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Swartz Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.5M

Swartz Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10.3 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1,500,000
  • Average Grant: $20,000
  • Geographic Focus: Boston area, national U.S., and Israel
  • Total Assets: $220.8 million (2024)

Contact Details

The Swartz Foundation does not maintain a website and operates as a low-profile private foundation.

Location: Newton, Massachusetts
EIN: 04-3255974

For inquiries, organizations should note that the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Overview

The Swartz Foundation was established in 1994 in Boston by Sydney and Judith Swartz. Sydney Swartz is the former chairman of Timberland, the outdoor shoe and clothing company. With total assets of approximately $220.8 million and annual charitable disbursements of $10.3 million, the foundation is a dependable funder of Jewish causes, particularly in the Boston and Florida areas, as well as at the national level. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on supporting Jewish causes in the U.S. and Israel across health, human services, community, education, and religion. Approximately half of the foundation's grantmaking supports Israeli organizations or U.S.-based organizations supporting Israeli causes, while U.S. grantmaking prioritizes Boston-area organizations but extends to Jewish organizations with national reach.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Swartz Foundation operates through trustee-selected grants rather than formal programs with application deadlines. Recent grantmaking totaled approximately $7.3 million across various organizations.

Grant Size Distribution:

  • Large grants: $1,000,000 - $1,500,000 (to major institutions)
  • Mid-sized grants: $100,000 - $999,999
  • Small grants: $500 - $99,999
  • Average grant: $20,000

Application Method: Invitation only / trustee discretion

Priority Areas

Israeli and Israel-Related Organizations:

  • Israeli healthcare institutions (e.g., Hadassah Medical Organization of Jerusalem - received over $1 million)
  • Israeli poverty relief (e.g., American Friends of Meir Panim)
  • Food security in Israel (e.g., American Friends of Leket Israel)
  • Israel advocacy and support (e.g., Friends of Israel Defense Forces)
  • Israel security initiatives (e.g., American Friends of Maoz-Seal - received $2.8 million in 2021)
  • Israel advocacy and education (e.g., American Israel Education Foundation - received over $1 million)

U.S.-Based Jewish Organizations:

  • Jewish communal support (Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston - largest grantee, receiving $1.5-$5 million in recent years)
  • Jewish family services (Jewish Family and Children's Services of Waltham)
  • Synagogues and religious institutions (Temple Emmanuel of Newton)
  • Jewish education and outreach (Chabad Lubavitch of the North Shore)
  • Media monitoring (CAMERA - monitoring news coverage of Middle Eastern issues)

Thematic Areas:

  • Health
  • Human services
  • Community development
  • Education
  • Religion

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions, but operates exclusively within the Jewish philanthropic sector. Organizations outside Jewish causes or those not aligned with the foundation's Israel-related priorities are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Sidney W. Swartz (Founder and Trustee)
  • Judith Swartz (Co-founder and Trustee)
  • Jeffrey Swartz (Trustee - son of founders)
  • Daniel Swartz (Officer)
  • Robert N. Shapiro (Trustee - received $323,546 in compensation in 2021)

Key Staff:

  • Micol Debash (Impact Manager - $92,760 compensation in 2024)

The foundation benefits from the family's deep connection to both the business community and Jewish philanthropic networks, with Sydney Swartz's background as former chairman of Timberland providing substantial resources for grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Swartz Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and prefers a proactive approach to grantmaking. According to foundation statements, they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships or that align with the trustees' philanthropic priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking is directed by the Swartz family trustees who select organizations based on their personal connections and strategic priorities. The foundation's largest ongoing relationship is with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, which has received between $1.5 and $5 million in recent years, suggesting that being part of the organized Jewish communal structure in Boston may provide visibility to foundation trustees.

The foundation maintains a deliberately low profile and does not maintain a website, limiting pathways for new organizations to initiate contact.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made on a rolling basis by trustees.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since the Swartz Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the key factor for receiving support is alignment with the foundation's established priorities and having connections to the foundation's trustees or existing network.

Organizations most likely to receive support:

  • Established Jewish organizations in the Boston area with strong communal standing
  • Israeli organizations addressing health, poverty relief, or security
  • U.S.-based organizations supporting Israeli causes
  • Organizations connected to the Combined Jewish Philanthropies network
  • Institutions addressing issues that resonate with the trustees' personal interests

Recent funding patterns indicate priority for:

  • Large, established institutions (Hadassah Medical Organization, Combined Jewish Philanthropies)
  • Organizations addressing Israeli security and advocacy (American Friends of Maoz-Seal, Friends of Israel Defense Forces, American Israel Education Foundation)
  • Boston-area Jewish communal institutions (Temple Emmanuel, Jewish Family and Children's Services, Chabad)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: The Swartz Foundation operates exclusively through trustee-selected grants and does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Strong Israel focus: Approximately 50% of grantmaking supports Israeli organizations or U.S. groups supporting Israeli causes
  • Boston connection matters: While grants extend nationally, Boston-area organizations receive significant attention, particularly those connected to Combined Jewish Philanthropies
  • Wide grant range: Grants range from $500 to $1.5 million with an average of $20,000, suggesting both major institutional partnerships and smaller community-level support
  • Family-directed philanthropy: With Swartz family members serving as trustees, the foundation's priorities reflect personal commitments to Jewish causes and Israel
  • Substantial resources: With $220.8 million in assets and $10.3 million in annual giving, the foundation has significant capacity but maintains a low profile
  • Relationship-based: Success depends on being within the foundation's existing network or having connections to trustees and their philanthropic priorities

References

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