← Back to US Funders Directory

Harold Grinspoon Foundation

Annual Giving
$17.4M
Grant Range
$3K - $1.5M

Harold Grinspoon Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,401,226 (2023)
  • Total Grants Awarded: 221 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $1,500,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Western Massachusetts (primary), North America, Israel, and international
  • Application Method: Mixed - invitation only for national grants, portal-based for Western Massachusetts individuals and organizations
  • Accepts Unsolicited Applications: Limited - primarily proactive grantmaking with some portal-based opportunities

Contact Details

Address: 67 Hunt Street, Suite 100, Agawam, MA 01001
Phone: 413-276-0700
Email: info@hgf.org
Website: https://hgf.org

Overview

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) was established in 1993 by real estate entrepreneur Harold Grinspoon and is based in Agawam, Massachusetts. Since 1991, the foundation has invested more than $200 million in programs that make Jewish life and Jewish community more vibrant and connected. The foundation's mission is to enhance Jewish and community culture in Western Massachusetts, North America, Israel, and beyond by providing grants and program opportunities. The foundation operates with a dual focus: major national programs that serve Jewish communities worldwide (such as PJ Library, JCamp 180, and Life & Legacy) and place-based grantmaking in Western Massachusetts. Harold Grinspoon signed the Giving Pledge in 2016, committing nearly all his assets to the foundation. Winnie Sandler Grinspoon serves as President, providing strategic leadership for the foundation's expanding initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

National Programs (Invitation Only):

  • PJ Library: Free Jewish-themed children's books and music to families; serves over 200,000 children monthly in 40+ countries, distributing over 7 million books annually
  • JCamp 180: Matching grants, consulting, and professional development for 100+ nonprofit Jewish overnight camps and 40 day camps; $25 million "Forward Together" matching grant announced for unrestricted support and capital investments
  • Life & Legacy: Eight-year partnership program working with Jewish Federations and Foundations to promote legacy giving and build endowments; has helped communities secure over $1 billion in after-lifetime giving

Western Massachusetts Grants (Portal-Based):

For Individuals:

  • Jewish Overnight Summer Camping (ages 6-18)
  • Israel Travel Grants (all ages)
  • Rekindle Shabbat
  • Right Start (ages 2+)
  • Preschool Incentive Program/PIP
  • Tuition Incentive Program/TIP
  • Year-Round Youth Experience (ages 6-18)
  • Jewish Family Camps

For Organizations:

  • Family Education Grants
  • Jewish Community Grants
  • Professional Development Grants
  • Teen Education Grants
  • Rekindle Shabbat (organizational version)
  • Young Adult Engagement Grant (ages 18-36)

Western Massachusetts Institutional Support:

  • Substantial operating funding for five Western Massachusetts Jewish day schools
  • Challenge grants for endowment and capital campaigns
  • Development consulting support for Jewish educational institutions
  • Support for the Resource Center for Jewish Education (RCJE)

Special Programs:

  • Local Farmer Awards (Western Massachusetts farmers, application open January 1-31 annually)
  • Jewish Culture Connect and Pioneer Jewish Film Festival
  • Grinspoon Amber Award ($10,000 prize for distinguished Jewish professionals plus two $2,500 peer recognition grants)

Priority Areas

The foundation supports work that:

  • Encourages young people to reach their academic and leadership potential
  • Promotes literacy and early childhood education
  • Rewards excellence in teaching and education
  • Supports entrepreneurship among young people
  • Enhances Jewish identity, learning, and community engagement
  • Builds organizational capacity and financial sustainability for Jewish institutions
  • Strengthens Jewish summer camping experiences
  • Creates opportunities for family engagement in Jewish life

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, their funding is clearly focused on:

  • Jewish causes and communities (primary focus)
  • Western Massachusetts place-based giving (secondary focus)
  • Organizations and individuals outside these parameters would not typically be considered

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (as of October 2025):

  • Harold Grinspoon - Founder and Trustee
  • Winnie Sandler Grinspoon - President and Trustee
  • Diane Troderman - Trustee (Harold's wife and active partner in philanthropy)
  • Addie Goodman - Trustee
  • Deborah Hochberg - Trustee
  • Jeremy Pava - Trustee
  • Lisa Rachlin - Trustee
  • Michael Hoffman - Trustee
  • Elie Kaunfer - Trustee

The Board sets policies and strategic direction for the Foundation, approves grantmaking opportunities, and oversees investments to best meet the mission.

Key Quotes from Leadership:

Harold Grinspoon on his philanthropic commitment: "In the 21st century, I believe that for Judaism to continue to have an impact on families and society, Jewish living and learning must be actively cultivated. That is why I am committing nearly all my assets to my foundation to pursue this goal. The sense of mission and accomplishment that I get through my philanthropy energizes me every day."

On legacy giving: "We must cultivate philanthropic giving to secure the future of the Jewish programs and organizations that are the fabric of our community."

On finding purpose through philanthropy: "Twenty-five years ago, I had cancer of the tongue and came to the realization at that time that life is about more than making money. I started to think about what my legacy would be... I always knew, if I made it, I was going to give it away. I didn't want to spend the entirety of my life making money. Philanthropy has, in many respects, set me free."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation operates with different application processes depending on the type of grant:

National Grants: There is no public application process for national grants - they are invitation only. The foundation conducts proactive grantmaking, identifying organizations and initiatives that align with their strategic priorities. National grantees include major Jewish organizations such as Birthright Israel, Hillel, Foundation for Jewish Camp, and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

Western Massachusetts Grants: Applications are submitted through the HGF Grants Portal at https://hgf.org/grants-awards. Applicants must create login credentials to access detailed eligibility guidelines and submit applications. A user guide is available to help navigate the portal system.

Local Farmer Awards: Applications open January 1-31 annually at www.farmerawards.org.

Organizational Approach: Inside Philanthropy notes that this is "an approachable funder that prefers to conduct proactive grantmaking primarily focused on Jewish causes and place-based giving. Grantseekers will need to network and contact this funder to get on its radar."

Getting on Their Radar (for National/Invitation-Only Grants)

For organizations seeking to be considered for the foundation's larger, national grant programs:

Strategic Networking: The foundation is deeply embedded in the Jewish communal infrastructure. Building relationships with Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Centers, and other established Jewish organizations can provide pathways to HGF's attention.

Demonstrated Impact in Jewish Education/Camping: Given HGF's major investments in JCamp 180 and educational initiatives, organizations demonstrating measurable impact in Jewish youth programming, camping, or education may attract interest.

Foundation Events and Conferences: HGF hosts and participates in conferences such as the JCamp 180 Summit and Jewish camping conferences. Attending these events can provide networking opportunities with foundation leadership and staff.

Geographic Connection: For Western Massachusetts organizations, establishing presence and relationships within the local Jewish community, Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, and the five Jewish day schools HGF supports can create pathways to funding consideration.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and likely vary by program. For Western Massachusetts portal-based grants, applicants should expect to hear back within several weeks to a few months after submission, though this is not officially stated by the foundation.

Success Rates

With 221 grants awarded in 2023 totaling over $17.4 million, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. However, specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a specific reapplication policy. Given the proactive nature of their grantmaking for national programs and the ongoing relationships with Western Massachusetts institutions, reapplication appears to be accepted for portal-based grants.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and funded projects, successful applicants should consider:

Alignment with Jewish Education and Identity: The foundation's major investments consistently focus on cultivating Jewish identity, learning, and engagement - particularly among young people and families. Harold Grinspoon stated: "In the 21st century, I believe that for Judaism to continue to have an impact on families and society, Jewish living and learning must be actively cultivated."

Long-term Sustainability Focus: The Life & Legacy program demonstrates HGF's commitment to building endowments and ensuring long-term organizational health. Organizations that can articulate how funding will contribute to sustainability rather than just short-term programming may be more compelling.

Measurable Impact and Scalability: PJ Library's reach (200,000+ children monthly, 40+ countries, 7 million books annually) and JCamp 180's scope (100+ camps) demonstrate the foundation's preference for programs with substantial reach and measurable outcomes.

Early Childhood and Youth Programming: The foundation shows particular interest in engaging Jewish families with young children (PJ Library serves children from birth) and providing formative experiences for youth (camping, Israel travel, day schools).

Professional Development and Capacity Building: Rather than only funding programs, HGF invests in organizational capacity through consulting services, professional development, and technical assistance - organizations that can demonstrate readiness for this type of support may be attractive candidates.

Collaborative Approaches: Life & Legacy's partnership model with Federations and JCamp 180's consulting approach demonstrate preference for collaborative rather than isolated initiatives.

Place-Based Connection: For Western Massachusetts organizations, demonstrating deep community roots and connection to the local Jewish infrastructure is critical.

Current Strategic Priorities: Recent interviews with President Winnie Sandler Grinspoon indicate the foundation is focused on helping families address antisemitism and discuss Israel with children - organizations addressing these contemporary challenges may find a receptive audience.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • National grants are invitation-only - building relationships within Jewish communal organizations and demonstrating significant impact is essential for consideration
  • Western Massachusetts focus - If you're seeking local grants, use the HGF Grants Portal and demonstrate connection to the regional Jewish community
  • Youth and family engagement is paramount - Programs that cultivate Jewish identity among young people and families align with the foundation's core mission
  • Long-term thinking matters - The foundation values endowment-building, sustainability, and multi-year impact over short-term projects
  • Harold Grinspoon has invested over $55 million in Jewish camps alone over 28 years - demonstrating the foundation's willingness to make sustained, significant investments in proven models
  • Scalability and replication - PJ Library now operates in 40+ countries, showing preference for models that can expand beyond initial implementation
  • Professional development and capacity building - The foundation goes beyond check-writing to provide consulting, training, and organizational support - be prepared to engage deeply if selected

References

← Back to US Funders Directory