Gross Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Gross Family Foundation funds grants almost entirely in the Boston area for youth services, education, athletics, and cancer research.

FUNDING AREAS: Youth services, education, athletics for water and snow sports, cancer research

IP TAKE: Although unsolicited proposals are not encouraged, an athletic program for disadvantaged youth in the city has the best chance of getting noticed.

PROFILE: Established in 1998, the Gross Family Foundation is the foundation of Phillip Gross, co-founder of Adage Capital Management, LP. Phillip Gross is an investment banker with a passion for skiing and helping out youth services organizations in Boston. Before Phillip Gross started a hedge fund, he was a healthcare analyst at Harvard Management Company. The foundation does not have a website, which restricts information about its grantmaking strategies and interests; however, tax filings show an interest in youth services, education, athletics for water and snow sports, and cancer research.

Despite his experience in healthcare, few health-related grants are awarded each year. Instead, Gross Family grants revolve around youth services organizations and educational facilities. Gross supports the occasional HIV/AIDS cause as well. Although Gross is a University of Wisconsin graduate, he rarely sends funds back to his home state or to his alma mater. Gross has traditionally been most interested in youth services organizations, including local youth groups Youth Enrichment Services and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. Gross usually awards several grants each year to Boston-based Youth Enrichment Services in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. 

Overall, the foundation's awards generally range from $2,500 to $900,000 each. Past grants include $1 million to the Fenn Schools, $400,000 to Tufts University, $375,000 to Strategic Grant Partners. At the end of a past year, total giving was over $4.8 million. The Gross Family Foundation sticks almost exclusively to non-profits within the Boston city limits.

The Gross Foundation does not have a website, publicize its grant application guidelines, or appear to accept unsolicited grant applications.. Phillip and his wife, Elizabeth, run the foundation along with Thomas V. Quirk, the Vice President and CIO of Howard Capital Private Investment Advisors. The foundation phone number is 617-357-9110.

PEOPLE:

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