Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc
The Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 2014, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple states and communities.
Key facts about Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 46-2134297
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,397,175
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $116,431
- Median grant
- $110,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc's 12 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (86%) and Nebraska (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants), Cambridge, MA (3 grants) and Framingham, MA (2 grants). 75% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $125K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $125K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+6.5% YoY
Grant Count
12
-14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$116K
+24.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focuses include:
- Education and higher education grants
- Science and STEM education
- Scholarships and student support initiatives
- Information technology and graphic design scholarships
- General support for educational institutions
- Human services
- Expansion of learning initiatives for student support
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$379
Average Grant
$379
Ready to take the next step with Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations and communities across multiple states, with primary focus areas including:
- Massachusetts (including Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Bedford, Framingham, and Wayland)
- Texas (including Conroe)
- Nebraska
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 12 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $21,973,684
- Total revenue: $1,737,131
- Total expenses: $1,687,407
- Total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Bunker Hill Community College Foundaiton ($250,000), Cambridge Housing Foundation ($245,000), Northeastern University ($180,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDAITON Boston, MA | EXPANSION OF THE LEARN & | $250,000 |
| CAMBRIDGE HOUSING FOUNDATION Cambridge, MA | GENERAL | $245,000 |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Boston, MA | GENERAL | $180,000 |
| TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDA Reno, NE | GENERAL | $165,000 |
| MASSBAY FOUNDATION Framingham, MA | INFORMATION TECHONOLOGY | $150,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF METROWEST Framingham, MA | GENERAL | $125,000 |
| HACK DIVERSITY INC Boston, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $95,000 |
| CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER Cambridge, MA | GENERAL | $62,175 |
| ALRAY TAYLOR SECONDCHANCE Boston, MA | GENERAL | $60,000 |
| CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Cambridge, MA | GENERAL | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jill Jacobs – President, Secretary, and Director
- Carl Whittaker – Vice President, Treasurer, and Director
- Deborah S. Kay – Director
All directors serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jill Jacobs | Pres, Sec & Dir. | 2 | — |
| Carl Whittaker | VP, Treas. & Dir. | 2 | — |
| Deborah S Kay | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation received recognition from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) in October 2022, selected as a recipient of NACCE's Lifetime Achievement Award alongside the Fish Family Foundation. The award recognized the foundation's commitment to promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges.
Scholarships from Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation - NewsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding focuses include: • Education and higher education grants • Science and STEM education • Scholarships and student support initiatives • Information technology and graphic design scholarships • General support for educational institutions • Human services • Expansion of learning initiatives for student support
How do I apply for a grant from Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,397,175 (2024) • Typical award range: $15,000–$300,000 • Average grant size: $379 • Total grants awarded: 14 grants (2024) • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% **Recent Grants (2024):** • Northeastern University: $180,000 (general support) • Jewish Family Service of Metrowest: $125,000 (general support) • Hack Diversity: $95,000 (general support) The foundation is open to new applicants.
Where does Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports organizations and communities across multiple states, with primary focus areas including: • Massachusetts (including Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Bedford, Framingham, and Wayland) • Texas (including Conroe) • Nebraska • New York
What size grants does Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc awarded 12 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $116K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc's EIN?
Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2134297. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.