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Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.1M
Grant Range
Up to $1.0M

Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,121,486 (2023)
  • Number of Awards: 141 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Boston region
  • Application Process: Invitation only
  • Founded: 1986

Contact Details

Website: https://www.lubinfamilyfoundation.org/

Email: info@lubinfamilyfoundation.org

Location: Boston, MA

EIN: 22-2773808

Overview

Established in 1986, the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Greater Boston region. Founded by Richard K. Lubin, one of the five co-founders of Berkshire Partners (a private equity firm), the foundation has been a significant philanthropic force in Boston for nearly four decades. With annual giving exceeding $10 million distributed across 141 grants in 2023, the foundation focuses strategically on three core areas: education (with emphasis on educational pathways and outcomes), medical research and clinical care, and arts and culture (particularly music and the visual arts). The foundation operates as a private family foundation with a professional staff dedicated to grantmaking that creates positive change in its focus areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation supports three main initiative areas:

Education

  • Focus on educational pathways and outcomes
  • Grant amounts vary by project and institution

Medical Research and Clinical Care

  • Major program: Lubin Family Foundation Scholar Awards at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    • $150,000 per year for four years ($600,000 total per scholar)
    • Four scholars selected annually
    • Supports early-career physician-scientists pursuing cancer research
    • Application by invitation from Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center institutions and MIT
  • Notable support: $1 million gift to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for new inpatient building
  • Richard Lubin has served on Dana-Farber's Board of Trustees since 1983

Arts and Culture

  • Focus on music and the visual arts
  • Confirmed support to:
    • Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Boston
    • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (education and community programs)

Priority Areas

The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on anchor institutions in Greater Boston that align with its three core focus areas. The foundation appears to favor established organizations with significant impact potential and often builds long-term relationships with grantees.

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation's criteria are determined by trustee discretion aligned with their three focus areas within the Greater Boston region.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Richard K. Lubin (Founder; Senior Advisor at Berkshire Partners; Dana-Farber Board of Trustees member since 1983)
  • Nancy Lubin
  • Kate Lubin
  • Glen Sutton
  • Emily Woods
  • Greg Woods

Staff

  • Susan Cohen - Executive Director
  • Emily Woods - Director of Education
  • Johnathan Cook - Program Officer
  • Mara Laderman - Program Officer
  • Meghan Mazurowski - Program Officer
  • Rachel Guerette - Manager, Grants and Administration

Leadership Perspectives

Richard Lubin on supporting BIDMC: "With expanded capacity, BIDMC will continue to offer the outstanding level of care for which it is renowned."

Kate Lubin on the family's approach to philanthropy: "We trust BIDMC's leadership to use these resources wisely as they build for tomorrow."

The Lubin family's commitment to healthcare philanthropy stems from personal experience—a decade before their $1 million BIDMC gift, Kate Lubin gave birth to premature twin daughters at BIDMC's Klarman Family NICU. The attentive care, including the decision to extend the twins' stay which led to the discovery and treatment of life-threatening necrotizing enterocolitis in one daughter, motivated the family's ongoing support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grant proposals are accepted by invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

  • Relationships with anchor institutions in Greater Boston
  • Board members' connections and involvement with organizations (e.g., Richard Lubin's long service on Dana-Farber's Board of Trustees)
  • Staff program officers who monitor and identify opportunities in the foundation's focus areas
  • Long-term relationships with trusted organizations in education, healthcare, and arts sectors

Decision Timeline

Information about specific decision timelines is not publicly available. Given the invitation-only structure, timing likely varies based on the specific opportunity and relationship with the organization.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. In 2023, the foundation made 141 grants, up from 132 in 2022 and 125 in 2021, showing steady growth in grantmaking activity.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given invitation-only structure.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's documented approach and funded projects:

Relationship Building is Critical

  • The foundation builds long-term partnerships with anchor institutions
  • Personal connections matter—Richard Lubin's 40+ years on Dana-Farber's board preceded the Scholar Awards program
  • The family's direct experience with BIDMC's care led to significant support

Focus on Institutional Impact

  • The foundation supports established institutions with significant reach (Dana-Farber, BIDMC, ICA Boston, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum)
  • Grants often support major institutional initiatives like new buildings, endowed programs, or transformative research support

Early Career Support in Medicine

  • The Scholar Awards program specifically targets retention of promising physician-scientists during the critical transition to independence
  • Nobel laureate William G. Kaelin Jr. serves as Scientific Director, indicating the foundation values scientific excellence and prestigious leadership

Geographic Commitment

  • Deep commitment to Greater Boston institutions
  • Founded in 1986 alongside Berkshire Partners, showing sustained local focus

Strategic, Not Reactive Giving

  • Major gifts appear to be strategic partnerships (Scholar Awards is a named, multi-year program)
  • Dana-Farber President Laurie H. Glimcher noted the Scholar Awards "set an inspiring example," suggesting the foundation seeks to create models for others

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only structure means traditional applications are not accepted - Organizations cannot apply directly
  • Build relationships with board members and staff - The foundation's trustees and program officers are the gateway to funding
  • Focus on anchor institutions - The foundation favors established, high-impact organizations in Greater Boston
  • Alignment with three focus areas is essential - Education (pathways/outcomes), medical research/clinical care, and arts/culture (music/visual arts)
  • Multi-year, transformative support - The foundation supports major initiatives like the $600,000 Scholar Awards and million-dollar capital projects
  • Personal connections and trust matter deeply - The family's philanthropic decisions are informed by direct experiences and long-term institutional relationships
  • Geographic focus is strict - Greater Boston region only; institutions outside this area are not funded

References

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