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The Robert and Michelle Cooke Atchinson Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.3M
Grant Range
$50K - $2.0M

The Robert and Michelle Cooke Atchinson Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,212,600 (2023); $6.3M (2024)
  • Total Assets: $131.5 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $2,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Boston/Massachusetts, with some global health initiatives

Contact Details

Location: Winchester, MA
EIN: 04-6875099

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications or letters of inquiry.

Overview

Established in 1998, The Robert and Michelle Cooke Atchinson Foundation is a private family foundation with over $131 million in assets. Founded by Robert Atchinson, co-founder of Boston-based Adage Capital Management, and his wife Michelle, the foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, youth development, health, and human services, primarily in the Boston area. Robert Atchinson served as a senior vice president at Harvard Management Company from 1991 to 2001 before co-founding Adage Capital Management. The foundation is governed by the Atchinson family, including their children Daniel, Katherine, and Christine Athens. In 2024, the foundation distributed $6.3 million in charitable grants, making 49 awards. The foundation takes a highly selective, proactive approach to grantmaking, partnering with pre-selected organizations rather than responding to applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specified application cycles. Instead, trustees identify and select grantees based on strategic priorities. Grants typically range from $50,000 to over $1 million, with most substantial awards going to educational institutions.

Priority Areas

Education & Youth Development

  • Catholic education (Campaign for Catholic Schools received $500,000 in 2017 and nearly $1.5 million total since 2014)
  • College education (College of the Holy Cross received a $2 million grant)
  • Youth sports programming (Play Ball Foundation)
  • Educational support services (Year Up, Inner-City Scholarship Fund)
  • Mentoring (Big Brother Big Sister Central Mass/Metrowest)
  • Preparatory schools (St. Joseph's Preparatory School)

Health & Medical Research

  • Boston-based health institutions (Massachusetts General Hospital has received approximately $350,000 since 2008)
  • Cancer research and treatment (co-founded the Mike Toth Head and Neck Cancer Research Center at Massachusetts Eye and Ear)
  • Children's hospitals

Human Services

  • Organizations serving children and families in Massachusetts (Strategic Grant Partners received over $500,000 from 2006-2014)

Global Health & Education

  • U.S.-based organizations providing health and education services internationally
  • Women's health (Care2Communities)
  • Access to medicine (Medicines for Humanity)
  • Girls' education in Africa (Maranyundo Initiative in Rwanda)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has explicitly stated it only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This effectively excludes organizations without existing connections to the foundation or its trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Officers and Trustees

  • Robert G. Atchinson - Co-Founder and Trustee (B.A. Hartwick College, MBA Stanford University; former trustee of College of the Holy Cross)
  • Michelle Cooke Atchinson - Co-Founder and Trustee
  • Daniel S. Atchinson - Trustee
  • Katherine M. Atchinson - Trustee
  • Christine J. Athens - Trustee

The foundation is family-governed, with Robert and Michelle Atchinson steering philanthropic strategy alongside their adult children. None of the trustees receive compensation for their service. The family's strong ties to College of the Holy Cross (Robert is a former trustee and they are parents of Holy Cross students) influences their educational grantmaking priorities.

Robert Atchinson's business partner at Adage Capital Management, Phillip Gross, is a founder of Strategic Grant Partners, one of the foundation's significant grantees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has clearly stated that it only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, including letters of inquiry.

All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, who take a proactive approach to identifying organizations aligned with their philanthropic priorities. Organizations cannot apply for funding through traditional grant application processes.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following specific factors may increase visibility:

Family Connections to College of the Holy Cross: The Atchinsons are College of the Holy Cross parents and Robert served as a trustee. Organizations with Holy Cross connections or serving Holy Cross students have received substantial support.

Network Through Strategic Grant Partners: Strategic Grant Partners, whose mission is to "partner with outstanding leaders with game-changing ideas that improve the lives of children and families in Massachusetts," received over $500,000 in grants from 2006 to 2014. The co-founder of Strategic Grant Partners is Phillip Gross, Robert Atchinson's business partner at Adage Capital Management. Organizations vetted or supported by Strategic Grant Partners may have better access.

Campaign for Catholic Schools Network: The Campaign for Catholic Schools has been a major grantee (nearly $1.5 million since 2014). Organizations working in Catholic education in Massachusetts may gain visibility through this network.

Boston Philanthropic Circles: The foundation focuses heavily on Boston-area organizations. Organizations with strong reputations in Boston's philanthropic community, particularly in education and health sectors, may be more likely to come to the trustees' attention.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder making grants at trustee discretion, there are no standardized application cycles or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation made 49 awards in 2023 out of an unknown number of organizations considered by trustees.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share the following characteristics:

Strong Institutional Reputation: Major grants have gone to established institutions like College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear—organizations with proven track records and institutional credibility.

Alignment with Catholic Values: Significant funding flows to Catholic education institutions, including Campaign for Catholic Schools and St. Joseph's Preparatory School, suggesting the family's Catholic faith influences grantmaking priorities.

Focus on Children and Families in Massachusetts: As noted in Strategic Grant Partners' mission statement, organizations with "game-changing ideas that improve the lives of children and families in Massachusetts" align with the foundation's core priorities.

Personal Connections: The foundation's support for institutions where family members have direct involvement (Holy Cross trustee service, parents of students) indicates that personal relationships and direct knowledge of an organization's impact matter significantly.

Global Health and Education: For international work, the foundation prefers supporting U.S.-based organizations with proven programs providing health and education services abroad, particularly for women and girls.

Concentrated Impact Over Broad Distribution: The foundation "does not spread its money widely," preferring to make substantial grants ($50,000+) to a limited number of organizations rather than small grants to many recipients.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Do not submit unsolicited proposals - The foundation has explicitly stated it does not accept them and only funds pre-selected organizations
  • Network strategically - Build relationships through Strategic Grant Partners, Campaign for Catholic Schools, or Boston's philanthropic community to potentially come onto the foundation's radar
  • Leverage College of the Holy Cross connections - Organizations with ties to Holy Cross or serving its students may have an advantage given the family's strong connection
  • Focus on substantial, game-changing initiatives - The foundation prefers larger grants ($50,000+) for significant impact rather than small grants spread widely
  • Demonstrate proven track record - Major grantees are established institutions with strong reputations; new or unproven organizations are unlikely to receive support
  • Align with Catholic education and values - A significant portion of funding supports Catholic educational institutions
  • Serve children and families in Massachusetts - Local impact in the Boston area is a priority, particularly for programs benefiting young people

References

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