About US
The Cromwell Harbor Foundation believes the world is most powerfully and irrevocably changed by people who are young, talented, and original in their cast of mind. With the Chrysalis Prize, we actively search for and support individuals who are early in their careers and demonstrate the potential for making unconventional breakthroughs. The Foundation seeks to provide resources at this critical early juncture when it is often most difficult to access financial support. Beyond the core Prize, we also provide mentorship and broader support to these young scholars.
More broadly, the Foundation also supports institutions and individuals to empower innovation, trespassing in the best sense of the word, and threshold-crossing ideas. We believe that experience is often over-rated by hierarchies, search committees, and bureaucrats of all types. To summarize the Foundation's philosophy — we’ll take talent over experience every day of the week.
We are omnivores as it relates to talented people doing groundbreaking work and admit to having a soft spot for the humanities, which we believe often struggle in the current environment to find backing. We also help people who are starting creative non-profits of all types.
About our Co-Founder & Board Chair
WilL Thorndike
Will Thorndike is the managing partner of The Cromwell Harbor Partnership, a private investment company with a focus on exceptionally long-term holdings. Prior to Cromwell Harbor, Will founded Housatonic Partners, a leading private equity firm with offices in Boston and San Francisco.
Will is a board member of several private companies, including Banyan Software, Carillon Assisted Living, and QMC Telecom. He is former board chairman at CNX Resources, a publicly traded (NYSE: CNX) energy company and the co-chairman of Perimeter Solutions (NYSE: PRM), a global leader in wildfire retardant systems.
A former trustee of the Groton School, WGBH, and the College of the Atlantic (chair), Will serves as a trustee of the Land & Garden Preserve. Will has also co-founded two ideas festivals: The Summer Institute at the College of the Atlantic and the Authors Guild's Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Festival (WIT).
He lectures frequently at the Stanford and Harvard Business Schools. Will is the author of The Outsiders, which was named by Business Insider as one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Books Ever Published” and has been translated into 17 languages. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Will, with daughter Charlotte on The Precipice on MDI
Foundation Staff
TRUSTEES
William N. Thorndike, Jr.
Will (Co-Founder and Board Chair) is the managing partner of The Cromwell Harbor Partnership, a private investment company with a focus on exceptionally long-term holdings. Prior to Cromwell Harbor, Will founded Housatonic Partners, a leading private equity firm with offices in Boston and San Francisco. Will is a board member of several private companies, including Banyan Software, Carillon Assisted Living, and QMC Telecom. He is former board chairman at CNX Resources, a publicly traded (NYSE: CNX) energy company and the co-chairman of Perimeter Solutions (NYSE: PRM), a global leader in wildfire retardant systems. A former trustee of the Groton School, WGBH, and the College of the Atlantic (chair), Will serves as a trustee of the Land & Garden Preserve. Will has also co-founded two ideas festivals: The Summer Institute at the College of the Atlantic and the Authors Guild's Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Festival (WIT). He lectures frequently at the Stanford and Harvard Business Schools. Will is the author of The Outsiders, which was named by Business Insider as one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Books Ever Published” and has been translated into 17 languages. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Thomas W. Bird
Tom has been an entrepreneur and investor in early-stage impact firms since 1988. Professional highlights include serving as: mentor and entrepreneur in residence at the Harvard Innovation Lab, founder and CEO of the Silicon Valley information management firm FARM Inc., trustee of the American University in Bulgaria, director of B Lab, managing director of Sonen Capital, and board chair of the Global Giving Foundation. He holds a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College, an MBA from Stanford University, and a Master of Theological Studies degree with an emphasis on ethics from Harvard University.
Geneva S. Thorndike
Genie (Co-Founder) is the owner and founder of Hidden Barn Books, a retail bookstore and community space, which opened in the spring of 2025 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Her training in fine furniture-making at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA helped her preserve the 1880s barn and work on the renovation team. She received her BA from Harvard University, a master's in education from Stanford University, and training as a high school English teacher. Genie has served on a number of educational non-profit boards over the years including the Jesup Memorial Library board and as board chair of the North Bennet Street School.
Charles A. Cheever
Charles joined the law firm Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP in 1996 and currently leads the firm as its co-managing partner. Charles works extensively with Choate Investment Advisors — the firm’s investment management subsidiary — to manage each client’s investment assets and to provide access to investment opportunities in public and private markets. He also serves as a trustee and advisor for families committed to philanthropy, overseeing private foundations and charitable trusts worth more than $200 million. Charles graduated from Harvard University in 1990 with a BA in Political Science and Government and received his JD from the University of Virginia in 1995.
M. Lee Pelton
Lee, who was recognized in 2024 by Non-Profit Times in its list of America’s 50 most powerful and influential non-profit leaders, is the CEO & president of The Boston Foundation, one of the nation’s leading philanthropic organizations with $2.0 billion in assets. He joined the Boston Foundation in June 2021, after serving as president of Emerson College (2011-2021) and Willamette University (1998-2011). Lee began his academic career at Harvard University, where he earned a PhD in English literature with an academic focus on 19th-century British prose and poetry. He taught English and American literature at Harvard University, Colgate University, Dartmouth College, and Willamette University. He served on the Harvard Board of Overseers and as vice-chair of its executive committee. After Harvard, Pelton served as dean of the college at Colgate University and Dartmouth College. He graduated from Wichita State University, located in his hometown. In 2024, he was awarded the Harvard Medal, the highest honor bestowed on a Harvard Alum and is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He sits on the Boards of The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Chamber of Commerce, WGBH, Paris College of the Arts, The Barr Foundation, Harvard & Legacy of Slavery, and the Urban Institute.