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Swartz Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.5M

Swartz Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.3 million (approximately)
  • Total Assets: $210.4 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1.5 million
  • Average Grant: $20,000
  • Geographic Focus: Boston, South Florida, National (U.S.), Israel
  • Application Process: No public application process - supports preselected organizations only

Contact Details

  • Address: c/o FWP, 2310 Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Newton, MA 02462
  • Phone: (617) 951-7000
  • Website: None (the foundation does not maintain a public website)

Overview

The Swartz Foundation was established in 1994 in Boston by Sidney (Sydney) and Judith Swartz. Sidney Swartz is the former chairman and CEO of Timberland, the outdoor footwear and apparel company founded by his father Nathan Swartz in 1952. The foundation received nearly $110 million when the family sold Timberland to V.F. Corporation in 2011.

With approximately $210 million in assets (2023), the foundation distributes around $7.3 million annually in grants supporting Jewish causes in the United States and Israel. The foundation's areas of interest include health, human services, community development, education, and religion. Approximately half of the foundation's grantmaking supports Israeli organizations or U.S. organizations advancing Israeli causes.

The Swartz family is known for significant philanthropic commitments, including a $50 million investment to create the Judy and Sidney Swartz Center for Emergency Medicine at Hadassah University Hospital-Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, dedicated in 2005. This facility houses Jerusalem's only Level 1-A Trauma Unit.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, it provides grants through trustee-directed giving to preselected organizations.

Typical Grant Amounts:

  • Major institutional gifts: $1 million - $1.5 million
  • Mid-range grants: $100,000 - $500,000
  • Smaller grants: $500 - $20,000

Priority Areas

Jewish Community Services (Boston and Florida)

  • Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston ($1.5 - $5 million in recent years)
  • Jewish Family and Children's Services of Waltham
  • Chabad Lubavitch of the North Shore
  • Temple Emmanuel of Newton
  • Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
  • Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services of Boca Raton

Israel-Related Causes

  • Hadassah Medical Organization of Jerusalem (over $1 million)
  • American Israel Education Foundation (over $1 million)
  • Friends of Israel Defense Forces
  • American Friends of Leket Israel
  • American Friends of Meir Panim (poverty relief in Israel)
  • American Friends of Latet Humanitarian Aid ($500,000 in 2023)
  • American Friends of Maoz-Seal ($2.8 million in 2021)
  • PEF Israel Endowment Funds ($1.88 million in 2023)

National Jewish Organizations

  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
  • Birthright Foundation
  • Jewish Federations of North America
  • Camera (monitors news coverage of Middle Eastern issues)

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, based on their giving patterns they do not appear to fund:

  • Organizations outside their established Jewish community and Israel focus areas
  • General secular causes unrelated to their mission
  • Unsolicited requests from organizations without existing relationships

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Sidney W. Swartz - Founder; Former Chairman and CEO of Timberland Company
  • Judith Swartz - Founder; Co-founder with Sidney, residents of Marblehead, MA and Delray Beach, FL
  • Jeffrey Swartz - Trustee; Son of Sidney and Judith; Former President and CEO of Timberland (1998-2011); Chair of MAOZ-SEAL leadership program in Israel; Charter Trustee and former National Chair of City Year

Administrative:

  • Robert N. Shapiro - Trustee/Administrator (received compensation of $323,546 in 2021)

Family Background

The Swartz family built Timberland from a small shoe manufacturing business into a global brand. Nathan Swartz bought the Abington Shoe Company in 1952, and Sidney joined at age 19 in 1955. Jeffrey Swartz, the third generation, served as CEO from 1998 until the company's sale in 2011. Following the sale, Jeffrey and his family made Aliyah to Israel, where he continues philanthropic work through the MAOZ platform promoting Israeli civic leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Swartz Foundation supports preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.

The foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model where the Swartz family identifies and selects grantees based on their personal relationships, interests, and involvement in Jewish and Israeli causes.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, organizations may potentially come to their attention through:

  • Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston: As the foundation's largest grantee, organizations connected to CJP's network may gain visibility
  • Jewish Federation connections: The foundation supports federations in Boston and South Florida
  • MAOZ-SEAL: Jeffrey Swartz chairs this Israeli leadership development organization ($2.8 million grant in 2021)
  • City Year: Jeffrey Swartz has served on City Year's board since 1989 and was National Chair from 1994-2003; organizations in this network may have connection opportunities
  • Hadassah: Organizations connected to Hadassah Medical Organization may have relationship pathways given the family's major investment in the Swartz Center for Emergency Medicine

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate a formal application and review process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation supports established relationships rather than processing applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, success in receiving funding is likely dependent on:

1. Existing Relationships with the Swartz Family The foundation's grantmaking appears driven by personal connections and the trustees' direct involvement in organizations. Jeffrey Swartz's board service at City Year led to significant corporate partnerships with Timberland over many years.

2. Alignment with Core Priorities Organizations that receive funding consistently align with:

  • Jewish community services in Boston or South Florida
  • Support for Israel, particularly humanitarian, medical, and civic organizations
  • Jewish education and religious institutions

3. Connection to Key Networks Many grantees appear connected through:

  • Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston ecosystem
  • Jewish Federation networks
  • Hadassah and Israeli medical/humanitarian organizations
  • Israeli civic leadership (particularly MAOZ-affiliated)

4. Geographic Presence The foundation demonstrates strong loyalty to:

  • Boston/Newton area Jewish institutions
  • South Florida (Boca Raton, Palm Beach County) Jewish organizations
  • Israel-based or Israel-supporting organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and supports only preselected organizations with established relationships
  • Strong Jewish and Israel focus - Approximately 100% of grants support Jewish causes, with roughly half going to Israel-related organizations
  • Significant capacity - With $210 million in assets and $7.3 million annual giving, the foundation can make substantial multi-million dollar commitments to priority organizations
  • Family-driven decisions - Grantmaking reflects the personal philanthropic interests of the Swartz family, particularly Sidney and Judith's long-standing commitments to Jewish causes and Jeffrey's work on Israeli civic society
  • Relationship-based giving - Building connections through the foundation's existing network of grantees (particularly CJP Boston, Jewish Federations, or Hadassah) may be the most viable path to engagement
  • No website or public presence - The foundation maintains a very low profile with no website, making direct outreach difficult
  • Boston and Florida focus - U.S. grants concentrate heavily in these two geographic areas where the family has personal connections

References

Accessed December 2025

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