,000 attendees. The success of the campaign triggered additional gifts to establish a $20 million endowment for Posse to replicate their model in more cities across the country.

  • 01
    2008
    Teach for America

    Close to two decades after the initial investment in TFA, new political leadership created the opportunity to support TFA’s long awaited expansion to Boston. In partnership with two other funders, the trustees made a critical investment to support the creation of TFA MA.

  • 01
    2009
    Tom Leahy Passes Away

    Founding Board Member Tom Leahy passes away.

  • 01
    2009
    New Trustee

    The Board welcomes a new Trustee, Rick Spillane, making him the first new Trustee in more than a decade. Spillane, a former professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Babson College, also brings extensive experience in the financial services industry.

  • 01
    2009
    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

    A true visionary committed to create the most unique museum experience in Boston, Isabella Stewart Gardner organized concerts, lectures, exhibits and encouraged the celebration of art, music and horticulture. An expansion provided an opportunity to celebrate the mutual admiration with an outdoor courtyard housing The Lynch Family Garden.

  • 01
    2009
    Boston Chamber of Commerce

    Peter is inducted into the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Academy of Distinguished Bostonians.

  • 31
    2009
    Decade 2

    $43,749,270.52 was invested 513 organizations. The average gift size was $85,281.23

  • 01
    2010
    Inner-City Scholarship Fund of CSF

    The Peter Lynch Scholar program was established in 2010 to honor the 20th anniversary of Peter’s involvement with the Catholic Schools Foundation and Inner-City Scholarship Fund. A minimum of one and a maximum of five students are designated as Peter Lynch Scholars at each elementary school in the Archdiocese of Boston annually. Additionally, each year, at least one 8th grade student at each school is honored and the names are shared with Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. Peter Lynch Scholars have excellent academic achievements and work ethic, exhibit care for others in the school community, are significantly impacted by a Catholic education, and demonstrate financial need for the scholarship. As of 2020, 1,570 students have been named Peter Lynch Scholars.

  • 01
    2010
    Lynch Leadership Academy

    With two decades of experience of investing in leaders of education, The Trustees made the significant investment to create the Lynch Leadership Academy. A practical and tactical leadership training program for aspiring and sitting school leaders serving the highest needs communities in Massachusetts. LLA is the only leadership training program in the country working across public, charter, and Catholic school sectors.

  • 01
    2010
    Francis Ouiment

    Peter receives the Richard F. Connolly, Jr. Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and commitment to the organization that had an incredibly positive impact on his life. Peter caddied at Brae Burn Country Club as a teenager and received a Ouimet Fund Scholarship to attend Boston College. The Trustees recently voted to establish an endowed scholarship for inner-city Boston Ouimet Scholars in honor of Peter.

  • 01
    2011
    Board Retreat

    The Lynch Foundation’s first Board Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Trustees participate in facilitated conversations, school site visits, meet with innovative nonprofit leaders and philanthropists, and attend the Philanthropy Roundtable’s Annual Meeting where Carolyn and Peter are keynote presenters along with Tom Tierney.

  • 01
    2011
    Boston Magazine

    Boston Magazine recognizes Carolyn Lynch as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Boston.

  • 01
    2011
    Artists For Humanity

    Artists for Humanity honors Carolyn and Peter at its 20th Anniversary celebration for the Lynch’s early belief and continued support of the organization.

  • 01
    2011
    Campaign For Catholic Schools

    Carolyn and Peter receive the Connors Funders Award from the Campaign for Catholic Schools for their outstanding service to Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy.

  • 01
    2012
    InnerCity Weightlifting Inc.

    The Lynch Foundation provides early, critical support of InnerCity Weightlifting, an innovative nonprofit aiming to reduce community violence. The unique model connects victims of trauma and racial segregation to new opportunities, including meaningful career tracks in personal training. The Foundation’s grant allowed them to open a permanent facility, doubling the number of students served.

  • 01
    2012
    Katie 40 under 40 BBJ

    Boston Business Journal selects Katie as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees for her significant and positive impact on the Boston community.

  • 01
    2013
    25th Anniversary

    The Lynch Foundation converts to a private Foundation and celebrates its 25th Anniversary. The 25th Anniversary celebration is held at Artists For Humanity’s EpiCenter and attended by over 300 of the Foundation’s grantees, partners, and community leaders. The event showcased performances and demonstrations from its grantees and highlighted the connections and impact the Foundation has had on individuals and communities throughout its 25 years.

  • 01
    2013
    Lawrence Public Schools

    The Foundation provides seed funding to launch the Acceleration Academies and Sontag Prize in Urban Education in the Lawrence Public Schools. The Foundation worked closely with Jeff Riley, who created the innovative Academies and Teacher Prize. The Academies grew from a pilot of serving 2,000 students in Lawrence to serving over 5,000 students during the two school vacation weeks. Serving as a critical component to the District’s successful turnaround plan.

  • 01
    2013
    Boston Magazine

    Boston Magazine recognizes Carolyn and Peter as one of Boston’s Top 25 Most Influential People in Philanthropy.

  • 01
    2013
    Posse Foundation

    Carolyn and Peter receive Posse Boston’s Power of 10 Award in honor of their philanthropic leadership and commitment to educational access for students.

  • 01
    2013
    Breast Cancer Research Fund

    Carolyn and Peter accept the Breast Cancer Research Fund’s Boston Humanitarian Award from Dr. Gerry Doyle for their philanthropic leadership in Boston.

  • 01
    2014
    College Bound Dorchester

    The Foundation provides seed funding to launch an innovative training institute for College Bound’s College Readiness Advisors, creating a pipeline of well-trained and non-traditional educators. The successful pilot led to the launch of the Boston Uncornered Initiative, which works to move 500 gang-involved youth annually off the streets and into college. The Initiative is transforming neighborhoods by harnessing the power and influence to positive goals of college and career.

  • 01
    2014
    Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

    Partnering with the Smith Family Foundation, The Lynch Foundation supports the monumental and world-acclaimed public art sculpture, “As If It Were Already Here” from internationally-renowned local artist, Janet Echelman. The sculpture is made up of 100 miles of rope and suspended by 6 skyscrapers 365 feet above the Greenway. The incredible installation catapulted Boston’s public art scene, attracting thousands of visitors.

  • 01
    2015
    Boston Schools Fund

    The Lynch Foundation hosted a Philanthropy Roundtable with influential Boston public and private leaders to discuss the community benefits of pooled funding. The response was so overwhelming that the Foundation provided seed funding for and recruited a highly talented and motivated founder, as well as a business plan, for the Boston Schools Fund.

  • 01
    2015
    Founder Passes away
  • 01
    2016
    All Lynch Family Second Generation Members join the Board of Trustees

    For the first time, all three second-generation members — Mary Witkowski, Annie Lukowski, and Elizabeth de Montrichard — are active on the Board together.

  • 01
    2016
    New Trustee and Board Retreat

    Jack Regan, a partner at Wilmer Hale and an active member of many nonprofit boards, joins The Lynch Foundation Board of Trustees. The Lynch Foundation holds its second retreat in Westerly, Rhode Island. The Trustees review the Foundation’s historical grantmaking strategies and principles, update policies and internal documents, and meet with current grantee leaders.

  • 01
    2016
    i2 STEM Week

    The Trustees, recognizing the need for high-quality STEM curriculum and teaching, approved seed funding for the pilot year of STEM Week in 15 early-adopter Boston public, charter, and Catholic schools. Due to the success of the pilot, STEM Week has grown to 80 schools in Boston and across the state, reaching over 20,000 students. Select schools have implemented STEM Month and an after-school STEM Club to provide more STEM programming for their students.

  • 01
    2017
    Board Retreat

    The Lynch Foundation hosts its third retreat in Kennebunkport, Maine. The Trustees review the topics discussed at the second retreat, discuss the Foundation’s Legacy and future planning, and hear presentations from current grantees.

  • 01
    2017
    EdNavigator

    EdNavigator is an innovative organization that helps families find the path to a great education, partnering with leading businesses and community organizations to provides employees with expert Navigators who serve as personal education advisors. The Lynch Foundation funded to launch the first replication site of EdNavigator in Boston, which is now serving 550 families in Boston and plans to continue their growth.

  • 01
    2017
    The Phoenix

    The Trustees met Founder Scott Strode and were impressed by his leadership and The Phoenix model of creating a sober active community. In 2014, the Board approved seed funding to launch a Boston chapter, due to the rising opioid crisis in Massachusetts. Three years later, an exciting opportunity was presented for Phoenix to secure a permanent facility in Boston and the Trustees approved a large challenge grant to help them obtain the immediate funding needed. The new 11,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Newmarket Square has allowed The Phoenix to serve 2,000 members annually.

  • 01
    2018
    Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

    The Carolyn Lynch Garden on the Greenway opened in the spring after expansive renovations and improvements. Carolyn was an avid horticulturist and designs and plants from her personal gardens in Marblehead and Ireland can be found in the Greenway garden in Boston.

  • 01
    2018
    Mission Grammar School

    Mission Grammar honors The Lynch Foundation with its Community Partnership Award in honor of the Foundation’s support to help the school advance its mission. The Lynch Foundation provided seed funding to launch Mission Grammar’s early education program and supported the program’s growth to include high-quality, year-round infant and toddler programming.

  • 01
    2019
    Monan Medal of Catholic Philanthropy

    Peter accepts Leadership Roundtable’s Inaugural Monan Medal of Catholic Philanthropy on behalf of the Lynch Family. The award was given to three outstanding Catholic philanthropic families from around the country who exemplify the legacy of the former president of Boston College, Father J. Donald Monan, SJ.

  • 01
    2019
    First Teacher

    The Foundation provides critical support to help First Teacher grow to serve more families in Roxbury and Dorchester. First Teacher is a parent-led school-readiness movement built and led by the same families who participate. First Teacher supports parents and caregivers in their role as their children’s first teacher through sharing resources, facilitating workshops and play groups, and providing them with a growing network of families in the community.

  • 31
    2019
    Decade 3

    $75,203,027 was invested in 684 organizations. The average gift size was $109,945.95.*

     

    *Numbers from 2019 still not complete

  • 26
    2020
    Boston Resiliency Fund

    The Boston Resiliency Fund was the City of Boston’s effort to help coordinate fundraising and philanthropic efforts. Their goal is to provide essential services to Boston residents whose health and well-being are most immediately impacted by COVID-19.

  • 26
    2020
    Home Start

    A significant one-year grant to increase HomeStart’s capacity to grow and expand their eviction prevention services immediately, to prevent the number of evictions from 475 to 650 in the Eastern (Greater Boston) Housing Court and from 45 to 70 in the Southeastern (South Shore) Housing Court as well as expand to the four other Massachusetts Housing Courts across the state.

  • 26
    2020
    MA Covid Fund

    The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund worked in concert with regional nonprofits, community foundations, and leaders at the community and state levels to understand the response and relief landscape. The goal was to ensure that all the needs were understood and responded to swiftly and that all of the interventions supported were effective.

  • 26
    2020
    Community Learning Collaborative

    The Community Learning Collaborative comprised of community organizations led by leaders of color – YMCA of Greater Boston, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, The BASE, and Latinos for Education –built an integrated continuum of services for Black and Latinx students and families during the pandemic., These four organizations stepped in to create learning pods, free of charge to families, to provide high-quality academic support, social-emotional development, health and wellness, recreation, arts, movement, and food in a fun and engaging environment.

  • 26
    2021
    Found In Translation

    The experience of a low-income, multilingual, immigrant woman in America who saw hospitals in Boston struggles to find bilingual talent to meet the growing need for interpreters, leading to costly and even fatal medical errors, lead Maria to establish Found in Translation. Translation’s Language Access Fellowship Program integrates free training toward a Medical Interpreter Certificate, job placement, and holistic support to help women transition from poverty and homelessness to stable careers while providing a critical service in the community.

  • 26
    2021
    Inner-City Weightlifting

    Having proven its model, ICW is now ready to scale. Of the roughly 450 individuals who are involved in more than 50% of Boston’s gun violence, ICW has worked with 119 of them. ICW’s goal is to work with 270 of the 450. They plan to quadruple the number of people in the program, including the number of personal and corporate training clients, over the next five years.

  • 26
    2021
    Saint Mary’s Women and Infant Center

    St. Mary’s Center supports 500 of Boston’s most vulnerable women and children annually with critical wrap-around assistance that includes shelter, clinical support, trauma services, and education and workforce development programs. Our partnership created a center that provides high-quality early childhood education to 60 families in St. Mary’s residential and job-training programs, as well as an additional 90 families in the surrounding community from infant to age 5.

  • 26
    2022
    Board Retreat

    The Lynch Foundation hosted our fourth retreat, including three new Board Members as well as numerous partners and stakeholders. We enhanced our current priorities as we added two new areas of focus.

  • 26
    2022
    City Fresh Foods

    City Fresh Foods (CFF) is a Black-owned and operated healthy food production and delivery company located in Roxbury with a 28-year track record of delivering meals to seniors, students, and vulnerable groups. Our partnership enabled City Fresh Foods ability to purchase, build, and equip a new facility in Roxbury and, with the capacity the new facility provides, grow its business substantially over the next ten years to provide more healthy fresh meals for students, seniors, and vulnerable populations in the Boston area.

  • 26
    2022
    Father’s Uplift

    With a new drop-in facility, Father’s Uplift’s  Homecoming Program will help incarcerated fathers reenter society and maintain relationships with their children. The program provides wrap-around mental health and support services for low-income men experiencing reentry.

  • 26
    2022
    Neighborhood Villages

    A partnership to launch the Early Education Workforce Collaborative, which will reduce barriers that early educators, especially women of color, face when entering and advancing their careers. Through a partnership with state agencies, community-based organizations, higher education institutions, and philanthropy, the initiative will serve 500+ educators over three years.

  • 24
    2023
    Catholic Schools Foundation

    Catholic Schools Foundation – 33rd Annual Building Minds Scholarship Dinner. Peter Lynch was honored for his 33 years of leadership and service to the organization and Rick Spillane received the Carolyn and Peter Lynch Award, which is given annually to individuals or organizations making a transformational difference in the lives of CSF’s scholarship recipients. The dinner broke all fundraising records raising $6M for the Annual Fund and $14M for the Peter Lynch Scholarship Endowment Fund to provide students and opportunity to attend Catholic Schools for generation to com.

  • 24
    2023
    Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras
    Nancy

    Trustees Elizabeth de Montrichard and Nancy Coolidge with Katie Everett at the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra site visit, which the Foundation provided a grant to support their capital campaign.

Our Board

Inspired by the verse “to whom much has been given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48), Peter and Carolyn Lynch dedicated themselves to philanthropic activities as a way of enhancing love and respect in their community. Carolyn and Peter were both children of educators whose upbringings stressed the importance of basic human values and spiritual traditions. With passion, curiosity, and commitment the Lynches developed a unique approach to philanthropy, and sought to make a lasting impact on their community.

Nancy R. Coolidge
Elizabeth de Montrichard
Amanda Fernández
Annie Lukowski
Peter S. Lynch
Jack Regan
Richard Spillane
Ralph C. Sweetland, M.D.
Marie-Claude Tanny
Mary Witkowski, M.D.

Carolyn A. Lynch

Carolyn A. Lynch was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lynch Foundation since its founding in 1988. As presiding officer of the foundation, Carolyn worked with hundreds of groups in a funding capacity and an advisory role. Committed to hands-on research, Carolyn worked diligently to identify individuals and organizations using innovative solutions to solve important issues. She was especially drawn to ones that showed the potential to scale and replicate. Some of the organizations she identified and funded in their initial stages include Teach For America, Partners in Health, MENTOR (formerly One to One), First Night, City Year,...

Carolyn A. Lynch was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lynch Foundation since its founding in 1988. As presiding officer of the foundation, Carolyn worked with hundreds of groups in a funding capacity and an advisory role. Committed to hands-on research, Carolyn worked diligently to identify individuals and organizations using innovative solutions to solve important issues. She was especially drawn to ones that showed the potential to scale and replicate. Some of the organizations she identified and funded in their initial stages include Teach For America, Partners in Health, MENTOR (formerly One to One), First Night, City Year, Boston College Urban Catholic Teachers’ Corps, and the Posse Foundation.

She was an active member of her community, serving on numerous boards and providing leadership on civic initiatives in education, historical preservation, parks and outdoor space, and health care. Carolyn was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Catholic Charities Boston, the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, the Peabody Essex Museum, Deerfield Academy, and the New England Conservatory of Music.

Carolyn was recognized for her philanthropic leadership by The United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. She was the recipient of the DeTore Leadership Award from The Montrose School for demonstrating faith, character, and vision. In addition, she was a Dame of Malta and received the Papal Honor of St. Gregory Award, the highest honor awarded by the Roman Catholic Church to a layperson. Carolyn received three honorary degrees of Doctors of Humane Letters from Assumption College, Boston College, and Emmanuel College. She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Regis College for her commitment to philanthropy and education.

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania and Delaware, Carolyn attended a school where her father taught and eventually became principal. She attended the University of Pennsylvania on an academic scholarship where she studied physics and physiology. Carolyn was an avid reader, an award-winning gardener, and a world champion tournament bridge player. In March 2012, she achieved the rank of Grand Life Master. She and her husband Peter were married over forty years and together had three daughters and eight grandchildren.

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Watch: Life-changing impact of philanthrophy

Our Team

The Lynch Foundation views giving as an investment. We spread our resources in a diverse portfolio of sustainable organizations, from innovative and promising start-ups to well-established organizations with strong leadership. This allows The Lynch Foundation to serve the largest constituency possible and help its partners act as a catalyst for effective change. Meet the staff who makes it all happen!

Katie Everett
Victoria Prudden
Ashley Meany
Watch: Key Hire

Why Early Education Matters

Going to school does not only affect the future of children, it affects the future of their families, their friends, and their communities. As more children are educated, the world becomes a brighter place. With the ability to make important decisions and consider all possibilities, children will no doubt be more successful in their personal and professional lives. Education allows each person to gain power and create opportunities. Beyond the economic implications, education is an issue of basic human dignity. The ability to gain knowledge, access positive learning opportunities, and apply skills are the cornerstones of healthy human development. The Lynch Foundation believes in the access and opportunity of a quality education for all students starting at a very early age to build a strong foundation.