Harold Grinspoon Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $17.4 million (2023)
Total Assets: Over $500 million
Number of Awards: 221 grants (2023)
Grant Range: $5,000 - $200,000+ (can go significantly higher for major initiatives)
Geographic Focus: Western Massachusetts, North America, Israel
Application Method: Primarily proactive/invitation-only grantmaking

Contact Details

Website: https://hgf.org
Phone: (413) 276-0700
Email: info@hgf.org
Address: 67 Hunt Street, Suite 100, Agawam, MA 01001

Overview

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) was established in 1993 by real estate entrepreneur Harold Grinspoon in Springfield, Massachusetts. Since 1991, the foundation has invested more than $200 million in programs focused on Jewish life and community. With over $500 million in assets and $17.4 million in annual giving (2023), HGF's mission is to enhance Jewish and community culture in Western Massachusetts, North America, Israel, and beyond. The foundation is perhaps best known for creating PJ Library, which sends free Jewish-themed books to over 220,000 families monthly across 40+ countries—distributing over seven million storybooks per year. In 2024, the foundation launched the Grinspoon Amber Awards to honor exceptional Jewish communal professionals. Harold Grinspoon's philanthropic vision was shaped by a cancer diagnosis 25 years ago, when he realized "life is about more than making money."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

PJ Library®

Flagship program providing free Jewish-themed children's books and music by mail
Serves 220,000+ families monthly in North America
Books sent to children ages newborn to 8; PJ Our Way (choose-your-own book program) for ages 8.5-11
Distributes 7+ million books annually across 40+ countries

Life & Legacy™

Matching grant: $150,000 per year for 2 years (up to $300,000 total)
Promotes after-lifetime giving and endowment-building in Jewish communities
Assisted over 40 communities in FY2024 through partnerships with Jewish Federations and Foundations
Incentive grants of up to $10,000 available when organizations meet legacy commitment benchmarks
Has generated over $2 billion in commitments toward Jewish communal organizations
Includes coaching, training, fundraising strategies, marketing, and resource library

JCamp 180®

Five-year, $25 million matching grant commitment to 100+ Jewish overnight camps
Forward Together grant: 1:3 match (HGF disburses $1 for every $3 camps raise)
$10,000 bonus for camps that raise four times their base allocation
JCC Day Camp grants: 1:2 match up to $20,000 for physical improvements
Over $55 million invested in Jewish camps over 28 years
Strengthens organizational effectiveness and financial sustainability of nonprofit Jewish camps

Access Grants (Western Massachusetts)

Individual grants for Jewish experiences including:
- Youth group activities
- Jewish overnight summer camp
- Jewish preschool
- Jewish day school
- Trips to Israel

Jewish Day Schools (Western Massachusetts)

Substantial operating cost funding to five Western Massachusetts Jewish day schools
Challenge grants for endowment and capital campaigns

Local Farmer Awards (Western Massachusetts)

Application period: January 1-31 annually
Website: www.farmerawards.org
16 Berkshire farms awarded grants in 2023

Grinspoon Amber Awards (Launched 2024)

Annual recognition for five exceptional Jewish communal professionals
Each winner receives $10,000
Winners select two peers to receive $2,500 Peer Recognition Grants
First winners to be announced at 2025 Jewish Federations General Assembly

Israel Programs

Sifriyat Pijama ("Pajama Library") through Keren Grinspoon Israel
Serves 350,000+ Israeli Jewish children with Hebrew-language books

Priority Areas

Jewish education and literacy (early childhood through day school)
Jewish camping and youth engagement
After-lifetime giving and endowment building
Arts and culture programming
Teen and family education
Entrepreneurship among young people
Excellence in teaching and education
Local agriculture (Western Massachusetts/Berkshires)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's highly focused approach on Jewish causes and specific geographic regions (Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont, and Israel for place-based grants; North America and Israel for programmatic grants) means projects outside these areas or unrelated to Jewish life are generally not funded. The foundation emphasizes investments that "provide a strong return on investment for the Jewish community."

Governance and Leadership

President & Trustee: Winifred "Winnie" Sandler Grinspoon has served as President since June 2014, succeeding her father-in-law Harold Grinspoon. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Fordham University School of Law, and previously practiced law with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in New York and Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in Boston. She currently serves on the boards of the Jewish Funders Network and Cornell Hillel.

Founder: Harold Grinspoon established HGF in 1993. His wife, Diane Troderman, has been an active partner in philanthropic activities.

Chief of Staff: Cabrie Kearns

Board of Trustees: Sets policies and strategic direction, approves grantmaking opportunities, and oversees investments.

Staff: 152 employees

Key Leadership Quotes:

Harold Grinspoon on securing Jewish continuity: "I want future generations to experience a world that allows them to embrace their Jewish roots, find meaning in Jewish living, and stand tall with pride. We must cultivate philanthropic giving to secure the future of the Jewish programs and organizations that are the fabric of our community."

On Jewish unity: "I envision them celebrating Jewish holidays and lifecycle events, caring about the Jewish community and living out the values they have grown up with. I envision them becoming the leaders of tomorrow."

On appreciating Jewish leaders: "The Jewish world benefits tremendously from the most amazing, creative people who work to enhance Judaism around the world. This is a small way to show our appreciation, my appreciation and the foundation's appreciation."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Harold Grinspoon Foundation primarily conducts proactive grantmaking and operates on an invitation-only or relationship-based model. The foundation does not generally accept unsolicited grant applications for most of its programs, though it does accept contact by email, phone, or through their website.

Exceptions with Open Applications:

Local Farmer Awards: Public application open January 1-31 annually at www.farmerawards.org
Some regional programs: Check specific program pages on hgf.org for eligibility and application details

Grants Portal: The foundation maintains an HGF Grants Portal for invited applicants and specific programs.

Contact for Inquiries: Organizations interested in HGF support should reach out through:

Phone: (413) 276-0700
Email: info@hgf.org
Website contact form: hgf.org/contact-us

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation specifically targets organizations through its proactive approach. Based on the research, grantseekers should:

Engage with HGF's Existing Programs: Organizations already participating in or partnering with programs like Life & Legacy, JCamp 180, or PJ Library have established relationships with the foundation. Success in these programs can lead to awareness of other funding opportunities.

Connect Through Jewish Federations: The foundation has strong partnerships with Jewish Federations across North America, particularly in Western Massachusetts and the Berkshires. Being active in and supported by your local Jewish Federation can help establish visibility.

Attend Jewish Communal Events: The foundation is active at events like the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, where they announce new initiatives like the Grinspoon Amber Awards.

Western Massachusetts Organizations: Local Jewish institutions, day schools, arts organizations, and community groups in Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont have direct relationships with HGF through its place-based grantmaking.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by program and are not publicly disclosed for most proactive grants. For programs with open applications like the Local Farmer Awards, specific timelines are provided on the program application page.

Success Rates

With 221 awards made in 2023 from a foundation that conducts primarily proactive grantmaking, traditional success rate metrics are not applicable. The foundation identifies and invites organizations that align with its strategic priorities.

Reapplication Policy

For invited grant opportunities and specific programs, reapplication policies vary. Organizations should discuss ongoing or renewed funding during their grant relationship with foundation staff.

Application Success Factors

Since the Harold Grinspoon Foundation primarily conducts proactive grantmaking, traditional application success factors differ from open-application funders. However, the following insights are specific to this funder:

Alignment with Jewish Continuity: Harold Grinspoon's vision centers on ensuring "future generations to experience a world that allows them to embrace their Jewish roots, find meaning in Jewish living, and stand tall with pride." Projects that demonstrably strengthen Jewish identity, engagement, and continuity across generations are central to HGF's mission.

Strong Return on Investment for Jewish Community: The foundation explicitly seeks "investments that provide a strong return on investment for the Jewish community." Organizations should be prepared to articulate measurable impact on Jewish life, whether through increased participation, deeper engagement, or sustained community building.

Leverage and Sustainability Through Matching Grants: Many HGF programs use matching grant structures (Life & Legacy's 1:1 match, JCamp 180's 1:3 match, day camp's 1:2 match). The foundation values organizations that can leverage HGF funding to mobilize additional community support and build long-term financial sustainability.

Innovation in Jewish Education and Engagement: PJ Library's success demonstrates HGF's interest in creative, scalable approaches to Jewish education. The foundation has shown willingness to invest significantly in innovative models that can reach large numbers of families and have broad impact.

Place-Based Connection (for Regional Grants): For Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont organizations, demonstrated service to the local Jewish community and partnerships with area institutions (such as the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts) strengthen alignment with HGF's place-based giving priorities.

Examples of Funded Work:

PJ Library engagement grants to organizations creating programming around book distribution
Operating support to five Western Massachusetts Jewish day schools
Matching grants to Jewish overnight camps through JCamp 180
Legacy giving initiatives through Jewish Federations via Life & Legacy
Local farm support in the Berkshires and Western Massachusetts
Arts and culture programming in partnership with local Jewish institutions

Relationship Building: As Inside Philanthropy notes, this is described as "an approachable funder" despite its proactive model. Organizations should initiate contact, attend foundation-sponsored events, and build authentic relationships with program staff rather than waiting for a formal RFP.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Proactive, not reactive: HGF primarily identifies and invites grant recipients rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Focus on relationship-building and getting on the foundation's radar through networking, Jewish Federation connections, and participation in HGF programs.
Jewish continuity is paramount: All grantmaking flows from Harold Grinspoon's vision of securing Jewish identity and engagement for future generations. Frame your work in terms of impact on Jewish life, learning, and community strength.
Think leverage and sustainability: The foundation strongly favors matching grant models that encourage communities to invest alongside HGF. Demonstrate capacity to raise matching funds and build long-term financial sustainability.
Geographic focus matters: For place-based grants, be located in Western Massachusetts, Southern Vermont (regionally), or Israel. For programmatic grants, serve Jewish communities in North America or Israel.
Scale and innovation attract attention: PJ Library reaches hundreds of thousands of families; Life & Legacy has generated $2 billion in commitments; JCamp 180 serves 100+ camps. HGF is interested in programs with potential for significant reach and transformative impact.
Contact them directly: The foundation accepts inquiries by phone (413-276-0700) and email (info@hgf.org). Don't wait for an RFP—reach out, introduce your organization, and explore alignment.
Exceeding benchmarks brings rewards: Programs like Life & Legacy include bonus incentives for exceeding goals. HGF values ambition and achievement beyond minimum requirements.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.