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Judith And Douglas Krupp Family Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.3M (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000
  • Grant Median: $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, New York, Washington DC

Contact Details

Address: One Beacon Street, Suite 21200, Boston, MA 02108

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Judith And Douglas Krupp Family Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. With assets of approximately $39 million and annual giving of $2.3 million, the foundation made 21 grants in 2024. The foundation's philanthropic mission centers on supporting Jewish organizations, environmental sustainability, education, and arts and culture, particularly theater. Founded by Douglas and Judith Krupp, the foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model, identifying and selecting grant recipients through the family trustees' networks and relationships. The foundation provides significant multi-year support to organizations aligned with their values, with grants typically ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 and a median grant size of $100,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but provides discretionary grants across several priority areas:

  • General Operating Support: Multi-year grants supporting organizations' core operations
  • Capital Campaigns: Support for facility and infrastructure projects
  • Program-Specific Grants: Funding for specific initiatives within recipient organizations

Priority Areas

Jewish Community and Education

  • Jewish community organizations and educational institutions
  • Organizations supporting Jewish life and culture
  • Jewish advocacy and curriculum development

Environmental Sustainability

  • Sustainable food and farming programs
  • Environmental justice organizations
  • Conservation and land protection initiatives

Arts and Culture

  • Theater companies and performing arts organizations
  • Arts education and community cultural programming

Education and Human Services

  • Educational institutions and programs
  • Social services supporting underserved communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited applications from unknown organizations
  • Individual scholarships or fellowships
  • Political campaigns or lobbying efforts
  • General operating support for organizations outside their focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Douglas Krupp - Trustee (Founder)
  • Judith Krupp - Trustee (Founder)
  • Alex Krupp - Trustee & President (Next generation family member)
  • Richard Krupp - Trustee (Family member)
  • Lawrence I. Silverstein - Trustee

Staff:

  • Jessica Rittner - Vice President (Professional staff managing foundation operations)

The foundation operates as a family-controlled entity with the founding generation (Douglas and Judith) serving alongside their children and a non-family trustee. The presence of professional staff (Jessica Rittner) suggests operational sophistication beyond a purely volunteer-run family foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on:

  • Pre-existing relationships with the organization or its leadership
  • Alignment with the trustees' personal interests and networks
  • Organizations known to family members or trusted advisors

The foundation uses its networks in Massachusetts, New York, and Washington DC to identify potential grant recipients.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation operating on trustee discretion, grant decisions likely occur throughout the year as trustees identify organizations of interest rather than following a fixed cycle.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications. All grants are initiated by the trustees.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Organizations that receive funding may receive multi-year support if they continue to align with trustee priorities.

Recent Grantmaking Activity

Notable 2024 Grants:

  • Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Fund: $200,000 for capital campaign
  • Earthjustice: $150,000 for sustainable food and farming program
  • Jewish Funders Network: $150,000 for canvas general operations
  • Institute for Curriculum Services: $127,500 for general operations
  • Vilna Shul Boston: $112,500 for general operations

The foundation made 21 grants totaling $2.3 million in 2024, with recipients spanning Jewish community organizations, environmental groups, theater companies, and educational institutions.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Strong Alignment with Trustee Interests:

  • Organizations serving the Jewish community receive substantial support
  • Environmental organizations focused on sustainable food systems and environmental justice
  • Theater and performing arts, particularly Shakespeare and classical theater
  • Educational institutions and curriculum development

Geographic Connection:

  • Strong preference for organizations in Massachusetts (particularly Boston area)
  • Secondary focus on New York and Washington DC
  • Organizations must have connection to regions where family trustees live or have relationships

Organizational Maturity:

  • Grant recipients tend to be established organizations with track records
  • Mix of local grassroots organizations and national organizations
  • Median grant size of $100,000 suggests preference for organizations capable of managing substantial grants

Mission-Driven Focus:

  • Organizations with clear mission alignment to Jewish life, environmental sustainability, or cultural enrichment
  • Organizations that demonstrate impact in their communities
  • Preference for general operating support suggests trust in organizational leadership

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation only funds organizations identified through trustee networks and relationships. There is no application portal or process for organizations to initiate contact.

  • Focus on Jewish causes, environment, and theater: The foundation's giving pattern shows consistent support for Jewish community organizations, environmental sustainability (particularly food and farming), and theater companies.

  • Substantial grant sizes: With a median grant of $100,000 and typical range of $10,000-$250,000, this foundation makes meaningful contributions to recipient organizations.

  • Geographic focus matters: Organizations in Massachusetts (especially Boston), New York, and Washington DC receive the vast majority of funding, reflecting where the Krupp family lives and maintains connections.

  • Multi-year support model: The foundation provides ongoing support to organizations that align with their values, suggesting that once an organization is in their funding portfolio, continued support is likely.

  • General operating support preferred: Many grants support general operations rather than restricted project funding, indicating trust in grantee organizations to deploy resources effectively.

  • Network-driven philanthropy: Getting funded requires a connection to the Krupp family or their trusted advisors through board service, professional networks, or community connections.

References

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