Van Otterloo Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,692,475 (2023)
• Total Assets: $48.2 million (2024)
• Grant Range: $40,000 - $5,000,000 (based on known awards)
• Number of Awards: 36 grants (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (North Shore/Marblehead area) and Florida (Naples/Immokalee area)
• Founded: 1997

Contact Details

Address: 18 Sewall St, Marblehead, MA 01945-3322

Phone: 781-639-3625

Website: www.vofoundation.org (note: website appears to be inactive)

EIN: 04-6827450

Overview

The Van Otterloo Family Foundation was established in 1997 by Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo, internationally renowned collectors of Dutch and Flemish art and generous North Shore philanthropists. With total assets of $48.2 million and annual giving of approximately $2.7 million, the foundation focuses exclusively on education with a particular emphasis on early childhood education and after-school programs. The foundation distributes approximately 36 grants annually to educational institutions qualifying as 501(c)(3) organizations. The Van Otterloos have demonstrated sustained commitment to making "outstanding and lasting education accessible to people from all backgrounds," with over 20 years of focused educational philanthropy. Recent major initiatives include a $13 million matching gift to United World Colleges (UWC) for scholarships supporting students from under-resourced backgrounds, and a $5 million matching gift to establish the van Otterloo Family Campus for Learning in Immokalee, Florida.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal grant programs or application cycles. Known funding streams include:

• Early Childhood Education: Focus on innovative programs that promote early literacy and language development
• After-School Programs: Support for educational enrichment programs outside regular school hours
• Educational Innovation: Funding for programs demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning methodologies
• Financial Aid Endowments: Major gifts establishing permanent scholarship funds at educational institutions

Priority Areas

Educational Focus Areas:

• Early childhood education and pre-K programs (primary focus area)
• K-12 educational institutions demonstrating innovation and excellence
• After-school and enrichment programs
• Educational programs serving diverse and under-resourced populations
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training for educational institutions serving children with special needs
• Music therapy and health education programs
• International education promoting cross-cultural understanding

Geographic Priorities:

• Massachusetts North Shore region (particularly Marblehead and Beverly areas)
• Southwest Florida (Naples and Immokalee communities)

Beneficiary Populations:

• Students from under-resourced backgrounds
• Children requiring early intervention and support
• Students with neurological, emotional, behavioral, learning, and/or developmental challenges
• Students from diverse cultural backgrounds

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation appears to focus exclusively on education and does not fund:

• Non-educational causes (health, environment, arts outside educational context)
• Organizations outside their primary geographic focus areas
• Individual scholarships (they fund institutional scholarship programs rather than direct student support)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees and Leadership

Erin van Otterloo - Executive Director ($79,860 compensation in 2024)

• Oversees day-to-day operations and grant administration

Rose-Marie van Otterloo - Trustee (As Needed, $0 compensation)

• Co-founder with husband Eijk van Otterloo
• Active in identifying and supporting educational initiatives in both Massachusetts and Florida

Lawrence A. Griffin - Trustee (As Needed, $0 compensation)

• Former Head of School at Shore Country Day School (retired 2017 after 30 years)
• The Lawrence A. Griffin Endowed Fund at Shore was established in his honor

Peter Woodward - Trustee (As Needed, $0 compensation)

Leadership Perspective on Education

Rose-Marie van Otterloo has articulated the foundation's educational philosophy: "It's been proven by research that if children learn to talk and learn to read at a fairly early age, they will do much better later on in life." This emphasis on early childhood intervention drives much of the foundation's grantmaking strategy.

On the family's philanthropic focus, she noted: "When our children were old enough to have conversations about philanthropy, we discussed creating a foundation and what causes we'd like to support as a family, such as a hospital or museum. Everyone said education, and that's what we've been supporting for the past 20 years."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Van Otterloo Family Foundation operates through trustee discretion and invitation-only grantmaking. Grants are typically made to organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships or through organizations brought to their attention by trusted advisors and board members.

The foundation does not maintain an active website with application guidelines or an online portal. Organizations seeking funding should not submit unsolicited proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's known grantmaking patterns, organizations are typically identified through:

• Board member connections: Both Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo have served on boards of educational institutions (including Shore Country Day School from 1987-1998) and identify needs through these relationships
• Trustee Lawrence Griffin's network: As former Head of School at Shore Country Day School for 30 years, Griffin brings extensive knowledge of educational institutions in the North Shore area
• Geographic presence: The foundation makes grants primarily in areas where the family has deep roots - Marblehead/North Shore Massachusetts and Naples/Immokalee Florida
• Personal introductions: The van Otterloos' involvement with Guadalupe Center in Immokalee came through "a friend who introduced them to Guadalupe Center" after they moved to Naples
• Demonstrated track record: Organizations like Spaulding Youth Center received multiple grants ($50,000 in 2018, $40,000 in 2017) for continued program development, suggesting the foundation values proven results and sustained partnerships

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without fixed cycles or decision timelines.

Success Rates

With only 36 grants distributed annually from a foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no traditional success rate metric. Organizations are selected through trustee identification rather than competitive application processes.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received grants may receive additional funding for continued or expanded programming, as evidenced by multi-year support to institutions like Spaulding Youth Center and ongoing major commitments to UWC and Guadalupe Center.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than competitive applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, examining their grantmaking patterns reveals what the foundation values:

What the Foundation Supports

1. Early Childhood Focus with Research Backing The foundation prioritizes early childhood education based on Rose-Marie van Otterloo's stated belief that "research proves that if children learn to talk and read at a fairly early age, they will do much better later on in life." Programs demonstrating evidence-based early intervention approaches align with this priority.

2. Innovation and Excellence in Teaching The foundation's mission explicitly seeks "educational enterprises that demonstrate innovation and excellence in teaching and learning while placing emphasis on the potential of all individuals." Examples include:

• Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training at Spaulding Youth Center for working with children with special needs
• UWC's international education model bringing together students from diverse cultures
• Music therapy programs at Berklee's Music and Health Institute

3. Programs Serving Under-Resourced Populations Major gifts support organizations serving students from backgrounds with limited educational access:

• $5 million to Guadalupe Center serving the Immokalee community
• $13 million to UWC specifically for scholarships for students from under-resourced backgrounds
• $1 million Lawrence A. Griffin Endowed Fund providing annual financial assistance at Shore Country Day School

4. Multi-Year Sustained Impact The foundation makes significant multi-year commitments to organizations rather than one-time grants, as seen with consecutive grants to Spaulding Youth Center and major capital/endowment gifts designed for lasting impact.

5. Geographic Connection Nearly all known grants have strong ties to either Massachusetts North Shore or Southwest Florida, reflecting the family's deep involvement in these communities.

Known Recent Grant Recipients

• Shore Country Day School (Beverly, MA): $1 million endowed scholarship fund (2017)
• Spaulding Youth Center (Northfield, NH): $50,000 for TBRI training (2018); $40,000 for TBRI practitioner training (2017)
• Guadalupe Center (Immokalee, FL): $5 million matching gift for van Otterloo Family Campus for Learning
• United World Colleges (UWC): $13 million matching gift for endowment fund supporting scholarships (2024)
• Berklee Music and Health Institute: $500,000 for music therapy programs
• Young People's Project: Grant amount not publicly disclosed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - do not submit proposals or letters of inquiry without an established connection to the trustees
• Geographic focus is highly specific - the foundation supports organizations primarily in Massachusetts North Shore and Southwest Florida; organizations outside these areas are unlikely to receive funding
• Early childhood education is paramount - the foundation's strongest priority is early childhood programs with proven methodologies for developing literacy and language skills
• Relationships matter most - grants flow from trustee relationships, board connections, and trusted intermediaries; building awareness requires networking within their geographic and programmatic spheres
• They invest in lasting change - large matching gifts, endowments, and capital projects demonstrate preference for transformational giving over annual operating support
• Evidence and innovation attract attention - programs like TBRI that combine research-based practices with innovative approaches align with their mission of "excellence in teaching and learning"
• Multi-year partnerships develop - organizations receiving initial grants have received additional support for program expansion, suggesting the foundation values proven partners

References

1. Cause IQ - Van Otterloo Family Foundation Profile - Accessed December 15, 2025
2. Instrumentl - Van Otterloo Family Foundation 990 Report - Accessed December 15, 2025
3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Van Otterloo Family Foundation - Accessed December 15, 2025
4. Shore Country Day School - Van Otterloo $1M Gift Supports New Tuition Scholarship - Accessed December 15, 2025
5. Marblehead Itemlive - Marblehead Persons of the Year: Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo - Accessed December 15, 2025
6. United World Colleges - Eijk and Rose-Marie van Otterloo - Accessed December 15, 2025
7. United World Colleges - USD 13 Million Major Gift from van Otterloos Helps Launch UWC Endowment Fund - Accessed December 15, 2025
8. Guadalupe Center - Guadalupe Center dedicates new education campus in Immokalee - Accessed December 15, 2025
9. Guadalupe Center - Guadalupe Center breaks ground on van Otterloo Family Campus for Learning - Accessed December 15, 2025
10. Spaulding Services - Spaulding Youth Center Honored with $40,000.00 Grant from van Otterloo Family Foundation for TBRI Practitioner Training - Accessed December 15, 2025
11. Spaulding Services - Spaulding Youth Center Honored with $50,000.00 Grant from van Otterloo Family Foundation for Campus-Wide TBRI Training - Accessed December 15, 2025
12. Berklee College of Music - Van Otterloos Give $500,000 to the Music and Health Institute - Accessed December 15, 2025