2025 Annual Report
*Information as of January 12th 2026
2025 was a banner year for the Mary Lyon Foundation. We completed our $5,000,000 Campaign for Student Success, surpassing our goal by $100,000. This success highlights the strong support from our donors and partners, reinforcing their vital role in our progress. Our ongoing goals remain the same: stabilizing operations, securing funding, and expanding our support to more students, families, and educators. For example, we supported 1,100 students and families, demonstrating our tangible community impact.
Our vision for the future is to ensure that:
- All students have the resources they need to be ready to learn, to succeed in school, and to thrive in the wider world.
- All families have access to the services needed to foster a healthy and stable learning environment at home and school.
- All educators have the tools and resources they need to give their students the very best education possible.
We have realized this vision through newly created programs, collaborations with other agencies, and the use of your fundraising dollars, which directly enable us to expand services like wrap-around support and community hubs, making you an essential part of our progress and impact.
Over the last year, our programs continued to expand, and we found ourselves in need of a Program Director. Liza Manchester joined our team in late July, and with her help, we were able to successfully supplement food to the students in the districts throughout the SNAP crisis.
As we enter 2026, we are focused on supporting families and educators today while planning for the future, reinforcing our commitment to community growth and shared success.
We enter 2026 inspired and motivated to continue offering, building, and creating a sustainable community resource in West County and continue to expand our help throughout Franklin County and areas of Hampshire County.
Total raised in 2025 in cash and pledges: $1,134,266.74. This strong financial support enables us to sustain current programs and invest in new initiatives, such as expanding wrap-around services and community hubs, ensuring long-term impact and stability for the foundation's mission.
The Mary Lyon Foundation depends on your generosity and grant funding to fulfill our mission. Your continued support enables us to grow our endowments and provide essential care and programs to those who need us most, fostering a sense of shared purpose and trust.
Thank you for all the support and generosity in 2025, and we hope you will continue to join us in 2026.
KRISTEN TILLONA-BAKER
CEO/Executive Director
Where Your Support Went in 2025
The charts below highlight how Mary Lyon allocated resources in 2025 to maximize community impact while ensuring strong organizational stewardship.
Eighty percent of total expenses supported direct programming, funding scholarships, student and educator assistance, emergency aid, literacy initiatives, and restricted discretionary funds. These investments reflect our commitment to meeting both immediate needs and long-term goals.
The remaining 20% supported administrative and development functions, with the majority dedicated to essential operating costs and a portion invested in development efforts that strengthen sustainability and future impact.
Together, these allocations demonstrate a thoughtful balance between mission delivery and responsible management—ensuring every dollar works toward meaningful change.
