Germeshausen Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Germeshausen Foundation supports arts and culture grants in Boston, as well as ethics and the environment, religion and ecology, youth and higher education, advocacy through film and video productions, and alternative and conservation medicine.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, ethics and the environment, ecology, youth and higher education, advocacy through film and video productions
IP TAKE: This is a great funder to know for small local groups with an entrepreneurial spirit. There are some rare opportunities here for imaginative media projects on current issues and projects that draw connections between environmental and ecological values. Due to funding several multi-year awards, it no longer accepts LOIs, but check back periodically to see if this has changed.
PROFILE: Established in 1967, the The Germeshausen Foundation (GF) is a private family funder that often supports emerging leaders and new ideas. Kenneth and Pauline Germeshausen established the foundation to channel their philanthropic giving. Kenneth was a scientist, inventor and entrepreneur in the electronics and engineering industries. Grantmaking interests include arts and culture, ethics and the environment, ecology, youth and higher education, and advocacy through film and video productions.
Major arts and cultural institutions in Boston were the primary focus of the foundation in its early years. However, under its current leadership, the foundation supports small organization that are keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive. A big part of GF grantmaking is about serving young people through education, leadership development, and mentoring. Past support has gone to Peace First, the Boston Children’s Museum, Echoing Green, and various documentary and film productions.
GF grants vary in size, and grantseekers can find a list of major grants awarded on the foundation’s website in the categories of innovative organizations, children’s programming in arts and culture, development of future leaders, national media, and documentaries. Newer fields of interest at the foundation include alternative medicine, religion and ecology, spirituality, and conservation medicine. Boston was very important to the founders and remains a center of grantmaking today, especially toward children’s programming within arts and cultural institutions.
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry from organizations that have new ideas within the trustees’ fields of interest. Check the Letters of Inquiry Submission page for the most up-to-date information on open LOI submission periods. The trustees meet throughout the year to review letters of inquiry and decide on new grantees to support. The best way to get in touch with the foundation is by email at trustee@germeshausen.org.
PEOPLE:
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