The Jaket Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $12,384,798 (2023)
• Total Assets: $129.7M (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (invitation only)
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $2,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Boston, MA (with emphasis on Boston city limits and Concord)

Contact Details

Address: Co HCM, 75 Federal Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02110-0000

Note: The Jaket Foundation does not maintain a public website, email, or phone contact for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Jaket Foundation, established in 1998 and formerly known as the Gross Family Foundation, is the private foundation of Phillip Gross, co-founder of Adage Capital Management, LP, and his wife Elizabeth. With assets exceeding $129 million and annual grantmaking of over $12 million, the foundation focuses on youth services, education, and athletics in the Boston area. The foundation has historically concentrated its giving within Boston city limits, with a particular emphasis on outdoor youth programming, water and snow sports, and educational institutions. The Grosses are also among the founding members of Strategic Grant Partners, a consortium of family foundations working to improve the lives of children and families in Massachusetts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation distributes grants ranging from $2,500 to $2,000,000, with 29 awards made in 2023. Recent major grants include:

• $2,000,000 to Harvard University
• $1,000,000 to Fenn Schools
• $400,000 to Tufts University
• $5,000 to $250,000 (annual recurring grants) to Youth Enrichment Services

Priority Areas

Youth Services: Organisations providing outdoor experiences, leadership opportunities, and athletic programming for disadvantaged youth in Boston. Youth Enrichment Services (YES), where Phillip Gross has served on the board, is a particularly strong example of the type of organisation the foundation supports.

Education: Higher education institutions, particularly those with connections to the Gross family, including universities and independent schools. Recent giving includes support for programmes accelerating student pathways into financial services.

Athletics: Water and snow sports programmes, particularly those engaging urban youth in outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and track.

Cancer Research: Support for medical research initiatives.

Boston Community Organisations: The foundation maintains strong ties to Boston-based nonprofits including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, and other youth-focused organisations.

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations outside the Boston area (with rare exceptions for alumni connections to Wisconsin)
• Individual grant requests
• Organisations not previously known to the foundation's trustees

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Phillip T. Gross - Co-founder of Adage Capital Management, LP; passionate about skiing and youth services organisations in Boston
• Elizabeth Cochary Gross - Co-trustee
• Charles E. Clapp III - Trustee
• Thomas V. Quirk - Vice President and CIO of Howard Capital Private Investment Advisors; Trustee

No compensation is reported for trustees. The Grosses' philanthropic philosophy emphasises partnering with "outstanding leaders with game-changing ideas that improve the lives of children and families in Massachusetts," as evidenced by their founding role in Strategic Grant Partners.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Grants are made at the discretion of trustees to organisations with which they have pre-existing relationships or knowledge.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on documented patterns in the foundation's giving:

• Board Service Connections: Phillip Gross has served on the board of Youth Enrichment Services, and this organisation receives substantial annual support ($5,000-$250,000 range). Board connections appear to be significant.

• Strategic Grant Partners Network: As founding members of Strategic Grant Partners (a collaborative philanthropy for Massachusetts children and families), the Grosses are connected to other major donors in this network including Seth and Beth Klarman, Richard and Michelle Atchinson, Jonathon and Joanna Jacobson, and Niraj and Jill Shah. Organisations funded through Strategic Grant Partners may gain visibility.

• Focus on Boston City Limits: The foundation "sticks almost exclusively to non-profits within the Boston city limits." According to Inside Philanthropy, "an athletic programme for disadvantaged youth in the city has the best chance of getting noticed."

• Connection to Alma Maters: The couple supports their alma maters (University of Wisconsin connections noted), suggesting educational institutions with which they have personal connections may receive consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process with set timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation made 29 grants in 2023 from preselected organisations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterise organisations that have received funding:

Geographic Specificity: The foundation maintains an extremely tight geographic focus. As noted in research, "The Jacket Foundation sticks almost exclusively to non-profits within the Boston city limits." Organisations outside this area have minimal chance of support unless they have direct personal connections to the trustees.

Youth-Centred Athletics: Organisations providing outdoor athletic experiences for disadvantaged Boston youth align strongly with the foundation's documented interests. Youth Enrichment Services (YES) exemplifies this model - engaging urban kids in outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, and track.

Personal Connections: Board service, alumni relationships, and existing personal connections to the Gross family appear essential. Phillip Gross's board service at Youth Enrichment Services correlates with that organisation receiving multiple substantial grants annually.

Strategic Impact: As founding members of Strategic Grant Partners focused on "game-changing ideas that improve the lives of children and families in Massachusetts," the Grosses appear drawn to innovative programmes with potential for significant community impact rather than general operating support.

Established Track Record: With grants ranging from $2,500 to $2,000,000, the foundation supports organisations across different stages, but all appear to be established entities with proven programmes rather than startup initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation exclusively supports preselected organisations and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant writing to this funder is not possible.

• Hyper-Local Focus: Boston city limits define the giving geography almost exclusively. Outside organisations should not pursue this funder.

• Youth Athletics Are Central: Outdoor athletic programming for disadvantaged urban youth, particularly water and snow sports, represents the sweet spot of foundation interests.

• Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: Board connections, Strategic Grant Partners network, and personal relationships to the Gross family drive funding decisions.

• Substantial Capacity: With $12+ million in annual giving and assets exceeding $129 million, the foundation has significant resources but directs them through trustee-identified channels.

• Education and Youth Services Integration: The foundation bridges higher education and youth services, as seen in recent major gifts supporting pathways from youth programmes into higher education and careers.

• Multi-Year Support Pattern: Organisations like Youth Enrichment Services receive grants annually in the $5,000-$250,000 range, suggesting the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with core grantees.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Jaket Foundation (EIN 04-6878795), Form 990 filings for 2021-2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46878795 (Accessed January 6, 2026)

2. Inside Philanthropy - "Jacket Foundation" funder profile. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/massachusetts-grants/phillip-and-elizabeth-gross-family-foundation (Accessed January 6, 2026)

3. Inside Philanthropy - "Phillip and Elizabeth Gross" major donors profile. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/phillip-and-elizabeth-gross (Accessed January 6, 2026)

4. Instrumentl - Jaket Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/jaket-foundation (Accessed January 6, 2026)

5. GuideStar Profile - The Jaket Foundation. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-6878795 (Accessed January 6, 2026)

6. Grantmakers.io - The Jaket Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/046878795-the-jaket-foundation/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)

7. Inside Philanthropy - "Strategic Grant Partners" profile. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/massachusetts-grants/strategic-grant-partners (Accessed January 6, 2026)

8. Youth Enrichment Services website. https://yeskids.org/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)