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One8 Foundation

Annual Giving
$56.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $3.0M

One8 Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $56,036,140 (2023)
  • Assets: $877 million (2023)
  • Total Grants Made: 200 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $3,000,000
  • Most Common Grant: $25,000
  • 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 $877 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 Programs

The foundation operates across four strategic issue areas:

Education

  • Support for K-12 applied learning programs 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 programs

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 programs: Investing in nonprofits with demonstrated evidence of effectiveness
  • Developing capacity: Supporting grantee leadership development and organizational strengthening
  • Supporting research: Funding evaluation and improvement initiatives

What They Don't Fund

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

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Joanna Jacobson - President & Trustee Co-founder and former Managing Partner of Strategic Grant Partners, a venture philanthropy organization 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, analyzing 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 endeavors
  • Selection is based on rigorous assessment of organizational goals, leadership capacity, theory of change, program 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 organizations): The foundation has an active presence through this hub working with 725+ schools. Schools implementing quality applied learning programs 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 organizations with the highest potential to achieve breakthrough results." Organizations 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 organizations with solid strategic plans and detailed annual implementation plans
  • Specific timeline from initial contact to decision not publicly disclosed
  • The foundation emphasizes 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 $877 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 Organizational Capacity The foundation conducts "deep and clear understanding of the organization's goals, leadership capacity, theory of change, program and outcomes" before funding. Strong, proven leadership is essential.

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

Strategic Clarity "Multi-year funding requires organizations with solid strategic plans and detailed annual implementation plans." Organizations 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 emphasizes they "work side-by-side with potential grantees as partners." Organizations 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 programs
  • "Evidence of effectiveness"
  • "Theory of change"
  • "Systemic issues"
  • Organizations as "agents of change"

Recent Funding Examples

  • Massachusetts schools for applied learning programs (engineering, computer science, biomedical science)
  • $1.16 million to support Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programs combined with $775,000 state grant
  • Epilepsy & Pregnancy Medical Consortium for clinical expertise and knowledge resources
  • Organizations 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 programs have the clearest pathway to the foundation's attention.

  • Quality over quantity: With $877 million in assets but only 200 grants annually, One8 makes concentrated bets on high-potential organizations rather than distributing funds widely. They seek exceptional organizations capable of significant impact.

References

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