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 Programs

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: Organizations 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 organization 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 programs accelerating student pathways into financial services.

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

Cancer Research: Support for medical research initiatives.

Boston Community Organizations: 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 organizations.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations outside the Boston area (with rare exceptions for alumni connections to Wisconsin)
Individual grant requests
Organizations 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 organizations 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 emphasizes 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 organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made at the discretion of trustees to organizations 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 organization 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. Organizations 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 program 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 organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize organizations 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." Organizations outside this area have minimal chance of support unless they have direct personal connections to the trustees.

Youth-Centered Athletics: Organizations 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 organization 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 programs 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 organizations across different stages, but all appear to be established entities with proven programs rather than startup initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation exclusively supports preselected organizations 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 organizations 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 programs into higher education and careers.
Multi-Year Support Pattern: Organizations like Youth Enrichment Services receive grants annually in the $5,000-$250,000 range, suggesting the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with core grantees.

References

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)
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)
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)
Instrumentl - Jaket Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/jaket-foundation (Accessed January 6, 2026)
GuideStar Profile - The Jaket Foundation. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-6878795 (Accessed January 6, 2026)
Grantmakers.io - The Jaket Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/046878795-the-jaket-foundation/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)
Inside Philanthropy - "Strategic Grant Partners" profile. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/massachusetts-grants/strategic-grant-partners (Accessed January 6, 2026)
Youth Enrichment Services website. https://yeskids.org/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)