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Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.6M
Grant Range
$50K - $3.0M

Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation

(The Phyllis & Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.6 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $98.9 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; institutional partnerships
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $3,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Boston, Massachusetts

Contact Details

Address: 1700 District Avenue, Suite 310, Burlington, MA 01803

Website: https://rappaportfoundation.org

Executive Director: Timothy J. Medlock

Note: For general inquiries, contact through the foundation's website contact page at rappaportfoundation.org/contact/

Overview

The Phyllis & Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation was established in 1997 by Jerome "Jerry" Rappaport and his wife, Phyllis. Since its founding, the foundation has donated more than $30 million to efforts focusing on public policy, health, and the arts. Following Jerry's death in December 2021, the foundation continues under the active leadership of Phyllis Rappaport as Chair. In 2023, the foundation received a transformational $62.5 million contribution, bringing total assets to nearly $99 million. The foundation partners with Boston's leading institutions to promote and nurture emerging leaders in the fields of public policy, neurodegenerative disease, mental health, and the arts through strategic institutional partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through major institutional partnerships rather than open grant competitions:

Medical Research Programs:

  • MGH Research Scholars Program: $500,000 over five years to early- to mid-career scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital for research in neurodegenerative disease and mental illness. Four scholars selected every five years.
  • MGH Grand Challenge Award: Annual $3 million award for multi-disciplinary teams tackling pressing medical challenges
  • MGH Research Institute Endowed Chairs: Honors senior research scientists demonstrating sustained excellence
  • McLean Hospital Research Scholars: Supports promising researchers in mental health diagnosis and treatment
  • Brigham & Women's Hospital Rappaport Scholars Program: Supports Alzheimer's research at the Center for Neurological Disease
  • Brigham & Women's Rappaport Award in Clinical Innovation: Focuses on healthcare innovation

Public Policy Programs:

  • Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston (Harvard Kennedy School): Major institutional endowment ($12.35 million gift) supporting the institute
  • Public Policy Summer Fellowship: 10-week paid internships for graduate students in state and local agencies across Greater Boston
  • Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy (Boston College Law School): $7.53 million institutional gift supporting the center, including the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Visiting Professorship
  • Rappaport Fellowship (Harvard Law School): Two-year fellowship for promising legal scholars with teaching aspirations

Arts Programs:

  • Rappaport Art Prize: $50,000 unrestricted award to contemporary artists with strong New England connections (administered through deCordova Museum/The Trustees)
  • Rappaport Prize for Music Composition: Supports emerging American composers through institutional partnerships

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on:

  • Public Policy: Developing emerging leaders through fellowships and academic partnerships
  • Neurodegenerative Disease Research: Particularly Alzheimer's and neurological conditions
  • Mental Health Research: Supporting innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment
  • Contemporary Art & Music: Recognizing and supporting emerging artists and composers with New England connections

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not:

  • Accept unsolicited grant applications from organizations
  • Fund organizations outside their established institutional partnerships
  • Support projects outside Greater Boston (with rare exceptions for arts programs with New England connections)
  • Fund capital campaigns, general operating support, or projects outside their four core areas

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Phyllis Rappaport, Chairperson (founding board member since 1997)
  • Jonathan Rapaport, Board Member (since 2007, Jerry's stepson)
  • James Rappaport, Board Member (grandson, McKinsey Expert)
  • Diego Arambula, Board Member (grandson, Vice President for Educational Transformation at Carnegie Foundation)
  • Elizabeth Rappaport, Board Member (family member, CEO of The Home OrganizeHER)
  • Lila Flavin, Board Member (board-certified psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School)
  • Janet Aserkoff, Board Member (attorney, former general counsel to New Boston Fund)
  • Edward Glaeser, Board Member (Harvard Economics Professor, former Rappaport Institute Director)
  • James Segel, Board Member (President of Boston Asset Management Association)

Staff Leadership:

  • Timothy J. Medlock, Executive Director (joined 2017; compensation $160,000 in 2023). Medlock manages strategic partnerships with Harvard University, Boston College Law School, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, the deCordova Museum, The Boston Foundation, and other institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Rappaport Foundation operates exclusively through pre-established institutional partnerships with major Boston-area universities, hospitals, and cultural organizations.

For Individual Opportunities:

  • Fellowships and Prizes: Applications are managed through partner institutions (Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Boston College Law School). Each program has its own application process and timeline through the host institution.
  • Art Prize: Nomination-based only. Artists cannot apply directly; they must be nominated by invited art professionals, museum directors, curators, other artists, or past winners.
  • Research Scholars: Selection managed by partner institutions (MGH, McLean Hospital, Brigham & Women's Hospital) through their internal processes.

For Organizations: The foundation makes grants through trustee discretion to established partner institutions. Grants are typically multi-year, multi-million dollar commitments that establish endowed programs, centers, or awards.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for organizational grants, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Individual fellowship timelines vary by program and are managed by partner institutions.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through institutional partnerships rather than open applications, success factors for organizations seeking support are different from traditional grant-seeking:

For Organizations (Institutional Partnership Model):

  • The foundation seeks "forward-thinking impactful institutions" with proven track records in the foundation's focus areas
  • Major gifts have gone to prestigious institutions: Harvard University, Boston College, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Brigham & Women's Hospital, deCordova Museum
  • Partnerships are long-term commitments, often establishing endowed programs that run for decades
  • The foundation values programs that develop "emerging leaders" and "catalyze new generations of collaborative leaders"
  • Geographic focus is exclusively Greater Boston area institutions

For Individual Applicants (Fellows, Scholars, Artists):

  • Public Policy Fellows: According to Harvard Kennedy School's program, applicants should demonstrate interest in public sector careers and submit strong statements describing public policy issues of interest. The foundation seeks "academically gifted students interested in pursuing careers in the public sector."
  • Research Scholars: The foundation looks for "promising early- to mid-career scientists" with "bold ideas regarding the diagnosis and treatment" of mental health and neurological conditions
  • Art Prize: Artists must have "strong connections to New England and a proven record of achievement" in contemporary art. Recent winner Jeremy Frey (2024) is a Passamaquoddy basketmaker, indicating the foundation values diverse artistic traditions.
  • Law Fellows: Harvard Law School seeks candidates with "high academic achievements, who possess a strong desire to teach law"

Recent Examples of Funded Work:

  • 2024 Art Prize: Jeremy Frey, Passamaquoddy basketmaker
  • 2025 Art Prize: Alison Croney Moses
  • 2024-2026 Harvard Law Fellow: Isaiah Ogren
  • 2025 Rappaport Fellow: Aryssa Harris (Second Black woman in over a century to lead the BU Law Review)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Open Application Process: Organizations cannot apply for funding. The foundation works exclusively with pre-selected institutional partners through trustee discretion.
  • Individuals Apply Through Partner Institutions: If seeking individual fellowships or prizes, apply directly through the partner institution's process (Harvard, Boston College, MGH, etc.)
  • Geographic Limitation: Focus is exclusively Greater Boston institutions and New England-connected artists
  • Major Institutional Commitments: When the foundation partners with an organization, grants are typically multi-million dollar, multi-year commitments ($7.53M to BC Law, $12.35M to Harvard, $50M to MGH)
  • Leadership Development Focus: All programs emphasize developing "emerging leaders" - whether in public policy, medical research, or the arts
  • Long-Term Partnerships: The foundation has funded fellows at McLean Hospital since 2000 and supported Harvard's Rappaport Institute for decades, indicating preference for sustained relationships
  • Recent Growth: The $62.5 million contribution in 2023 significantly expanded the foundation's capacity and may signal new partnership opportunities in coming years

References

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