Here's What You Need to Know About the one8 Foundation

Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 5/9/2021.

Formerly known as the the Jacobson Family Trust Foundation, the one8 Foundation is the charitable vehicle of Jonathon Jacobson and his wife Joanna. The foundation does most of its grantmaking in Boston and its surrounding areas. one8 takes a venture approach to its philanthropy and also provides consulting. This is a Boston-area funder that grantseekers should keep in mind for several reasons. For one, the foundation posted assets of over $538 million in a recent year and gave away over $32 million that year. These numbers have been increasingly significantly as the years go by.

As well, Joanna has made an impact on Boston area philanthropy by founding Strategic Grant Partners (SGP), which is also both a pro bono consulting firm and a foundation. SGP has given millions of dollars to grantees working in areas such as education and health in Massachusetts. One supporter of SGP is billionaire couple Seth and Beth Klarman and their Klarman Family Foundation, which is also a robust Boston funder.

Here are a few things to know about one8's Boston area grantmaking:

1. Supporting Youth is a High Priority

one8 has a clear interest in improving youth outcomes. Major grantees in this space include Year Up, and City Year. City Year partners with high-need public schools to provide full-time targeted student interventions. Perhaps the largest money in recent years has gone to Youth Villages, which received a multi-year, $8 million pledge. Youth Villages is a Memphis-headquartered nonprofit with Massachusetts locations which runs a host of programs supporting at-risk youth. Joanna sits on the board of the outfit.

2. The Foundation Supports Education Reform

Joanna sits on the board of Edward Brooke Charter Management, a group of charter schools. The couple has given at least $1 million to Unlocking Potential, now known as the UP Education Network, a network of tuition-free public elementary and middle schools in Massachusetts. Another charter the couple has supported is Boston Bridge. In higher education, Brandeis University has received millions, and more modest sums have gone to the couple's alma mater, Harvard.

3. one8 Supports Jewish Causes

Recent significant sums have gone to outfits like the American Israel Education Foundation, and Brandeis University, which one8 supported for the Jehuda Reinharz Chair.

Health isn't a huge interest of one8, but recent money has gone to Boston health outfits such as Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. As well, a steady stream of money has flowed from the one8 Foundation to SGP.

Related: one8 Foundation: Boston Grants