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Krupp Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.0M

Krupp Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,088,844 (2023); $2.5M committed (2025)
  • Total Assets: $27,680,727
  • Grant Range: $515 - $1,000,000
  • Average Grant: ~$52,000
  • Number of Grants: 40 (2023); 49 grantees (2025)
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (Boston area) and Los Angeles
  • Application Method: Invitation only via JustFund platform

Contact Details

Overview

The Krupp Family Foundation was founded in 1995 by real estate and finance entrepreneur George Krupp and his wife Lizbeth (Lizbet) Krupp. George Krupp is the co-founder and co-chairman of The Berkshire Group, a Boston-based real estate and financial investment firm established in 1969. The foundation has grown significantly, with total assets of approximately $27.7 million and annual giving exceeding $2 million.

The foundation's mission focuses on investing resources in movements working to build cultural, political, and economic power for people and communities most directly impacted by systems of oppression. In 2020, under President Liana Krupp's leadership, the foundation underwent a strategic shift from single-year grants to a three-year grant cycle, following recommendations from the Center for Effective Philanthropy. This change was designed to provide grantees with greater long-term stability.

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with a trust-based philanthropy model, providing multi-year general operating support with simplified application processes. Their 2024-2027 strategic plan emphasizes shared decision-making and expanded expertise through the addition of independent board members.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation partners with three categories of organizations:

  1. Base Building Organizations: Frontline grassroots organizations led by those most impacted by injustice that engage constituencies to develop a collective vision for their communities and advocate for change, as well as Jewish grassroots organizations working in allyship.

  2. Movement Infrastructure Organizations: Organizations that provide long-term scaffolding and support for base-building movement organizations, including education, connectivity, and resource distribution.

  3. Inside Game Organizations: Entities working within established systems or institutions that protect existing rights and advocate for policy changes.

Priority Areas

  • Social and Racial Justice: Core focus on movements building political, cultural, and economic power for affected communities
  • Food Justice and Access: Partnerships addressing food insecurity in the Boston area (e.g., $253,000 to Fresh Truck and About Fresh)
  • Arts and Culture: Significant support for cultural institutions (e.g., $1 million to Museum of Fine Arts Boston in 2019)
  • Jewish Education and Youth Development: Commitment to Jewish continuity, day school education, and programs enriching Jewish identity
  • LGBTQ+ Advocacy: Partnership with organizations like Keshet

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications
  • As a private family foundation focused on specific geographic areas (Massachusetts and Los Angeles), organizations outside these regions may not be prioritized
  • The foundation focuses on movement building and systemic change rather than direct service provision alone

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (7 members: 4 family, 3 independent)

Co-Founders:

  • George Krupp – Real estate entrepreneur, founding partner of The Berkshire Group (established 1969). Harvard Extension and Brown University graduate. Serves on boards including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Keats-Shelley Association. Former campaign chair of Combined Jewish Philanthropies and co-founder of Gann Academy.
  • Lizbeth (Lizbet) Krupp – Chair of Rose Art Museum Board of Advisors at Brandeis University. MFA trustee serving on the Collections Committee and Committee on Learning and Community Outreach. Trustee emerita of Boston Ballet. Passionate art collector.

Family Trustees:

  • Michael Krupp – Co-Founder of Lenox West Capital; founder of Area Four Restaurant Group; 25+ years in commercial real estate
  • Liana Krupp – Foundation President. Previously worked 15 years in fashion and digital media at Interview Magazine. Also directs the Phillip & Bernice Krupp Foundation for Jewish Life. Board member of Keshet.

Independent Trustees (appointed August 2024):

  • David Y. Moy – Senior Advisor at Hyams Foundation; 16 years as executive director of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
  • Naomi Orensten – Expert on philanthropic effectiveness; previously senior director at Dorot Foundation and Center for Effective Philanthropy
  • Larry Silverstein – Retired partner at Morgan Lewis & Brockius; tax and real estate law expertise

Staff

  • Liana Krupp – President
  • Gabriella Mora, MPH – Vice President of Programs & Strategy. Public health background from Temple University; previously developed policy initiatives at The Food Trust; serves on Episcopal City Mission board.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications.

The foundation has indicated on IRS filings that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Organizations must be identified and invited through the foundation's relationship-building process.

When invited, applicants submit through the JustFund platform. Grants are multi-year (typically three-year cycles) and support general operating costs.

Eligible organizations:

  • 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Fiscally sponsored groups and projects

Getting on Their Radar

The Krupp Family Foundation uses a relationship-based grantmaking model. Based on their approach:

  • Funder Networks: The foundation participates in funder collaboratives focused on social and racial justice. They are part of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project's "Meet the Moment" initiative (2025) and work alongside other social justice funders and movement infrastructure organizations.

  • Geographic Presence: They specifically build relationships with movement groups in Massachusetts and Los Angeles. Organizations with strong presence in these areas are more likely to come to their attention.

  • Movement Alignment: They seek organizations engaged in base-building, movement infrastructure, or inside-game work aligned with their values of building power for communities impacted by systemic oppression.

  • Board Connections: Board members are actively engaged in various sector organizations. Lizbeth Krupp serves on MFA committees, George Krupp is involved with Jewish philanthropy networks, and Liana Krupp serves on Keshet's board.

Decision Timeline

Grant decisions follow the foundation's strategic cycles. The current strategic plan covers 2024-2027. Multi-year grants are awarded on three-year cycles to provide long-term stability to grantees.

Reapplication Policy

As an invitation-only foundation with multi-year grants, reapplication would occur through ongoing relationship with the foundation at the end of a grant cycle.

Application Success Factors

The Krupp Family Foundation's trust-based philanthropy approach provides insight into what they value:

From the Foundation's Values Statement:

  1. Right Relationship: The foundation values "connections that place value on mutual respect, equity, and honoring full humanity." Organizations that demonstrate authentic partnership approaches and acknowledge power dynamics align with this value.

  2. Truth-Telling: As a Jewish family foundation, they explicitly name and confront racism and white supremacy. Organizations that are direct about systemic injustice and work to shift power toward affected communities resonate with their approach.

  3. Grantee Expertise: They center grantee partners as subject matter experts. Organizations that clearly articulate their community knowledge and leadership by those directly impacted will align with this principle.

  4. Shared Liberation: Their framework reflects the belief that "liberation is bound together." Organizations demonstrating intersectional approaches and solidarity across movements align with this value.

Recent Funded Projects:

  • Fresh Truck / About Fresh ($253,000) – Mobile food access and food debit card program for low-income communities
  • Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($1 million in 2019) – Arts and culture
  • ACLU Massachusetts – Civil liberties and rights protection
  • Bend the Arc Jewish Action – Jewish social justice organizing
  • Keshet – LGBTQ+ Jewish advocacy
  • Earthjustice – Environmental legal advocacy
  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($50,000 in 2019)
  • Mon Valley Initiative ($100,000) – Economic renewal in Pennsylvania

Liana Krupp on Approach to Grantmaking: The president has written about trust-based philanthropy in eJewish Philanthropy ("On Trust & Risk: Providing Multi-Year Grants for Nonprofits' General Operations," October 2020), emphasizing the importance of multi-year general operating support to give organizations stability and autonomy.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Invitation-Only Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Focus on relationship-building through shared networks, funder collaboratives, and aligned movement work rather than cold outreach.

  2. Geographic Focus: Priority is given to organizations working in Massachusetts (particularly Boston) and Los Angeles. National organizations with strong local presence in these areas may also be considered.

  3. Movement Building Focus: They prioritize grassroots organizing, movement infrastructure, and inside-game advocacy over direct service provision alone. Frame your work in terms of building power for affected communities.

  4. Trust-Based Values: They practice trust-based philanthropy with multi-year general operating support. Organizations that demonstrate strong leadership by affected communities and authentic partnership approaches align with their values.

  5. Multi-Year Commitment: Grants are typically three-year cycles, providing long-term stability. They seek sustained partnerships rather than one-time project funding.

  6. Jewish Identity Connection: The foundation maintains strong ties to Jewish philanthropy and supports Jewish organizations working in allyship with broader social justice movements. Jewish organizations aligned with their values may find particular resonance.

  7. Funder Collaborative Engagement: The foundation actively participates in funder networks. Organizations visible in social justice funder spaces may naturally come to their attention through these channels.

References

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