One8 Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $56,036,140 (2023)
• Assets: $424,847,249 (2023)
• Total Grants Made: 200 awards (2023)
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $3,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts and Israel
• Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

• Website: https://one8.org
• Phone: 857-202-6250
• Address: Boston, MA (Back Bay offices)
• EIN: 046836735

Overview

One8 Foundation, established in 1997 by Jonathon and Joanna Jacobson (formerly known as the Jacobson Family Foundation), is one of Massachusetts' largest private foundations with $424 million in assets and $56 million in annual giving. The foundation describes itself as "both a venture philanthropy and a pro bono consultancy working side by side with grantee partners to create social change." Founded by Jonathon Jacobson, co-founder of Highfields Capital Management and former portfolio manager at Harvard Management Company, the foundation pursues a venture philanthropy model focused on identifying breakthrough ideas and providing multi-year strategic grants combined with hands-on consulting support. The foundation anchors its work in "Jewish values of human dignity, social justice, repairing the world and building robust caring communities."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation operates across four strategic issue areas:

Education

• Support for K-12 applied learning programmes in Massachusetts schools
• One8 Applied Learning Hub grants for implementation and scaling
• Postsecondary work-based learning and alternative pathways
• Grant range: Varies widely; recent education grants included $1.16 million combined with state funding
• Partners with over 725 Massachusetts schools
• Focus on STEM, engineering, computer science, and biomedical science programmes

Jewish Community and Israel

• Building vibrant Jewish communities and strengthening Jewish identity
• Supporting Israel's democratic society and economic opportunities
• Reducing antisemitism
• Making Judaism accessible and relevant

Community Giving

• Essential living needs support in underserved Boston communities
• Direct services to those in need
• Focus on empowering families to improve their own circumstances
• Emphasis on systemic change, not just service delivery

Epilepsy

• Clinical and scientific research
• Strategic initiatives improving lives and care for people with epilepsy
• Support for the Epilepsy & Pregnancy Medical Consortium

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses grantmaking on four strategic levers:

• Piloting diverse exemplars: Supporting promising ideas with strong potential for effectiveness
• Scaling impactful programmes: Investing in nonprofits with demonstrated evidence of effectiveness
• Developing capacity: Supporting grantee leadership development and organisational strengthening
• Supporting research: Funding evaluation and improvement initiatives

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited proposals or requests for funding
• Organisations outside Massachusetts (except for Israel-focused work and epilepsy research)
• University grants exceeding 2.5% overhead
• Government agency grants exceeding 2.5% overhead
• Organisations without solid strategic plans and implementation plans
• Non-501(c)(3) organisations

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Joanna Jacobson - President & Trustee Co-founder and former Managing Partner of Strategic Grant Partners, a venture philanthropy organisation that operated for over 18 years.

Senior Staff

• Vanessa Lipschitz - Vice President, Education
• Tova Katz - Director, Jewish Life
• Michal Steinman - Director, Israel
• Anna Sikorsky - Director, Operations & Administration
• Katherine Skrivan - Director, One8 Applied Learning Hub
• Alyssa Bogdanow Arens - Senior Portfolio Manager, Antisemitism

Team Approach

The foundation employs staff from top consulting firms who focus on identifying effective nonprofit partners, providing strategic planning support, analysing outcomes data, and problem-solving alongside grantees. Teams work together at Boston Back Bay offices Tuesday-Thursday with remote options Monday and Friday.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The One8 Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly states: "Our foundation does not consider unsolicited grant proposals."

How grants are typically awarded:

• The foundation conducts deep due diligence to identify potential grantees aligned with their strategic priorities
• They invite applications for specific initiatives and endeavours
• Selection is based on rigorous assessment of organisational goals, leadership capacity, theory of change, programme design, and outcomes
• Occasionally, the foundation invites small grant proposals for specific targeted initiatives

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT: As Inside Philanthropy notes, "This is not an accessible funder" and "even Boston-based grantseekers will need to network to get on one8's radar."

Specific strategies for this funder:

• Build relationships with One8 Applied Learning Hub (for Massachusetts education organisations): The foundation has an active presence through this hub working with 725+ schools. Schools implementing quality applied learning programmes may come to the foundation's attention through this network.
• Partnership with HighSage Capital: The foundation works closely with HighSage Capital as their family office. Connections through this network may be valuable.
• Focus on breakthrough results: The foundation explicitly seeks "nonprofit organisations with the highest potential to achieve breakthrough results." Organisations demonstrating scalable, evidence-based impact in the foundation's issue areas are more likely to be noticed.
• Massachusetts education sector events: Given the foundation's deep commitment to Massachusetts applied learning, presence at state education policy and STEM education events may increase visibility.

Decision Timeline

• Multi-year grants require organisations with solid strategic plans and detailed annual implementation plans
• Specific timeline from initial contact to decision not publicly disclosed
• The foundation emphasises long-term relationships with grantees and multi-year funding commitments

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The invitation-only model means traditional success rates don't apply. The foundation made 200 grants in 2023 from assets of $424 million, suggesting a highly selective portfolio approach focused on deep partnerships rather than broad grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

What One8 Looks For (Based on Their Own Statements)

Leadership and Organisational Capacity The foundation conducts "deep and clear understanding of the organisation's goals, leadership capacity, theory of change, programme and outcomes" before funding. Strong, proven leadership is essential.

Evidence of Effectiveness One8 seeks to "invest in nonprofits with demonstrated evidence of effectiveness." Organisations must show proven results, not just promising ideas (unless piloting new approaches with strong potential).

Strategic Clarity "Multi-year funding requires organisations with solid strategic plans and detailed annual implementation plans." Organisations must demonstrate strategic thinking and planning capacity.

Alignment with Systemic Change The foundation focuses "on work that addresses systemic issues," not just service delivery. Applicants should articulate how their work creates lasting, scalable change.

Readiness for Partnership One8 emphasises they "work side-by-side with potential grantees as partners." Organisations must be ready for deep engagement, strategic consultation, and collaborative problem-solving. The foundation provides "strategic and tactical expertise when needed," so openness to this support is crucial.

Foundation's Own Language

The foundation uses specific terminology that reveals their priorities:

• "Breakthrough results" and "breakthrough ideas"
• "Venture philanthropy" approach
• "Scaling" proven programmes
• "Evidence of effectiveness"
• "Theory of change"
• "Systemic issues"
• Organisations as "agents of change"

Recent Funding Examples

• Massachusetts schools for applied learning programmes (engineering, computer science, biomedical science)
• $1.16 million to support Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programmes combined with $775,000 state grant
• Epilepsy & Pregnancy Medical Consortium for clinical expertise and knowledge resources
• Organisations supporting Jewish identity and reducing antisemitism (specific grantees not publicly listed)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model means traditional applications won't work: You cannot apply directly to this foundation. Focus on building visibility and relationships within their areas of interest.

• Massachusetts and Israel focus is non-negotiable: Unless your work directly serves these geographies or addresses epilepsy research (their fourth priority), this funder is not accessible.

• Think like a venture capitalist, not a traditional grantor: One8 seeks "breakthrough results" and uses business language. Frame your work in terms of scalability, evidence, leadership capacity, and systemic impact.

• Partnership readiness is essential: If approached by One8, be prepared for deep engagement, strategic support, and collaborative decision-making. This is not a "check-writing" funder.

• Overhead limitations are strict: Universities and government agencies face maximum 2.5% overhead caps, significantly below typical rates.

• Applied learning in Massachusetts education is a clear entry point: With 725+ school partnerships and dedicated staff through the One8 Applied Learning Hub, Massachusetts schools implementing quality STEM and applied learning programmes have the clearest pathway to the foundation's attention.

• Quality over quantity: With $424 million in assets but only 200 grants annually, One8 makes concentrated bets on high-potential organisations rather than distributing funds widely. They seek exceptional organisations capable of significant impact.

References

• One8 Foundation Official Website: https://one8.org (Accessed December 2025)
• One8 Foundation "Our Approach": https://one8.org/our-approach/ (Accessed December 2025)
• One8 Foundation "Grant Making": https://one8.org/grant-making/ (Accessed December 2025)
• One8 Foundation "Our Team": https://one8.org/our-team/ (Accessed December 2025)
• One8 Applied Learning Hub "About One8 Foundation": https://one8appliedlearninghub.org/about-one8-applied-learning-hub/one8-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)
• One8 Applied Learning Hub "Grant Opportunities": https://one8appliedlearninghub.org/educator-resources-old/grants/ (Accessed December 2025)
• Inside Philanthropy "one8 Foundation Profile": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-o/one8-foundation (Accessed December 2025)
• Inside Philanthropy "Here's What You Need to Know About the one8 Foundation": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/boston-philanthropy/2015/7/21/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-jacobson-family-trust.html (Accessed December 2025)
• Charity Navigator "One8 Foundation Profile": https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/046836735 (Accessed December 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer "One8 Foundation": https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46836735 (Accessed December 2025)
• Grantmakers.io "One8 Foundation Profile": https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/046836735-one8-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)