Boston Schools Received $100 Million in Donations

Private funding for Boston public schools over the last decade skewed heavily toward five individual schools.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration of two red-brick school buildings of varying size, representing unequal distribution of private school funding. — An analysis of Boston Public Schools donation data found that five institutions received 75% of $100 million in private funds raised over the last decade. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should private donations to individual public schools be distributed more equitably across the district?

Boston Public Schools secured more than $100 million in private donations over the last decade. A recent analysis revealed that five schools received three quarters of the total funding, while most other schools raised significantly less.

Why it matters

Disparities in private fundraising are driven by differences in school income levels and parental social connections. This creates a significant gap in resources between different schools within the same public district.

The Boston Latin School Foundation reported a net worth of $76.3 million for the 2023/2024 school year, while the Higginson Lewis school account held only $7,024 in 2024. Seventy-eight schools raised less than $40,000 combined over the entire decade.

The players

Boston Public Schools

This is the public school district serving the city of Boston.

Boston Latin School Foundation

This private foundation supports the oldest public school in the United States.

Boston Arts Academy Foundation

This organization manages private funds intended for the city's specialized arts high school.

Ernst and Young

This global professional services firm conducted an audit of the school district's fundraising in 2018.

The details

Data from private foundations associated with schools show that elite institutions like the Boston Latin School and Boston Arts Academy hold millions in assets. In contrast, schools like Higginson Lewis, which serves a population with 90.7% low-income students, struggle to maintain minimal account balances.

An audit of school fundraising data was conducted by Ernst and Young in 2018.
The Boston Latin School Foundation reported a $76.3 million net worth during the 2023/2024 school year.
The Higginson Lewis school account balance was $7,024 in 2024.

Market Landscape

The reliance on school-specific private foundations reflects a decentralized approach that creates winners and losers in the public education funding landscape. This stands in contrast to centralized foundation models seen in other cities that prioritize district-wide equity.

Families in the district may experience vastly different levels of access to school programs and enrichment activities based on their specific school's fundraising success. This often leaves students at schools with fewer social connections behind in terms of available resources.

The takeaway

Communities must grapple with how to balance school-level autonomy in fundraising against the need for equitable resource distribution across a city. Addressing this gap remains a central challenge for public school administrators aiming to provide equal opportunities for all students.