The Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund is a charitable trust managed by Bank of America's Massachusetts office through its Philanthropic Solutions division. Established in 1949 by Walter Noonan in memory of his mother, the fund supports nonprofit organizations that enhance education, healthcare, family services, and arts access—particularly for under-resourced populations—in Greater Boston.
The fund’s core mission is to advance quality education, support services for families, and healthcare related to the treatment or recovery from physical or mental illness or injury. The promotion of the arts, especially for underserved communities, is also a central component of its grantmaking priorities.
Grants are available for general operating support, program support, or small capital expenses related to approved programs or operations. Operating support is only awarded if the entire mission and activities of the organization align with the fund’s focus. Multi-year funding requests will be considered. The fund does not list a specific funding ceiling or floor, but prioritizes alignment with its stated priorities and service area.
The application deadline for the fund is May 1, 2025, with award notifications sent out by the end of September 2025. Applicants must serve one or more of the approved cities and towns within the Greater Boston area. These include major population centers such as Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, and Lynn, as well as surrounding communities like Waltham, Brookline, Malden, and over 90 others in the region.
The fund is open to a wide range of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Applications must be submitted through Bank of America’s online portal. For questions, applicants are encouraged to contact ma.grantmaking@bofa.com and include the foundation name in the subject line. Detailed procedural guidance, including required forms and instructions, is available in downloadable PDF and Word formats via the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions platform.
