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Muriel and Norman B. Leventhal Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.7M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.0M

Muriel and Norman B. Leventhal Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,700,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $6,472,877 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000
  • Median Grant: $338,000
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, primarily Greater Boston
  • Application Policy: Does not accept unsolicited requests

Contact Details

  • Address: 200 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
  • Phone: 617-457-0489
  • Website: No public website

Overview

The Muriel and Norman B. Leventhal Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1998 in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation was created by Norman B. Leventhal (1917-2015), a visionary Boston real estate developer and philanthropist who co-founded Beacon Construction Co. in 1946 and became one of the driving forces behind many of Boston's signature buildings and public spaces. Norman Leventhal was widely recognized for his civic contributions including Post Office Square Park (renamed Norman B. Leventhal Park in 1997), the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library, and the Muriel and Norman B. Leventhal Center for Jewish Life at MIT.

The foundation's stated purpose is "to make grants to public charities for religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes." The foundation primarily supports Jewish organizations, educational institutions (particularly MIT), and philanthropic causes in the Greater Boston area. Following Norman Leventhal's passing in 2015, the foundation continues to honor his philanthropic legacy under the leadership of the Leventhal family, with Jeremy Leventhal serving as President.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Based on 2023 grant data, the foundation supports:

  • Educational Institutions: Major grants to MIT, including a $1,000,000 grant to the Norman B. (1938) and Muriel Leventhal Scholarship Fund
  • Jewish Organizations: Significant support for Combined Jewish Philanthropies ($175,000), CJP Israel Emergency Fund ($500,000), and Temple Emanuel of Newton ($25,000)
  • General Charitable Purposes: Unrestricted support to preselected organizations

Priority Areas

  • Higher education, particularly MIT
  • Jewish life, culture, and community organizations
  • Israel-related causes and emergency support
  • Religious institutions (Jewish temples and congregations)
  • Human services
  • Philanthropy and grantmaking organizations

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited requests: The foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations
  • Organizations outside their established network of grantees
  • No information available on other specific exclusions

Governance and Leadership

Current Officers (as of August 2023)

  • Jeremy Leventhal - President/Director (since 8/8/23)
  • Robert C. Healey - Treasurer/Director (since 8/6/23)
  • Amy R. Lonergan - Clerk/Director (since 8/4/23)

Former Officers

  • Robert Melzer - Former President/Director (through 8/8/23)
  • J. Robert Casey - Former Clerk/Director (through 8/8/23)

No officers receive compensation from the foundation.

Founder's Legacy

Norman B. Leventhal was a graduate of MIT (Class of 1938), received the Bronze Beaver Award (the highest MIT Alumni Association honor), and was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received honorary degrees from Boston University, Brandeis University, and Hebrew College. His philanthropic vision continues to guide the foundation's work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The foundation has explicitly stated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." There is no public website, grant application portal, or published guidelines for prospective applicants.

Grants appear to be made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which the Leventhal family has established relationships, typically aligned with the founder's philanthropic interests in education (especially MIT), Jewish community organizations, and Boston-area institutions.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates through family and trustee discretion with no formal process for new applicants. However, based on the foundation's giving patterns:

  • MIT Connection: Organizations with ties to MIT or the MIT community may have natural alignment with the foundation's priorities
  • Combined Jewish Philanthropies Network: The foundation's consistent support for CJP suggests that organizations within the CJP network may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention
  • Boston Civic Organizations: Norman Leventhal's deep involvement in Boston civic life (A Better City, Boston Public Library, etc.) suggests the foundation values organizations contributing to Greater Boston's development

Decision Timeline

No public information available on decision timelines. The foundation makes a relatively small number of grants annually (4 grants in 2023, 1 grant in 2022, 1 grant in 2021).

Grantmaking History

  • 2023: 4 grants totaling $1,700,000
  • 2022: 1 grant
  • 2021: 1 grant
  • 2020: 1 grant
  • 2019: 1 grant
  • 2015: 8 grants
  • 2014: 52 grants
  • 2013: 57 grants

Note: The significant decrease in number of grants (from ~50+ annually to 1-4) likely correlates with Norman Leventhal's passing in April 2015.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

  1. Established relationship with the Leventhal family - All grantees appear to have long-standing connections to the family
  2. Alignment with Norman Leventhal's philanthropic interests - MIT, Jewish community, Boston civic organizations
  3. Support for scholarships or student aid - The MIT scholarship fund is a major priority
  4. Jewish community organizations - Particularly those affiliated with Combined Jewish Philanthropies
  5. Located in Greater Boston - All recent grantees are Massachusetts-based

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Closed foundation: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only funds preselected organizations
  • Family-directed giving: Grants are made at the discretion of family trustees based on established relationships
  • Focused priorities: Strong emphasis on MIT, Jewish organizations, and Boston-area institutions
  • High-value grants: When grants are made, they tend to be substantial ($25,000 - $1,000,000)
  • Limited annual grants: The foundation now makes only 1-4 grants per year, down from 50+ before 2015
  • No public presence: No website or public contact information for grant inquiries
  • Relationship-based: Organizations seeking support should explore connections through the Combined Jewish Philanthropies network, MIT alumni networks, or Boston civic organizations where the Leventhal family has been involved

References

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