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Cogan Family Foundation Trust

Annual Giving
$1.4M

Cogan Family Foundation Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,411,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Varies by recipient
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily MA, CA, and NY
  • Number of Grants: 82 awards (2024)
  • Total Assets: Over $20 million

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 961019, Boston, MA 02196-1019

Note: No website, email, or phone number publicly available. This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Cogan Family Foundation Trust was established in 2000 by John F. "Jack" Cogan Jr., a prominent Boston attorney, philanthropist, and civic leader who served as chairman of the law firm Hale and Dorr (now WilmerHale) and held senior positions at Pioneer Fund. The foundation, with over $20 million in assets, distributed $1,411,000 in grants across 82 awards in 2024. The foundation's grantmaking reflects Jack Cogan's personal interests and legacy: medical research (particularly Parkinson's disease, which he experienced firsthand), education (especially law schools), human services, and the arts. Since Jack's death in January 2020, the foundation continues under the leadership of his family, including Managing Trustee Pamela Cogan Riddle. The foundation takes a strategic approach to philanthropy, focusing on high-impact research and projects that "advance medicine for the good of humanity" rather than traditional building-naming gifts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations. Known areas of support include:

  • Medical Research: Particularly Parkinson's disease research, including the John F. Cogan, Jr. Parkinson's Disease Research Grant at Boston Medical Center
  • Education: Support for law schools and educational institutions, including the Cogan Family Fund for Humanitarian Studies at Harvard
  • Retirement Research: Sponsorship of research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College
  • Arts and Culture: Support for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Museum of Fine Arts Boston
  • Human Services: Various charitable organizations

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants and foundation history:

  • Medical research and innovation: Especially early diagnostic tools and treatments for Parkinson's disease; high-risk, high-reward research projects
  • Higher education: Law schools, humanitarian studies programs, and academic research centers
  • Cultural institutions: Symphony orchestras, art museums, and cultural programming
  • Social research: Retirement policy, demographic trends, and social welfare research
  • Human services: Organizations serving vulnerable populations

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (explicitly stated in foundation guidelines)
  • Unsolicited applications from new organizations
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus (primarily MA, CA, NY)
  • Building or capital campaigns (founder preferred supporting research over naming opportunities)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Pamela Cogan Riddle - Managing Trustee (daughter of founder John F. Cogan Jr.)
  • Gregory Cogan - Trustee (son of founder)
  • Mary Cornille - Trustee (spouse of founder)
  • John F. Cogan, Jr. - Founder (deceased January 2020)

Leadership Philosophy:

Mary Cornille on the foundation's approach: "Jack was not interested in having buildings named after him. He was always interested in having our foundation support medical research projects."

Pamela Cogan Riddle on Parkinson's research priorities: "The earlier people can figure out and diagnose Parkinson's, it is going to set them on a better course for treatment, action and outcomes."

On their mission: "We want to advance medicine for the good of humanity. My father's generosity is allowing us to help so many people."

Founder's Legacy:

John F. Cogan Jr. (1926-2020) was a Harvard College and Harvard Law School graduate who received the Harvard Medal in 2009 for extraordinary service to Harvard University. He was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005. His leadership roles included Chairman Emeritus of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Life Trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Emeritus Trustee of Boston Medical Center. Though trained as a lawyer, Cogan maintained deep interest in medical research and was admitted to both medical and law schools.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Cogan Family Foundation explicitly states: "Applications not accepted. The Cogan Family Foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which the family has established relationships. The foundation identifies and selects beneficiaries proactively rather than responding to applications.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Cogan Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the key factors for organizations that do receive support appear to be:

1. Pre-existing Relationships: All grants go to pre-selected organizations. Organizations supported tend to have personal connections to the Cogan family through:

  • Institutions where family members served in leadership roles (MFA Boston, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Medical Center)
  • Universities and research centers aligned with family interests (Harvard, Boston College)
  • Organizations addressing causes personally meaningful to the family (Parkinson's research)

2. High-Impact Research Focus: The foundation prioritizes innovative research that can "advance medicine for the good of humanity," particularly:

  • Early-stage, high-risk research that may not qualify for traditional funding
  • Diagnostic innovation and breakthrough treatments
  • Academic research addressing social policy issues (retirement security, demographics)

3. Mission Over Recognition: Organizations that align with the foundation's philosophy of impact over visibility are favored. As Mary Cornille noted, Jack Cogan "was not interested in having buildings named after him" but rather in supporting substantive research projects.

4. Geographic Alignment: Strong preference for organizations in Massachusetts, California, and New York, reflecting the family's connections to these regions.

5. Educational Excellence: Particular interest in supporting law schools and humanitarian education programs at prestigious universities.

6. Cultural Leadership: Major cultural institutions with established reputations (Boston Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Fine Arts) that demonstrate excellence and community impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation is not accessible through traditional grant application processes
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: All funding goes to pre-selected organizations with established connections to the Cogan family
  • Medical research priority: Particularly Parkinson's disease research and innovative diagnostic tools - a deeply personal cause for the family
  • Education focus: Strong support for law schools and humanitarian studies programs at top universities
  • Cultural institutions: Long-term support for major Boston cultural organizations where family members held leadership positions
  • Research over recognition: Foundation values substantive impact and innovative research over naming opportunities or visibility
  • Geographic concentration: Giving primarily in Massachusetts, California, and New York reflects family connections to these regions
  • Consistent giving pattern: Foundation maintains steady grantmaking with 80-90 awards annually totaling approximately $1.4 million

References

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