About Us
We fund new construction, rehabilitation as well as major repairs and renovations. Grants range from $25,000 to $100,000, to construct or preserve affordable housing for individuals and families of low or moderate income. See Grant Guidelines for more details.
Our History
Edwin Ginn (1838-1914) founded the Charlesbank Homes Foundation in 1911. Ginn grew up in a humble farming family in Maine, graduated from Tufts University, and eventually founded Ginn & Co, one of the largest educational publishing companies in the country. He turned his considerable wealth to charitable endeavors including constructing a five-story building that contained apartments for families in need and housed up to 500 people. The Charlesbank Home, as it was called, operated successfully until 1960, when urban renewal in Boston’s West End led to its demolition. Ginn also endowed what later became the World Peace Foundation. He lived in Winchester, Massachusetts from 1886 until his death in 1914 and was one of the town’s greatest and most influential benefactors. In his will, Ginn urged Charlesbank Trustees to provide “comfortable living quarters, at a reasonable price, for working girls and students.” Today the foundation continues the legacy of Edwin Ginn by funding capital grants for the construction and preservation of affordable housing in Massachusetts.
Trustees
Felicia Jacques
Jason Law, CFA
Mark Winkeller
Richard H. Sayre
Stephanie Page
Trustee Emeritus: Thomas W. Cornu
Jeanne Pinado, President
Kathryn Roy, Vice President and Secretary
Philip J. Notopoulos, Vice President
Bruce Berzin, Treasurer
Elizabeth A. Hibbard
Past Grants
Here are the grants made over the last 5 years in Massachusetts
5/1/2023 - 4/30/2024 -- $990,240 in Grants
Abby Foster Keller House, Worcester
Renovate a building and increase number of beds from 9 to 18
Allston Brighton CDC, Allston
Renovate a 14 unit SRO supportive housing project
Catholic Charities,
Increase adult men’s residential recovery home to 56 beds
Dismas House, Oakham
Construct 6 bedrooms of permanent affordable housing
Habitat for Humanity Metro West, Sturbridge
Construct a 3 bedroom affordable home
Harborlight Community Partners,
Construct 23 units of affordable housing
Heading Home, Cambridge
Repairs for a 10 unit SRO
Hilltown CDC, Chester
Renovations of 17 units of affordable housing
Independent Housing Solutions, Northhampton
Renovation to support 16 homeless individuals
Lawrence Community Works, Lawrence
Construct four 3-bedroom affordable townhouses-
Planning Office of Urban Affairs, Wrentham,
Renovations for 8 victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation
Sojourner House, Inc., Roxbury
Repairs to a 50 unit homeless shelter
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.,Lowell
Repairs to a 6 unit homeless shelter
South Shore Habitat for Humanity, Cohasset,
Construct two 3-bedroom condominiums
Wellspring House, Inc., Goucester
Repairs to a 5 unit emergency shelter
5/1/22 - 4/30/23 -- $952,298 in Grants
Action Inc, Gloucester
Weatherize an affordable house for 11 people Allston Brighton CDC, Boston
Renovate a 14-unit supportive house Bay Cove Human Services, Boston
Upgrade kitchen in a house for domestic violence survivors Caritas Communities, Braintree
Renovate an affordable rental property Edwina Martin House - Brockton
Repair a 9 unit house for women in recovery Habitat for Humanity - Cape Cod, Yarmouth Port
Construct 4 new affordable homes in a 10 unit development Habitat for Humanity - Greater Boston, Boston
Build a 5-unit affordable condominium Habitat for Humanity - Greater Lowell, Westford
Construct a 2-story, 2-bedroom home Habitat for Humanity - North Central Massachusetts, Fitchburg
Exterior repairs to 2 SRO buildings Haley House, Boston
Exterior repairs to 2 SRO buildings Essex County Habitat for Humanity, Lawrence
Construct 4-units of affordable homes New Vue Communities, Fitchburg
Renovate 27-units and add 2 units Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, Attleboro
Construct a 3-bedroom family home Rosie's Place, Boston
Renovate their elevator Victory Programs, Boston
Exterior renovations Worcester Common Ground, Worcester
Construct a duplex home
5/1/21 - 4/30/22 -- $1,141,585 in Grants
Habitat for Humanity - Greater Lowell, Concord
Build 2 units in a renovated house
Construct a home for a low-income family Heading Home, Medford
Install energy efficient windows and heating system Rogerson Communities, Boston
Repair brick facade Chinatown Community Land Trust, Boston
Structural repairs and new heating system Dove, Inc., Quincy
Install 11 new mini-split air conditioners at a domestic abuse shelter Habitat for Humanity - Cape Cod, West Harwich
Construct 6 new affordable homes Southwest Boston CDC, Roslindale
Renovate 2 buildings into 9 affordable units Cambridge Community Housing Development, Cambridge
Renovate 3 affordable housing units after fire damage Lynn Shelter Association, Lynn
Extensive structural repairs St. Francis House, Boston
Renovate 3 shared bathrooms in a homeless shelter The Neighborhood Developers, Chelsea
Construct 6 new affordable homes Bay Cove Human Services, Weymouth
New roof and driveway Habitat for Humanity - Buzzards Bay, Westport
Construct 2 new units of affordable housing Habitat for Humanity - North Central MA, Athol
Construct a new affordable house Island Housing Trust, Acquina
Construct 4 affordable units in 2 duplex houses Jeremiah's Inn, Worcester
Structural improvements to newly purchased building Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Wrentham
Convert a convent into 8 recovery units South Shore Habitat for Humanity, Hingham
Construct 2 new affordable homes
5/1/20 - 4/30/21 -- $1,141,914 in Grants
Action Incorporated, Gloucester
Renovate 4 units for formerly homeless individuals
Bay Cove Human Services, Boston
Repairs to short-term residential facility
Berkshire Housing Development Corp., Willliamstown
Construct 42 units of affordable housing
Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust, Dorchester
Repairs to 5 properties serving low-income families
Bread and Roses Housing, Inc., Lawrence
Renovate a duplex for two low-income families
Cambridge Family and Children's Service, Malden
Repair bathroom and replace windows for young people's homes
Caritas Communities, Allston
Renovate 10 bathrooms in SRO building for low-income individuals
CASCAP, Newton
Repair roof and siding for low-income housing for 35 people
Habitat for Humanity - Greater Boston, Malden
Construct two homes for low-income families
Habitat for Humanity - Greater Lowell, Billerica
Construct a 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath affordable home
Habitat for Humanity - North Central Mass., Athol
Construct a home for a low-income family
Habitat for Humanity Metro West, Worcester
Construct a home for a low-income family
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, Yarmouthport
Construct 2 two-bedroom affordable homes
Haley House, Roxbury
Repair exterior of multi-unit building for low-income families
New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Boston
Modernize and upgrade elevators
Pine Street Inn, Boston
Repair brick and limestone for 48 unit affordable housing
Rural Development Inc., Sunderland
Construct 33 affordable apartments for seniors
Sojourner House, Roxbury
Install 2 mini-splits and blow-in insulation
South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, Boston
Replace 84 windows with energy efficient ones
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Framingham
Repairs to emergency shelter
South Shore Habitat for Humanity, Easton
Construct a home for a low-income family
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation, Roslindale
Purchase 26 unit apartment building to house low-income families
Victory Programs, Dorchester
Repairs to facility for women recovering from substance abuse
Women's Institute, Sandwich
Construct 30 townhouse units for low-income residents
We fund new construction, rehabilitation as well as major repairs and renovations. Grants range from $25,000 to $100,000, to construct or preserve affordable housing for individuals and families of low or moderate income. See Grant Criteria for more details.
Our History
Edwin Ginn (1838-1914) founded the Charlesbank Homes Foundation in 1911. Ginn grew up in a humble farming family in Maine, graduated from Tufts University, and eventually founded Ginn & Co, one of the largest educational publishing companies in the country. He turned his considerable wealth to charitable endeavors including constructing a five-story building that contained apartments for families in need and housed up to 500 people. The Charlesbank Home, as it was called, operated successfully until 1960, when urban renewal in Boston’s West End led to its demolition. Ginn also endowed what later became the World Peace Foundation. He lived in Winchester, Massachusetts from 1886 until his death in 1914 and was one of the town’s greatest and most influential benefactors. In his will, Ginn urged Charlesbank Trustees to provide “comfortable living quarters, at a reasonable price, for working girls and students.” Today the foundation continues the legacy of Edwin Ginn by funding capital grants for the construction and preservation of affordable housing in Massachusetts.
Trustees
Felicia Jacques
Jason Law, CFA
Mark Winkeller
Richard H. Sayre
Stephanie Page
Trustee Emeritus: Thomas W. Cornu
Jeanne Pinado, President
Kathryn Roy, Vice President and Secretary
Philip J. Notopoulos, Vice President
Bruce Berzin, Treasurer
Elizabeth A. Hibbard
Past Grants
Here are the grants made over the last 5 years in Massachusetts
5/1/2023 - 4/30/2024 -- $990,240 in Grants
Abby Foster Keller House, Worcester
Renovate a building and increase number of beds from 9 to 18
Allston Brighton CDC, Allston
Renovate a 14 unit SRO supportive housing project
Catholic Charities,
Increase adult men’s residential recovery home to 56 beds
Dismas House, Oakham
Construct 6 bedrooms of permanent affordable housing
Habitat for Humanity Metro West, Sturbridge
Construct a 3 bedroom affordable home
Harborlight Community Partners,
Construct 23 units of affordable housing
Heading Home, Cambridge
Repairs for a 10 unit SRO
Hilltown CDC, Chester
Renovations of 17 units of affordable housing
Independent Housing Solutions, Northhampton
Renovation to support 16 homeless individuals
Lawrence Community Works, Lawrence
Construct four 3-bedroom affordable townhouses-
Planning Office of Urban Affairs, Wrentham,
Renovations for 8 victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation
Sojourner House, Inc., Roxbury
Repairs to a 50 unit homeless shelter
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.,Lowell
Repairs to a 6 unit homeless shelter
South Shore Habitat for Humanity, Cohasset,
Construct two 3-bedroom condominiums
Wellspring House, Inc., Goucester
Repairs to a 5 unit emergency shelter
5/1/22 - 4/30/23 -- $952,298 in Grants
Action Inc, Gloucester
Weatherize an affordable house for 11 people Allston Brighton CDC, Boston
Renovate a 14-unit supportive house Bay Cove Human Services, Boston
Upgrade kitchen in a house for domestic violence survivors Caritas Communities, Braintree
Renovate an affordable rental property Edwina Martin House - Brockton
Repair a 9 unit house for women in recovery Habitat for Humanity - Cape Cod, Yarmouth Port
Construct 4 new affordable homes in a 10 unit development Habitat for Humanity - Greater Boston, Boston
Build a 5-unit affordable condominium Habitat for Humanity - Greater Lowell, Westford
Construct a 2-story, 2-bedroom home Habitat for Humanity - North Central Massachusetts, Fitchburg
Exterior repairs to 2 SRO buildings Haley House, Boston
Exterior repairs to 2 SRO buildings Essex County Habitat for Humanity, Lawrence
Construct 4-units of affordable homes New Vue Communities, Fitchburg
Renovate 27-units and add 2 units Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, Attleboro
Construct a 3-bedroom family home Rosie's Place, Boston
Renovate their elevator Victory Programs, Boston
Exterior renovations Worcester Common Ground, Worcester
Construct a duplex home
5/1/21 - 4/30/22 -- $1,141,585 in Grants
Habitat for Humanity - Greater Lowell, Concord
Build 2 units in a renovated house
Construct a home for a low-income family Heading Home, Medford
Install energy efficient windows and heating system Rogerson Communities, Boston
Repair brick facade Chinatown Community Land Trust, Boston
Structural repairs and new heating system Dove, Inc., Quincy
Install 11 new mini-split air conditioners at a domestic abuse shelter Habitat for Humanity - Cape Cod, West Harwich
Construct 6 new affordable homes Southwest Boston CDC, Roslindale
Renovate 2 buildings into 9 affordable units Cambridge Community Housing Development, Cambridge
Renovate 3 affordable housing units after fire damage Lynn Shelter Association, Lynn
Extensive structural repairs St. Francis House, Boston
Renovate 3 shared bathrooms in a homeless shelter The Neighborhood Developers, Chelsea
Construct 6 new affordable homes Bay Cove Human Services, Weymouth
New roof and driveway Habitat for Humanity - Buzzards Bay, Westport
Construct 2 new units of affordable housing Habitat for Humanity - North Central MA, Athol
Construct a new affordable house Island Housing Trust, Acquina
Construct 4 affordable units in 2 duplex houses Jeremiah's Inn, Worcester
Structural improvements to newly purchased building Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Wrentham
Convert a convent into 8 recovery units South Shore Habitat for Humanity, Hingham
Construct 2 new affordable homes
5/1/20 - 4/30/21 -- $1,141,914 in Grants
Action Incorporated, Gloucester
Renovate 4 units for formerly homeless individuals
Bay Cove Human Services, Boston
Repairs to short-term residential facility
Berkshire Housing Development Corp., Willliamstown
Construct 42 units of affordable housing
Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust, Dorchester
Repairs to 5 properties serving low-income families
Bread and Roses Housing, Inc., Lawrence
Renovate a duplex for two low-income families
Cambridge Family and Children's Service, Malden
Repair bathroom and replace windows for young people's homes
Caritas Communities, Allston
Renovate 10 bathrooms in SRO building for low-income individuals
CASCAP, Newton
Repair roof and siding for low-income housing for 35 people
Habitat for Humanity - Greater Boston, Malden
Construct two homes for low-income families
Habitat for Humanity - Greater Lowell, Billerica
Construct a 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath affordable home
Habitat for Humanity - North Central Mass., Athol
Construct a home for a low-income family
Habitat for Humanity Metro West, Worcester
Construct a home for a low-income family
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, Yarmouthport
Construct 2 two-bedroom affordable homes
Haley House, Roxbury
Repair exterior of multi-unit building for low-income families
New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Boston
Modernize and upgrade elevators
Pine Street Inn, Boston
Repair brick and limestone for 48 unit affordable housing
Rural Development Inc., Sunderland
Construct 33 affordable apartments for seniors
Sojourner House, Roxbury
Install 2 mini-splits and blow-in insulation
South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, Boston
Replace 84 windows with energy efficient ones
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Framingham
Repairs to emergency shelter
South Shore Habitat for Humanity, Easton
Construct a home for a low-income family
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation, Roslindale
Purchase 26 unit apartment building to house low-income families
Victory Programs, Dorchester
Repairs to facility for women recovering from substance abuse
Women's Institute, Sandwich
Construct 30 townhouse units for low-income residents