Jack Satter Foundation Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,425,808 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts and Palm Beach, Florida

Contact Details

Foundation Administration: Hemenway & Barnes LLP 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109

Philanthropic Advisor: Jessica Coakley Phone: (617) 557-9774 Email: jcoakley@hembar.com

Note: The Foundation accepts applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The Jack Satter Foundation is a private foundation established by Boston entrepreneur and philanthropist Jack Satter during his lifetime. Following Satter's death in 2014 at age 92, the foundation continues his legacy of philanthropy with assets of approximately $42.9 million. Jack Satter was a World War II veteran and successful businessman who owned Colonial Provision Company (which supplied "Fenway Franks" to Boston Red Sox and "Yankee Franks" to Yankee Stadium) and served as a limited partner of the Yankees for nearly three decades. The foundation distributed $6.4 million in grants in 2023, making 59 awards to organizations primarily in Massachusetts and Palm Beach, Florida. The foundation operates through Hemenway & Barnes LLP, a Boston law firm providing grants management and philanthropic advisory services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation makes single and multi-year grants ranging from $25,000 to $1 million, depending on the program's size, duration, and complexity. Grant sizes are tailored to each project's needs.

Focus Areas:

• Health Care: Including cancer support, Alzheimer's disease programs, and cardiac care
• Mental Health: Programs for young people with mental health issues and substance use disorders
• Education: Educational programs serving target populations
• Disability Inclusion: Services for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities

Priority Areas

• Elderly populations, particularly Jewish seniors
• Young people with physical and/or developmental disabilities
• Young people with mental health issues and/or substance use disorders
• Veterans
• Individuals and families facing cancer and Alzheimer's disease
• Organizations with psychosocial and intellectual disability programs
• In-patient medical care and hospital care programs

What They Don't Fund

• Political organizations or campaigns
• Events (galas, fundraising events, etc.)
• Unrestricted endowments
• Individual grants (only organizational grants)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Samuel Levy
• Sylvia Levy
• Eric M. Wolf
• Mary Lou Cocci

Foundation Management: The foundation has engaged Hemenway & Barnes LLP to provide grants management and administration. Jessica Coakley serves as the Philanthropic Advisor handling grant inquiries and coordination.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jack Satter Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, letters of inquiry, or proposals.

Invitation Process:

1. Trustees and advisors conduct independent research on nonprofit organizations working in the Foundation's fields of interest
2. The Foundation invites select organizations to submit a brief letter of intent (LOI)
3. Trustees review the LOI and decide whether to invite a full proposal
4. Trustees may schedule a site visit with potential grantees

What the Foundation Looks For (When Considering Invitations)

The foundation seeks organizations with:

• Mission alignment with the Foundation's funding priorities
• Stable governance structures
• Strong accountability practices
• Sound financial foundation

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Organizations invited to apply will receive guidance on the review process timeline.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. In 2023, the foundation made 59 grants from among organizations considered for funding.

Application Success Factors

Since the Jack Satter Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations cannot directly apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations position themselves to be noticed:

Key Alignment Factors:

• Organizations must serve populations in Massachusetts or Palm Beach, Florida
• Strong preference for organizations serving the foundation's core populations: elderly (especially Jewish seniors), young people with disabilities, veterans, and those facing cancer or Alzheimer's
• Programs should focus on health care, mental health, education, or disability inclusion
• Multi-year programs addressing significant needs may receive larger grants

Organizational Characteristics: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations with aligned missions, stable governance, accountability, and strong financial foundations. This suggests they value:

• Fiscal responsibility and financial transparency
• Clear governance structures and board oversight
• Demonstrated outcomes and accountability measures
• Sustainable operational models

Notable Recent Grants: The foundation awarded $1 million to The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham and Women's Hospital to permanently endow one of the center's annual Stepping Strong Innovator Awards, demonstrating their willingness to make transformational gifts to create lasting impact in their priority areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Trustees proactively identify and invite organizations to apply.
• Geographic restriction: Focus exclusively on Massachusetts and Palm Beach, Florida; organizations outside these areas are not considered.
• Significant grant range: With grants from $25,000 to $1 million, the foundation can support both smaller programs and major initiatives.
• Multi-year funding available: The foundation makes both single and multi-year grants, suggesting openness to sustained partnerships.
• Strong organizational health required: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations with stable governance, accountability, and sound finances.
• Honor the founder's legacy: The foundation continues Jack Satter's personal philanthropic interests, particularly supporting Jewish seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities—understanding this legacy may be important.
• Professional administration: With Hemenway & Barnes LLP managing grants, expect a professional, structured process once invited to apply.

References

• Hemenway & Barnes LLP - Jack Satter Foundation page: https://www.hembar.com/jack-satter-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Jack Satter Foundation Tr (EIN 65-6316190): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/656316190 (Accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - The Jack Satter Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/jack-satter-foundation-tr (Accessed January 2026)
• Foundation Directory Online (Candid) - Jack Satter Foundation Trust: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=SATT008 (Accessed January 2026)
• Wikipedia - Jack Satter biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Satter (Accessed January 2026)
• Brigham and Women's Hospital - Jack Satter Foundation Endows Stepping Strong Innovator Awards: https://give.brighamandwomens.org/satter-foundation-endows-innovator-awards/ (Accessed January 2026)