The Zachs Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1,475,637 (2023)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not disclosed
Grant Range: $100 - $362,384
Grant Median: $1,500
Number of Grants: 145 grants (2023)
Geographic Focus: Greater Hartford, Connecticut region with emphasis on Connecticut and national Jewish institutions
Assets: $35 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 40 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Phone: (860) 727-5733
Website: None listed
Email: None listed

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funds.

Overview

Founded in 1987 by Henry M. Zachs, a prominent Hartford businessman and telecommunications pioneer, The Zachs Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation that supports over 100 nonprofit organizations annually. With assets of approximately $35 million and annual giving of $1.5 million, the foundation focuses primarily on Jewish agencies and temples, higher education institutions (particularly Hillel programs at universities), and general charitable causes in the Greater Hartford area. The foundation is led by Henry M. Zachs (President), Judith M. Zachs (Vice President/Secretary), and their sons Eric and William Zachs (Directors). Henry Zachs, a Trinity College alumnus who received his MBA from Wharton, has been recognized with the Eigenbrodt Cup from Trinity College for his outstanding contributions and service. The foundation operates on a highly selective basis, making grants only to preselected charitable organizations with which the family has established relationships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs. All funding decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees based on preexisting relationships with organizations.

Grant Size: Grants range from $100 to over $360,000, with a median grant of $1,500
Application Method: Invitation only; no public application process
Distribution: 145 grants made in 2023 to various organizations

Priority Areas

Based on IRS filings and documented giving patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Jewish Community: Synagogues, Jewish federations, Jewish community centers, and Jewish cultural organizations
Higher Education: University Hillel programs, Jewish studies programs, general university support
Jewish Education: Day schools, particularly Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford
Arts and Culture: Hartford-area cultural institutions
Medical Facilities: Healthcare organizations in Connecticut
Community Development: Greater Hartford nonprofit infrastructure

Recent Notable Support Includes:

University of Hartford Hillel Center
Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford ($100,000 challenge match)
Endow Hartford 21 matching program ($1 million lead funding)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions, but based on their giving patterns:

Organizations outside their established network
Unsolicited requests from unknown organizations
Organizations without connection to Hartford region or Jewish community

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

Henry M. Zachs - President and Founder
Judith M. Zachs - Vice President/Secretary
Eric Zachs - Director
William Zachs - Director

All officers serve without compensation.

About Henry M. Zachs:

Henry Zachs founded Message Center Telephone Answering Service in Hartford in 1960 and became a nationally recognized expert in telecommunications, including paging, cellular communications, and Internet services. A Trinity College graduate (1956) and Wharton MBA, Zachs has devoted his retirement to philanthropy while still actively working as he approaches his 90th birthday. He serves on the boards of nearly a dozen nonprofits and received Trinity's Eigenbrodt Cup in 2006 for outstanding contributions and service to the college.

Quotes from Henry Zachs on Philanthropy:

"You can't take it with you, so you have to give back and set an example for your children and grandchildren."
"If I can figure out a way to make an institution better, I want to do it."

Zachs is known for hands-on involvement in the organizations he supports, going beyond financial contributions to provide consulting, operational advice, and strategic guidance.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Zachs Family Foundation does not have a public application process. According to the foundation's official statement: "The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which the family has established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates through trustee discretion and preexisting relationships. Specific intelligence about this funder includes:

Endow Hartford 21 Connection: Organizations selected for the Endow Hartford 21 matching program (51 Greater Hartford nonprofits) have established relationships with the foundation. This program, administered through the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, represents organizations the Zachs family has vetted and chosen to support.
Board Service: Henry Zachs serves on the boards of nearly a dozen nonprofits. Organizations where family members serve in leadership or advisory roles appear to receive foundation support.
Trinity College Connection: As a Trinity College alumnus and recipient of the college's Eigenbrodt Cup, organizations affiliated with Trinity or introduced through Trinity networks may have access.
Jewish Community Networks: The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford and the Jewish Federation system appear to be key networks through which the foundation identifies beneficiaries.
Hands-on Philanthropist: Henry Zachs is known for active involvement beyond just writing checks—he provides consulting, operational advice, and strategic guidance. Organizations where the foundation can provide this type of value-added support may be more likely to receive funding.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a family foundation making discretionary grants, decisions are likely made throughout the year at trustee meetings.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All 145 grants made annually are to organizations the trustees have preselected.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only funding model.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, the following factors appear to determine which organizations receive support:

Documented Patterns from the Foundation's Giving:

Geographic Connection: Strong preference for Greater Hartford organizations. Even when funding national organizations (such as university Hillel programs), there is often a Connecticut connection.
Jewish Community Ties: The overwhelming majority of grants support Jewish institutions, Jewish education, or organizations serving the Jewish community. As documented in foundation profiles, "funding primarily for Jewish agencies and temples and higher education."
Educational Institutions: Universities (particularly Hillel programs), day schools, and educational nonprofits receive substantial support. The foundation funded the University of Hartford Hillel Center and provided a $100,000 challenge match for Solomon Schechter Day School.
Henry Zachs's Values: Based on his public statements, the foundation supports organizations where they can "make an institution better," not just provide funding. Zachs's hands-on approach means organizations that welcome strategic involvement and operational consultation may be preferred.
Multigenerational Engagement: Zachs has stated his giving is meant to "set an example for your children and grandchildren." Organizations that can engage multiple generations of the Zachs family may receive sustained support.
Institutional Stability: With grants ranging from $100 to over $360,000 but a median of only $1,500, the foundation appears to provide both major capital support to key institutions and smaller ongoing support to many organizations.
Community Infrastructure: The foundation's leadership of Endow Hartford 21 (a $1 million matching program to build endowments for 51 Greater Hartford nonprofits) demonstrates commitment to long-term nonprofit sustainability rather than just program funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They only fund organizations they have preselected.
Relationship-Driven Funding: All support flows from established relationships with the Zachs family, particularly through board service, Jewish community networks, or Hartford civic connections.
Jewish Community Focus: The clearest path to funding is through Jewish institutions—synagogues, federations, day schools, Hillel programs, and Jewish cultural organizations.
Hartford Geographic Priority: Organizations based in Greater Hartford or serving the Hartford community receive the majority of support.
Hands-On Partnership: Henry Zachs seeks to "make an institution better," not just fund it. Organizations that can benefit from his business expertise and strategic involvement may be more attractive.
Wide Range of Grant Sizes: The foundation makes both major gifts (over $360,000) and small grants ($100), suggesting they support organizations at different scales and for different purposes—from capital projects to annual fund support.
Family Leadership Model: All trustees are family members who serve without compensation, making this a highly personal, values-driven foundation that reflects the family's priorities rather than professional grantmaking criteria.

References

Research completed: December 16, 2025