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Linde Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.8M

Linde Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,960,222 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $750,000
  • Geographic Focus: Boston metropolitan area and Massachusetts
  • Total Assets: $159.5 million (2023)

Contact Details

Foundation Administrator: Mott Philanthropic, LLC

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or publish formal grantmaking guidelines.

Overview

The Linde Family Foundation was established in 2000 as the philanthropic legacy of Edward H. Linde, who co-founded Boston Properties with Morton Zuckerman in 1970 and was responsible for developing iconic Boston landmarks including the Prudential Center, One Boston Place, and 28 State Street. After Edward's death in 2010, his wife Joyce Linde managed the foundation's grantmaking until her passing in March 2024. With assets of $159.5 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $10 million, the foundation focuses on children's services, education, healthcare, and the arts. Almost all grants remain within Massachusetts, with preferential treatment given to the Boston metropolitan area. The foundation has made transformational gifts, including a $10 million grant to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2023 and major contributions to the Museum of Fine Arts ($12.5 million), MIT's Joyce and Edward Linde Music Building, and the $33 million Linde Center for Music and Learning at Tanglewood.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined parameters. Instead, grantmaking decisions are made with the assistance of Mott Philanthropic, LLC, their philanthropic advisor. Grants range from $1,000 to $750,000, with most falling between $2,000 and $500,000.

Priority Areas

Education:

  • Educational institutions (Colby College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Wesleyan University, MIT)
  • Boston Educational Development Foundation
  • Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair
  • Music education programs

Healthcare:

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (primary care focus)
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (cancer chemical biology and therapeutic discovery)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • National Abortion Foundation
  • Urban Food Initiative

Arts & Culture:

  • Museums (Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science)
  • Performing arts organizations (Boston Symphony Orchestra/Tanglewood)
  • Community arts organizations (Community Music Center of Boston, Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, Making Music Matters, Boston Raising Powerful Musicians, Charlestown Working Theater)

Youth Services:

  • West End House Boys and Girls Club
  • Boston Children's Chorus
  • Community-based youth programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publish formal exclusion criteria. However, their giving pattern shows a strong preference for established institutions and organizations with which the family has existing relationships, primarily in the Boston area.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2023):

  • Joyce Linde (deceased March 2024)
  • Douglas T. Linde (son)
  • Carol Croft Linde
  • Karen Linde Packman (daughter)
  • Jeffrey N. Packman

Philanthropic Advisor:

Mott Philanthropic, LLC - Handles day-to-day operations and assists in deciding where to invest the family's philanthropic resources.

Leadership Legacy:

Joyce Linde served as a trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and was instrumental in conceiving the Tanglewood Learning Institute. According to her obituary, "Along with her family, she has run the Linde Foundation for the past 25 years and has made major impacts on dozens of community organizations in the greater Boston area, from the BIDMC with a focus on primary care and Dana Farber with a focus on Cancer Chemical Biology... to community-based organizations like Boston Children's Chorus and West End House Boys and Girls Club."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Linde Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not often accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grantmaking decisions are made in consultation with Mott Philanthropic, LLC, and grants typically go to organizations with which the Linde family has established relationships.

Organizations interested in approaching the foundation should contact Mott Philanthropic at info@mottphilanthropic.com or (617) 927-5700 to inquire about potential funding opportunities. However, given the foundation's preference for supporting known organizations, success with an unsolicited inquiry is uncertain.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The foundation's future direction is unclear following Joyce Linde's death in March 2024. The remaining trustees, including Douglas T. Linde and Karen Linde Packman, will likely continue the family's philanthropic legacy, but strategic priorities may evolve.

While specific relationship-building strategies for this foundation are not documented, the family's long-standing engagement with Boston-area institutions suggests that:

  • The foundation values long-term relationships with organizations rather than one-time grants
  • Joyce Linde's trustee role at the Boston Symphony Orchestra exemplifies how personal board engagement led to major philanthropic commitments
  • The family has supported organizations across multiple focus areas rather than limiting giving to a single sector

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the private nature of the foundation and the involvement of Mott Philanthropic in decision-making, timelines likely vary depending on the size and nature of the request.

Success Rates

The foundation made 95 grants in 2022 (most recent available data). Success rates for unsolicited applications are not available, but the foundation's preference against accepting such requests suggests they are low.

Reapplication Policy

No public reapplication policy is available.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited transparency and lack of formal application guidelines, the following factors appear important based on the foundation's giving patterns:

Geographic Alignment: Nearly all grants remain in Massachusetts, with strong preference for the Boston metropolitan area. Organizations outside this region are unlikely to receive funding.

Established Reputation: The foundation supports well-established institutions (MIT, Dana-Farber, Museum of Fine Arts, BSO) as well as community-based organizations. Track record and institutional stability appear important.

Focus Area Match: Strong alignment with children's services, education (particularly music education), healthcare (especially primary care and cancer research), and arts and culture organizations.

Relationship-Driven: The foundation's grants reflect the family's personal connections and board involvement. Joyce Linde's trustee role at the Boston Symphony Orchestra led to transformational support for Tanglewood. Organizations where family members serve or have personal connections appear to have significant advantage.

Multi-Year Commitment Potential: Major gifts like the $10 million to Dana-Farber (with conditional $5 million additional pledge) and the $33 million Linde Center at Tanglewood suggest the foundation is willing to make substantial, sustained commitments to organizations aligned with family interests.

Capital and Program Support: The foundation awards grants for diverse purposes including annual campaigns, capital campaigns, building renovations, scholarships, endowments, curriculum development, and program support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Unsolicited applications are generally not accepted - This foundation primarily supports organizations with which the Linde family has established relationships. Cold outreach is unlikely to succeed.

  • Contact through Mott Philanthropic - Any inquiries should go through their philanthropic advisor at info@mottphilanthropic.com or (617) 927-5700, though expectations should be modest for organizations without existing connections.

  • Boston-area focus is critical - Geographic restriction to Massachusetts, particularly Boston metro area, is nearly absolute. Organizations outside this region should not pursue this funder.

  • Relationship building is essential - Board engagement, personal connections, and demonstrated long-term partnership potential appear more important than a strong initial application.

  • Major gift capacity exists - While most grants range from $1,000-$500,000, the foundation has demonstrated willingness to make transformational gifts ($10-33 million) to aligned organizations.

  • Transition period ahead - Following Joyce Linde's death in March 2024, the foundation's future strategic direction remains unclear. The next generation of Linde family members will shape the foundation's priorities going forward.

  • Lack of transparency is characteristic - The foundation does not publish guidelines, maintain a website, or provide application information. This opacity is intentional and reflects a relationship-driven approach to philanthropy.

References

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