← Back to US Funders Directory

Paul And Joanne Egerman Family Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.1M

Paul And Joanne Egerman Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,134,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater Boston area with some national policy organizations
  • Total Assets: $20.7 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 77 Westcliff Rd., Weston, MA 02493
Phone: (781) 453-8700
EIN: 04-6835621
Website: No public website identified

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Paul and Joanne Egerman Family Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 in Massachusetts. With total assets of $20.7 million and annual giving of approximately $1.1-1.5 million, the foundation supports select organizations in health, education, policy and civic engagement, and Jewish causes. Paul Egerman is an MIT graduate and successful entrepreneur who co-founded IDX Systems (later sold) and eScription, Inc. (sold to Nuance Communications for $400 million in 2008). He received Inc. Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year" award in 1991. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation with grants awarded at the discretion of trustees Paul Egerman, Joanne Egerman, and Benjamin Chigier. The foundation's grantmaking has remained steady between $1-1.5 million annually over recent years, funded primarily through investment income.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specified amounts or application cycles. Instead, it makes discretionary grants to organizations aligned with the family's philanthropic interests. Annual charitable disbursements totaled $1,134,000 in 2024, with 17 awards distributed across their priority areas.

Priority Areas

Health: Health has been the Egermans' largest area of giving in recent years, with a majority of grants going to organizations in the greater Boston area. The foundation has provided ongoing support to:

  • Boston Medical Center
  • Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
  • Health for All

Policy & Civic Engagement: The foundation supports progressive policy and advocacy organizations including:

  • Media Matters for America
  • Center for Effective Government
  • Center for American Progress
  • Freedom to Marry
  • Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
  • Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
  • Demos
  • Color of Change

Education: Educational institutions and programs, particularly:

  • MIT (Paul Egerman's alma mater), including MIT Hillel
  • Tufts University
  • University of California at Davis
  • Hebrew College
  • Jewish Community Day School of Watertown, Massachusetts

Jewish Causes: Support for Jewish organizations and programs, including:

  • Anti-Defamation League
  • New Israel Fund (where Paul Egerman serves as Director & Vice President-North America)
  • Keshet
  • Jewish educational institutions

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation with invitation-only grantmaking, the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions. However, their funding history indicates a clear focus on progressive causes, health equity, education, and Jewish organizations, suggesting they likely do not fund organizations outside these areas or those whose missions conflict with these values.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees who serve without compensation:

Paul Egerman (Trustee): MIT graduate (B.S. in mathematics) and healthcare technology entrepreneur. Co-founded IDX Systems in 1974, which grew from a start-up to a publicly held corporation with over 2,000 employees and more than $250 million in sales. After retiring from IDX, he co-founded and served as CEO of eScription, Inc., which was sold to Nuance Communications for $400 million in 2008. Egerman began his career in 1971 as a computer programmer at Mass General Hospital, where he wrote one of the early computerized medical record systems. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Boston Museum of Science, Treasurer of the Democracy Alliance (a network of progressive donors), and Finance Chair for Elizabeth Warren's campaigns. He currently serves on the board of the New Israel Fund as Director & Vice President-North America.

Joanne Egerman (Trustee): Co-founder of the family foundation and partner in the family's philanthropic work.

Benjamin Chigier (Trustee): Third trustee of the foundation.

The lean governance structure reflects the foundation's nature as a private family foundation where grantmaking decisions are made directly by trustees based on their personal knowledge and relationships with organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to foundation databases, the Paul and Joanne Egerman Family Charitable Foundation "Does Not Accept Applications." Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who proactively identify and select organizations to support based on the family's philanthropic interests and existing relationships.

The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation, making grants to organizations that align with Paul and Joanne Egerman's values and areas of interest without accepting unsolicited proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation makes grants on a discretionary basis throughout the year as trustees identify organizations to support.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as none are accepted.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Organizations cannot apply or reapply as there is no application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, examining the foundation's grant history reveals the following patterns that characterize organizations that receive support:

Alignment with Progressive Values: The foundation consistently supports progressive organizations working on social justice, health equity, democratic participation, and civil rights. Organizations working in these areas appear more likely to be within their funding sphere.

Boston-Area Focus for Health: While policy organizations are national in scope, health-related grants concentrate heavily on greater Boston area organizations, suggesting geographic preference for local health initiatives.

Established Organizations: Grant recipients tend to be well-established organizations with proven track records rather than start-ups or emerging nonprofits.

Connection to Trustees' Interests: Paul Egerman's background in healthcare technology, his involvement with MIT, his board service with the New Israel Fund and Democracy Alliance, and his work on progressive political campaigns all signal the types of organizations and causes that resonate with the foundation's leadership.

Jewish Community Connection: Organizations serving the Jewish community or aligned with Jewish values appear prominently in the grant portfolio, reflecting the family's commitment to Jewish causes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This is a private family foundation that proactively selects grantees. There is no application portal, deadline, or proposal process.
  • Relationship-based grantmaking: Grants appear to flow to organizations with existing connections to the trustees or organizations within their networks (Democracy Alliance, New Israel Fund, MIT community, Boston civic leadership).
  • Progressive policy focus: Strong support for progressive advocacy organizations working on democracy, civil rights, health equity, and social justice suggests ideological alignment is important.
  • Boston health, national policy: Geographic focus varies by sector - health grants concentrate in greater Boston, while policy grants extend nationally.
  • Jewish philanthropy matters: Consistent support for Jewish organizations and institutions indicates this is a core funding priority.
  • Stability over growth: With assets around $20 million and consistent annual giving of $1-1.5 million, the foundation maintains steady support rather than pursuing aggressive growth.
  • Healthcare IT connection: Paul Egerman's background as a healthcare technology pioneer may create affinity for health innovation and medical technology-related causes.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory