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Klarman Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$90.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $5.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Klarman Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $89,989,220 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $744 million
  • Grant Range: $25 - $5,000,000
  • Number of Grants: 328 annually
  • Median Grant: $75,000
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, New York, District of Columbia, Israel
  • Application Process: Primarily invitation-only; two open programs (Instrument Fund and Community Capital Fund)

Contact Details

Overview

The Klarman Family Foundation was established in 1990 by Seth Klarman, founder and president of the Baupost Group investment firm, and his wife Beth Klarman. The Foundation has grown to hold $744 million in assets and distributed approximately $90 million in grants in 2023 across 328 awards. Seth and Beth Klarman are Giving Pledge signatories, having committed to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.

The Foundation's mission is to "identify areas of unmet need and to advance solutions to addressing them." They believe in "the promise and importance of creative thinking, strategic leadership and strong organizations to help bring about change" with the intention to "help people thrive in vibrant and healthy communities." The Foundation approaches their work "with a seriousness of purpose and evaluative rigor, and also with an openness to tackle issues in new ways."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Open Application Programs:

  1. Instrument Fund (Rolling applications)

    • Purpose: Support purchase, rental, or repair of instruments for music education programs serving low-income Massachusetts youth (K-12)
    • Eligible Uses: String, woodwind, brass, percussion instruments, keyboards, accessories, music stands, instrument cases, and related educational technology
    • Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits or schools serving low-income Massachusetts youth with quality sequential music instruction; cannot have received funding in past 24 months
    • Decision Timeline: Within 8 weeks of complete application
    • Application Portal: klarman-portal.givingdata.com/campaign/instrumentfund

  2. Community Capital Fund (Fixed application cycles)

    • Purpose: Support development, improvement, or ownership of physical assets (facilities, land acquisition, construction, renovation, equipment)
    • Grant Range: $250,000 - $1,000,000 (may occasionally vary)
    • Geographic Priority: Boston neighborhoods (Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, Roxbury) and cities (Brockton, Lynn, Springfield)
    • Eligibility: Nonprofits with minimum 5 years in existence, site control, serving priority communities
    • Application Timeline: Multi-stage process with eligibility quiz, first stage application, invitation to second stage, and potential site visit

Invitation-Only Programs:

  1. Expanding Access (Greater Boston): General operating, project, and capital support for organizations addressing health and well-being, safety net services, healthcare access, and children's mental health

  2. Healthy Democracy: $34 million allocated in 2022; supports democratic institutions, civic engagement, government accountability, social cohesion, and addressing hate

  3. Medical & Scientific Research: Focuses on cellular biology and eating disorders research

    • Note: The Eating Disorders Research Grants Program (historically offering $750,000 over 3 years) does not currently have immediate plans for future funding cycles

  4. Global Jewish Community and Israel: Supports Jewish community initiatives, addresses antisemitism, and funds programs for Arab Israeli employment and education ($5.9 million in 2022)

Priority Areas

  • Greater Boston: Health and well-being, safety net services, music education, community capital projects
  • National: Healthy democracy, democratic institutions, civic engagement
  • Medical Research: Cellular biology, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorders)
  • Israel: Arab citizen employment and education, higher education access, leadership development
  • Jewish Community: Combating antisemitism, tolerance initiatives, connections to Israel

What They Don't Fund

  • Endowments (not typically funded)
  • Multiple requests from same organization within 12-month period
  • For Community Capital Fund: early education facilities, new housing developments, charter schools, camps, temporary shelter programs, religious organizations for primarily sectarian purposes
  • For Instrument Fund: Organizations that received funding in past 24 months
  • For Eating Disorders Research: Behavioral therapy, medical complications of eating disorders, clinical trials, obesity research, normal feeding behavior

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Seth A. Klarman - Co-founder; Founder and President of Baupost Group; author of "Margin of Safety"
  • Beth S. Klarman - Co-founder; co-signatory of The Giving Pledge

Executive Leadership:

  • Kim McCabe - President and Executive Director
  • Jonathan Horowitz - Director of National and Democracy Initiatives
  • David Berkowitz - Asset Manager (since 2019)
  • Lara Bethke - Director of Medical & Scientific Research
  • Erin Peterson - Contact for proposal process questions

Leadership Quotes:

Seth Klarman on philanthropy: "I have more than I'll ever need, and more than my family will ever need. I'm only working now for philanthropy. So everything I do is about giving back."

In their Giving Pledge letter: "We believe it is actually harder to give money away well than it is to generate it in the first place."

Foundation philosophy: "We approach our work with a seriousness of purpose and evaluative rigor, and also with an openness to tackle issues in new ways and flexibility to make adjustments along the way."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Open Application Programs:

Instrument Fund:

Community Capital Fund:

Invitation-Only Programs: The majority of the Foundation's grantmaking is invitation-only. Staff actively identify and solicit proposals from organizations whose missions align with current focus areas.

Getting on Their Radar

For invitation-only programs, the Foundation is described as "open to contact" to learn about their priorities. Specific approaches include:

  • Eating Disorders Research: Contact EDresearch@klarmanfoundation.org to inquire about future cycles and alignment
  • General Inquiries: Reach out through the main contact to understand current priorities
  • Build sector presence: The Foundation scouts grantees proactively and values organizations with strong track records in their focus areas

Decision Timeline

  • Instrument Fund: 8 weeks from complete application
  • Community Capital Fund: Approximately 6 months from first stage deadline to funding decision
  • Invitation-Only Programs: Trustees review grant recommendations throughout the year

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations may submit only one funding request (including event support) within any 12-month period
  • Instrument Fund recipients must wait 24 months before reapplying

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's stated evaluation criteria:

Organizational Capacity: The Foundation evaluates whether organizations demonstrate "effective leadership, a strong board, solid planning and sound financial practices."

Clear Goals and Track Record: They look for organizations with "clearly articulated goals with a record of success in assessing and achieving them."

Mission Alignment: Proposals must fit within the Foundation's current areas of focus.

For Community Capital Fund specifically:

  • Organizations should demonstrate they are "an integral part of the community, evidenced by how they listen to, engage with, and are representative of the community (e.g., staff and board who reflect the community)"
  • Projects should be "realistic and feasible, with costs supported by up-to-date estimates, a realistic timeline, and solid fundraising, financing, design, and project plans"

Funding Philosophy: The Foundation typically provides unrestricted support designed to strengthen grantee organizations. They do not ask applicants to make specific funding requests; if approved, "they determine funding levels based on a comprehensive review of your organization."

Recent Grantees (examples from 2019-2022):

  • Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston ($1,620,000)
  • American Jewish World Service Inc. ($1,500,000)
  • Anti-Defamation League ($1,050,000)
  • Protect Democracy Project ($500,000)
  • German Marshall Fund of the United States ($400,000)
  • New Venture Fund ($16,250,000 for election security initiatives)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Two accessible pathways exist: The Instrument Fund (rolling) and Community Capital Fund (fixed cycles) accept open applications; all other programs are invitation-only

  2. Strong geographic focus on Greater Boston: Priority neighborhoods include Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, Roxbury; priority cities include Brockton, Lynn, and Springfield

  3. No specific ask required: The Foundation determines funding levels based on comprehensive organizational review—focus your application on demonstrating capacity, track record, and alignment rather than justifying a specific amount

  4. 12-month rule: Organizations cannot submit more than one request (including event support) per year

  5. Demonstrate community integration: For capital projects, show how your organization listens to, engages with, and reflects the community you serve

  6. Unrestricted funding philosophy: The Foundation typically provides flexible support to strengthen organizations, not just project-specific grants

  7. For research programs: The Eating Disorders Research program is currently paused; monitor the website and contact EDresearch@klarmanfoundation.org for future opportunities

References

Accessed December 2025

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