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The Jobson Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.0M
Grant Range
Up to $5.0M00
00

The Jobson Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 82-6789996
  • Annual Giving: $2,996,573 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $249,714
  • Number of Grants: 12 (2023)
  • Assets: $29,178,210
  • Geographic Focus: National (California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and beyond)
  • Application Process: Invitation-only (does not accept unsolicited proposals)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.jobsonfamilyfoundation.org/

Location: Wellesley, MA

Note: The foundation does not currently accept unsolicited grant proposals.

Overview

The Jobson Family Foundation was established in 2018 as a private family foundation dedicated to supporting children's rights to free play, independent activity, and connection to the natural environment. Led by trustees Charles E. Jobson and Donna M. Farrell (both uncompensated), the foundation has grown to manage nearly $30 million in assets. The foundation takes a highly involved, hands-on approach to philanthropy, particularly through major signature projects like the $5+ million Ilse and Charles Jobson Natural Play Park in Normal, Illinois. Charlie Jobson's personal connection to childhood play and his study of Scandinavian natural play philosophies drive the foundation's strategic approach. The foundation also supports educational initiatives, land conservation, and programs serving economically disadvantaged youth, consistently allocating 90-95% of its annual expenses to charitable disbursements.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no formal grant programs or application cycles. Grant-making appears to be driven by the trustees' strategic interests and personal connections to organizations and causes.

Grant Size Range: While the average grant is approximately $250,000, the foundation has demonstrated capacity for major multi-million dollar commitments, as evidenced by the $5+ million Ilse and Charles Jobson Natural Play Park project.

Recent Grant Activity:

  • 2023: $2,996,573 (12 grants)
  • 2022: $4,624,096 (19 grants)
  • 2021: $2,161,753 (8 grants)
  • 2020: $1,534,350 (3 grants)

Priority Areas

Natural Play Spaces and Environmental Education (Primary Focus)

  • Creation and maintenance of natural playgrounds using local materials
  • Parks and nature reserves that encourage unstructured, open-ended play
  • Educational programs connecting children to nature
  • Nature workshops integrated with schools
  • Sensory experiences and inclusive play areas

Educational Institutions

  • Endowed chairs at colleges and secondary schools
  • Science and humanities programs
  • Creative entrepreneurship initiatives
  • Scholarships for economically disadvantaged students
  • Educational facilities and centers

Land Conservation

  • Preservation of natural ecosystems
  • Environmental stewardship programs

International Development

  • Educational programs and scholarships for young women
  • Support for migrant schools and vocational training (Southeast Asia and West Africa)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focused mission suggests they likely do not fund:

  • Projects unrelated to children, education, or environmental conservation
  • Organizations outside their strategic geographic areas of interest
  • General operating support for organizations they haven't identified
  • Traditional playground equipment or synthetic play spaces
  • Programs that don't align with natural play or environmental education philosophies

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Charles E. Jobson (Founder and Trustee)

  • Former student at Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal, Illinois (1960s)
  • Traveled extensively in Scandinavian countries, becoming fascinated by Nordic approaches to children's play and nature connection
  • Personally selects design partners and leads major projects
  • Handpicked renowned Danish landscape architect Helle Nebelong in 2019 to design the flagship Natural Play Park
  • Demonstrates hands-on involvement in foundation initiatives

Donna M. Farrell (Trustee)

  • Co-trustee and spouse of Charles E. Jobson
  • Also serves as trustee of the Charles E. Jobson Irrevocable Trust

Both trustees serve without compensation, indicating a purely philanthropic commitment to the foundation's mission.

Design Philosophy

The foundation's approach is heavily influenced by Charlie Jobson's study of Danish designer Helle Nebelong's work. Nebelong's philosophy emphasizes:

  • Natural over synthetic: Rejecting "pancake flat playgrounds with rubber surfacing in bright colors" and catalog equipment
  • Open-ended play: Designing spaces that allow children to "develop their own games and make their own personal mark"
  • Universal design: Creating environments usable equally by all children, regardless of ability
  • Local materials: Prioritizing recycling and integration of historic elements
  • Scaled nature: "They can't go out to real nature, so I try to take nature to their place and scale it down"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jobson Family Foundation does not currently accept unsolicited grant proposals.

The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis. Trustees Charles E. Jobson and Donna M. Farrell identify organizations and projects that align with the foundation's mission through their own research, personal connections, and network within the fields of education, environmental conservation, and child development.

Organizations cannot submit applications on their own initiative. All grant relationships appear to be initiated by the foundation's trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a formal application process or decision cycle. Grant commitments appear to be made based on trustee initiative and interest, with project timelines varying significantly based on scope. The Natural Play Park, for example, was initiated in 2019 and opened in 2023.

Success Rates

Not applicable - as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there are no success rates to report.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only grant-making model.

Application Success Factors

While organizations cannot apply to the foundation, those working in aligned areas might benefit from understanding the foundation's demonstrated priorities and approach:

Mission Alignment is Absolute The foundation's grant-making is highly focused on its core mission: children's connection to nature through free play, environmental education, and support for educational institutions. Projects like the Natural Play Park demonstrate that the foundation seeks transformative, innovative approaches rather than incremental improvements to existing models.

Quality and Innovation Over Scale The foundation invests heavily in fewer, higher-impact projects rather than distributing many small grants. With an average grant of $250,000 and a flagship project exceeding $5 million, they clearly prioritize depth over breadth. Organizations that can demonstrate innovative approaches inspired by international best practices (particularly Scandinavian models) appear to resonate with the foundation's philosophy.

Personal Connection Matters Charlie Jobson's personal history as a former Hoose Elementary student led to a $5+ million donation to that school. The foundation's projects often have personal or geographic connections to the trustees, particularly to the Wellesley, Massachusetts area and to Illinois.

Design Philosophy is Critical For natural play space projects, the foundation values:

  • Natural materials and local elements over synthetic equipment
  • Open-ended play opportunities that allow child agency and creativity
  • Universal design principles ensuring accessibility for all children
  • Integration with environmental education goals
  • Rejection of standardized, catalog-based playground equipment

Long-Term Partnership Model The foundation doesn't appear to make quick, transactional grants. The Natural Play Park project involved years of planning, international travel to study Danish play design, and careful selection of design partners. Organizations should be prepared for deep collaboration if engaged by the foundation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking methods. Organizations seeking support must wait to be identified by the foundation or work to establish authentic relationships within the fields where the foundation is active.
  • Natural Play Philosophy is Central: For organizations working on play spaces, understanding Scandinavian natural play philosophy, particularly the work of Helle Nebelong, is essential. The foundation seeks to replicate and adapt these international models in the U.S.
  • Substantial Grant Capacity: With an average grant of $250,000 and capacity for multi-million dollar commitments, this is a significant funder when they do engage, but they make relatively few grants annually (12 in 2023).
  • Geographic Concentration: While the foundation has supported projects in multiple states, Massachusetts (particularly Wellesley) and Illinois (particularly Normal) appear to be priority geographies, likely due to trustee connections.
  • Trustee-Driven Strategy: With only two trustees who serve without compensation, this is a highly personal family foundation. Decisions appear to be made based on the trustees' research, travel, and personal interests rather than reactive response to proposals.
  • Education and Environment Intersection: The sweet spot for this foundation appears to be projects that combine environmental education with experiential learning for children, particularly through outdoor play and nature connection.
  • Multi-Year Commitment Capacity: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to support major capital projects and endowments, not just annual program support, suggesting they think in long-term impact terms.

References

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