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Also known as: C/O PROSKAUER ROSE LLP J WAXENBERG
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Jacobson Family Foundation is a private corporation based in NEW YORK, NY. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1997. The principal officer is J Robert Small. It holds total assets of $61.6M. Annual income is reported at $1.4M. Total assets have grown from $22.1M in 2011 to $61.6M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2015 to 2024. Grantmaking is concentrated in New York. According to available records, Jacobson Family Foundation has made 140 grants totaling $7.2M, with a median grant of $5K. Annual giving has grown from $2.1M in 2020 to $2.9M in 2022. Individual grants have ranged from $100 to $900K, with an average award of $52K. The foundation has supported 86 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in New York, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, which account for 79% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 9 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The One8 Foundation (formerly Jacobson Family Foundation) employs a distinctive venture philanthropy model that goes beyond traditional grantmaking. Founded in 1997 by hedge fund manager Jonathon Jacobson (Highfields Capital Management) and his wife Joanna, the foundation functions as both a grantmaker and a pro bono consulting firm. Their approach borrows from venture capital: they identify high-potential nonprofit leaders with compelling ideas, then provide multi-year grant funding alongside hands-on strategic and analytical support to help scale impact. The foundation employs staff recruited from top consulting firms who work directly alongside grantees on strategic planning, outcomes analysis, and problem-solving. This dual model of capital plus consulting capacity distinguishes One8 from most family foundations of comparable size. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals; instead, it proactively identifies partners through research, expert networks, and strategic relationships.
One8 Foundation distributed approximately $48.8 million across 188 grants in 2024, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $6.75 million. The foundation holds approximately $401-877 million in assets (figures vary by reporting entity and year). Funding is concentrated in four pillars: (1) Education reform and youth development, which receives the largest share, with landmark commitments like an $8 million multi-year pledge to Youth Villages; (2) Jewish communal life and Israel-related causes; (3) Health institutions primarily in the Boston area; and (4) Community development. The foundation favors multi-year commitments over one-time grants, reflecting its venture philanthropy philosophy of sustained engagement. Geographic focus is primarily Massachusetts and the greater Boston area, with secondary giving in New York and California. Average grant size is approximately $259,000, though the median is likely lower given the wide range.
One8 Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in Massachusetts. Here is how it compares to peer family foundations with similar focus areas in the region:
| Foundation | Assets | Annual Giving | Focus Areas | Accepts Unsolicited Proposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One8 Foundation (Jacobson) | ~$401-877M | ~$48.8M | Education, Youth, Jewish Causes, Health | No (invitation only) |
| Barr Foundation | ~$1.8B | ~$100M | Climate, Education, Arts | Yes (by invitation and open) |
| Klarman Family Foundation | ~$750M | ~$50M | Medical Research, Education, Jewish Life | Limited |
| Lynch Foundation | ~$200M | ~$15M | Education, Health, Religion | Yes (application) |
| Strategic Grant Partners (Jacobson-affiliated) | ~$50M | ~$5M | Education, Health | By invitation |
One8 stands out for its consulting-plus-capital model and its deep engagement with grantee organizations. While Barr Foundation is larger and more broadly accessible, One8's per-grantee investment intensity (averaging multi-year strategic partnerships) is exceptionally high. The foundation's close affiliation with Strategic Grant Partners, also founded by Joanna Jacobson, creates a complementary ecosystem for education and health funding in Massachusetts.
In recent years, One8 Foundation has significantly scaled its grantmaking, with 2024 distributions of nearly $49 million across 188 grants representing substantial growth. The foundation has been particularly active in STEM education through its Mass STEM Hub initiative, which provides schools access to Project Lead The Way (PLTW), an evidence-based K-12 STEM curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in technology and engineering. The foundation continues its deep commitment to youth development organizations, maintaining multi-year partnerships with Year Up (workforce development for young adults), City Year (national service), and Youth Villages (at-risk youth programs). Joanna Jacobson has taken an increasingly visible leadership role, serving on the boards of Youth Villages and Edward Brooke Charter Management, and was recognized as a HubWeek Change Maker. The foundation rebranded from Jacobson Family Foundation to One8 Foundation in January 2017, signaling a more institutionalized approach to its philanthropy beyond the family name.
Securing funding from the One8 Foundation requires a relationship-driven approach since the foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations seeking support should: (1) Build visibility within the Boston education and youth development ecosystem where One8 is deeply embedded; (2) Demonstrate measurable outcomes and evidence-based programming, as the foundation's consulting-oriented staff evaluate grantees with analytical rigor; (3) Pursue connections through shared board relationships and networks, particularly organizations affiliated with Year Up, City Year, Youth Villages, or Boston-area charter school networks; (4) Engage with Strategic Grant Partners (SGP), a related Jacobson-founded organization that conducts its own pro bono consulting for nonprofits in education and health; (5) Focus on demonstrating scaling potential, since One8's venture philanthropy model prioritizes organizations with compelling leaders and ideas that can deliver "scaled, sustainable impact"; (6) Align programming with One8's core pillars: education reform, youth development, Jewish communal life, or health in Massachusetts. Note that even established organizations report that the foundation's due diligence process is rigorous, involving deep analysis of outcomes data and organizational capacity.
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Supports organizations serving at-risk youth including Year Up, City Year, and Youth Villages with multi-million dollar commitments for workforce development and youth services programs.
Funds charter school management organizations, tuition-free schools, and higher education institutions including Edward Brooke Charter Management, UP Education Network, Boston Bridge charter school, Brandeis University, and Harvard.
Supports Jewish communal organizations including American Israel Education Foundation, Jewish Big Brother & Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, Jewish Family and Children Services, and Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston.
Provides grants to health institutions including Brigham and Women Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
One8 Foundation distributed approximately $48.8 million across 188 grants in 2024, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $6.75 million. The foundation holds approximately $401-877 million in assets (figures vary by reporting entity and year). Funding is concentrated in four pillars: (1) Education reform and youth development, which receives the largest share, with landmark commitments like an $8 million multi-year pledge to Youth Villages; (2) Jewish communal life and Israel-related causes.
Jacobson Family Foundation has distributed a total of $7.2M across 140 grants. The median grant size is $5K, with an average of $52K. Individual grants have ranged from $100 to $900K.
The One8 Foundation (formerly Jacobson Family Foundation) employs a distinctive venture philanthropy model that goes beyond traditional grantmaking. Founded in 1997 by hedge fund manager Jonathon Jacobson (Highfields Capital Management) and his wife Joanna, the foundation functions as both a grantmaker and a pro bono consulting firm. Their approach borrows from venture capital: they identify high-potential nonprofit leaders with compelling ideas, then provide multi-year grant funding alongside h.
Jacobson Family Foundation is headquartered in NEW YORK, NY. While based in NY, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 9 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Jacobson | DIRECTOR / VP | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Kathy Howard-Jacobson | DIRECTOR / PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| J Robert Small | TREASURER / SECRETARY | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Marjorie Gershwind Fiverson | DIRECTOR / VP | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Stacey Bennett | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$61.6M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$61.6M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
140
Total Giving
$7.2M
Average Grant
$52K
Median Grant
$5K
Unique Recipients
86
Most Common Grant
$1K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston FoundationCharitable | Boston, MA | $33K | 2022 |
| Gift Of LifeCharitable | Boca Raton, FL | $2K | 2022 |
| City Of HopeCharitable | Duarte, CA | $1K | 2022 |
| Scs FoundationCharitable | New York, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| Charles M Schwartz Memorial FoundationCharitable | Chicago, IL | $1K | 2022 |
| New York-Presbyterian Fund IncMedical | New York, NY | $900K | 2022 |
| American Israel Education FoundationEDUCATIONAL | Washington, DC | $625K | 2022 |
| Uja-Federation Of New YorkCHARITABLE | Syosset, NY | $454K | 2022 |
| Lincoln Center For The Performing ArtsCharitable | New York, NY | $275K | 2022 |
| Women'S Foundation Of BostonCHARITABLE | Boston, MA | $150K | 2022 |
| Northwell Health FoundationMedical | Great Neck, NY | $127K | 2022 |
| Nyu Daily Gift AccountCharitable | New York, NY | $125K | 2022 |
| Jewish Federation Of Palm Beach CountyCHARITABLE | West Palm Beach, FL | $58K | 2022 |
| Central Park ConservancyCHARITABLE | New York, NY | $25K | 2022 |
| Sid Jacobson Jewish Community CenterCHARITABLE | East Hills, NY | $17K | 2022 |
| Head Injury Foundation IncMEDICAL | Hauppauge, NY | $15K | 2022 |
| Norton Museum Of ArtCHARITABLE | West Palm Beach, FL | $13K | 2022 |
| Red Sox FoundationCharitable | Boston, MA | $10K | 2022 |
| Birthright Israel FoundationCharitable | West Palm Beach, FL | $9K | 2022 |
| Locust Valley LibraryCharitable | New York, NY | $8K | 2022 |
| Prep For PrepEducational | New York, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| American Friends Of ShalvaCHARITABLE | New York, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| American Friends Of The Hebrew UniversityEducational | New York, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| American Friends Of The Israel MuseumCHARITABLE | New York, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| Palm Beach Police And Fire FoundationCharitable | Palm Beach, FL | $5K | 2022 |
| No Kid HungryCharitable | Philadelphia, PA | $4K | 2022 |
| Yai (Ihope)Charitable | New York, NY | $3K | 2022 |
| Jewish BoardCharitable | New York, NY | $2K | 2022 |
| The Metropolitan OperaCharitable | New York, NY | $2K | 2022 |
| Beit RuthCharitable | New York, NY | $2K | 2022 |
| The Jewish MuseumCharitable | New York, NY | $2K | 2022 |
| Palm Beach United Way IncCHARITABLE | Palm Beach, FL | $2K | 2022 |
| Palm Beach Country Club FoundationCHARITABLE | Palm Beach, FL | $2K | 2022 |
| North Country Reform TempleCharitable | Glen Coveq, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| American Friends Of Migdal OhrCHARITABLE | New York, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| Alliance For Eating Disorders AwarenessCHARITABLE | West Palm Beach, FL | $1K | 2022 |
| Children'S Medical Fund Of New YorkMedical | Syosset, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| Mass General Transplant Golf ClassicCharitable | Boston, MA | $1K | 2022 |
| Albert Einstein College Of MedicineMedical | Brooklyn, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| Friends Of The Jcc KrakowCharitable | Suffern, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| Association To Benefit ChildrenCharitable | New York, NY | $1K | 2022 |
| Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar FoundationMedical | Chicago, IL | $1K | 2022 |
| American Heart AssociationMEDICAL | West Palm Beach, FL | $1K | 2022 |
| Glen Oaks Club Philanthropic FundCHARITABLE | Old Westbury, NY | $750 | 2022 |
| Children'S Aid SocietyCharitable | New York, NY | $530 | 2022 |
| Israel Tennis Centers FoundationCharitable | Deerfield Beach, FL | $500 | 2022 |