Karp Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,426,490 (Tax Year 2023)
• Total Assets: $852,467 (Tax Year 2023)
• Grant Range: $800 - $1,990,000 (typical grants $5,000 - $50,000)
• Average Grant: ~$10,000
• Geographic Focus: Greater Boston, Massachusetts (with some national giving)
• Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals
• Number of Grants: Based on recent 990-PF records

Contact Details

• Phone: (617) 965-8700
• Address: c/o New England Development, 75 Park Plaza, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02116
• Website: None
• EIN: 04-3226725

Overview

The Karp Family Foundation was established in 1994 by Stephen R. Karp, founder and CEO of New England Development, and his wife Jill E. Karp. Stephen Karp is one of America's foremost real estate developers, with an estimated net worth of $1.25 billion, known for developing some of the country's most successful mixed-use projects and retail destinations. The foundation serves as the family's primary philanthropic vehicle for charitable giving in the Greater Boston area.

This is a modest family foundation that operates with no paid staff—Stephen and Jill Karp serve as the sole trustees. The foundation maintains a low public profile, operating without a website or published grantmaking guidelines. The foundation's grantmaking is deeply connected to the Karps' personal involvement on non-profit boards and their relationships within Boston's philanthropic community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes but supports organisations across several key areas:

Health Organisations (Typically largest grants)

• Boston Children's Hospital (Stephen Karp serves as Trustee and Immediate Past Chair of the Board)
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• New England Baptist Hospital
• Newton Wellesley Hospital
• Boston Medical Center
• Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Lymphoma Center
• Nantucket Cottage Hospital

Education (Favours private institutions and alma maters)

• Boston University (Stephen Karp is a Trustee and alumnus, CAS'63)
• Beacon Academy
• Belmont Hill School
• Berkshire Hills Music Academy
• Elizabeth Seton Academy
• Lesley University
• Union College

Youth & Human Services

• Boston Youth Sanctuary (Stephen Karp is Board Chairman; his daughter Jana Karp founded the organisation and serves as Executive Director)
• Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Jewish Causes

• Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston
• Facing History and Ourselves
• Jewish Vocational Service
• Hebrew Senior Life

Arts & Culture

• Boston Symphony Orchestra (Stephen Karp is on Board of Overseers)
• Huntington Theatre Company
• Museum of African American History

Priority Areas

• Large, established health institutions that can scale funding
• Private schools and colleges rather than public schools
• Organisations in Greater Boston, Nantucket, and Massachusetts communities
• Jewish organisations locally and in Israel
• Organisations where the Karps have board or personal connections

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations outside the Karps' established network
• Unsolicited proposals from unknown organisations
• Public schools (preference for private education)
• Organisations without existing relationships with the trustees

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Stephen R. Karp - Co-Trustee, Founder and CEO of New England Development. Trustee and Immediate Past Chair of Boston Children's Hospital Board of Trustees. Trustee of Boston University, Belmont Hill School, and Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Board Chairman of Boston Youth Sanctuary. Board of Overseers, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
• Jill E. Karp - Co-Trustee, member of Boston Children's Hospital Trust Board

The foundation operates with zero paid staff. All grantmaking decisions are made directly by the trustees based on their personal philanthropic interests and relationships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Karp Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only funds pre-selected organisations. The foundation uses a proactive approach to grantmaking, choosing who to fund according to the trustees' personal interests and relationships.

Without a website or published grantmaking guidelines, the foundation maintains very limited transparency about its processes. Grant seekers cannot apply directly—funding is determined through the Karps' personal networks and board involvement.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented patterns, relationship-building opportunities include:

• Board Connections: Stephen Karp serves on multiple non-profit boards including Boston Children's Hospital (Immediate Past Chair), Boston University (Trustee), Belmont Hill School, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, and Boston Symphony Orchestra (Overseers). Organisations that intersect with these institutions may have opportunities for connection.

• Boston Youth Sanctuary Connection: Stephen Karp chairs the board of Boston Youth Sanctuary, founded by his daughter Jana Karp. Youth-serving organisations in Boston that collaborate with or complement Boston Youth Sanctuary's mission may find potential alignment.

• Health Sector Leadership: Given Karp's prominent role in Boston's healthcare philanthropy, organisations working with major Boston hospitals where he has board connections may have pathways to visibility.

• Jewish Community Networks: The foundation's significant giving to Combined Jewish Philanthropies and other Jewish organisations suggests engagement through Boston's Jewish philanthropic community.

Decision Timeline

No public information available on decision timelines. Given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking, decisions appear to be made at the trustees' discretion without fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Insights:

1. Board Relationship is Key: The most significant grants go to organisations where Stephen or Jill Karp have direct board involvement. Boston Youth Sanctuary received substantial support because Stephen Karp chairs the board and his daughter founded it. Boston Children's Hospital is a frequent grantee because Karp served as board chair.

2. Scale and Institutional Stability: Inside Philanthropy notes that the foundation's health grantmaking prioritises "large, established institutions that can scale funding." Smaller or emerging organisations are less likely to receive support.

3. Private Over Public: For education grants, the foundation "favours local colleges and private schools rather than public schools."

4. Geographic Focus: Nearly all grants stay within Massachusetts, concentrated in Boston, Nantucket, Newton, Cambridge, and Natick, based on recent 990-PF records.

5. Personal Connection Required: The foundation's proactive approach means they choose grantees rather than responding to applications. Without an existing relationship with the Karps, securing funding is extremely difficult.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Public Application Process: This foundation only funds organisations selected by the trustees—do not submit unsolicited proposals.

2. Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: Funding follows the Karps' personal board memberships and philanthropic relationships. Organisations unknown to the trustees are unlikely to receive support.

3. Significant Giving Capacity: Despite the low-profile approach, the foundation distributed over $4 million in tax year 2023.

4. Focus on Established Institutions: The foundation prefers large, stable organisations that can scale funding, particularly in healthcare and education.

5. Strong Jewish Philanthropic Connection: Jewish causes receive substantial support from the foundation.

6. Family Enterprise Connection: Boston Youth Sanctuary, founded by the Karps' daughter, has received significant support—organisations aligned with family interests receive priority.

7. Massachusetts-Centric: Virtually all funding stays within Massachusetts, with concentration in Greater Boston and Nantucket, based on recent 990-PF records.

References

• Inside Philanthropy - Karp Family Foundation - Accessed December 2025
• Inside Philanthropy - Stephen and Jill Karp Major Donors Profile - Accessed December 2025
• Cause IQ - Karp Family Foundation - Accessed December 2025
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Karp Family Foundation - Accessed December 2025
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Karp Family Foundation - Accessed December 2025
• Boston Children's Hospital - Stephen Karp Board Profile - Accessed December 2025
• New England Development - Stephen R. Karp Leadership Profile - Accessed December 2025
• Charity Navigator - Karp Family Foundation - Accessed December 2025
• Bisnow - Richest in Real Estate 2017 - Accessed December 2025