OVERVIEW: The Trefler Foundation supports Greater Boston nonprofits working in economic development, educational opportunity, and healthcare access.
IP TAKE: Trefler has backed Boston’s public schools for three decades and shows no signs of slowing down. This is a transparent funder that maintains a running list of funded projects and programs, organized by focus area. Unfortunately, it does not accept unsolicited proposals; however, it does encourage grantseekers with “dynamically different projects” to reach out and introduce themselves. Contact information is provided below.
PROFILE: Established in 1996, the Trefler Foundation is a private family foundation that concentrates a majority of its support in the Boston area. Pam and Alan Trefler started the foundation through a “deep, long-term engagement at Dorchester High School, a district high school in the Boston Public School system that was facing grave academic and administrative challenges.” Dorchester Academy is what the post-restructuring entity is called, and a place where the couple focuses on food and nutrition support. Alan Trefler founded Pegasystems and built the company into a $600 million provider of strategic applications with 3,000+ employees in 30 global offices. There are three priority areas at the Trefler Foundation: Expanding Economic Security, Enhancing Educational Opportunity, and Equalizing Healthcare Access.
Grants for K-12 Education
Trefler’s Enhancing Educational Opportunity program is centered on local, public education, and it is the foundation’s largest funding area with almost 64% of all grants going to education programs.
- The foundation has played a big role in restructuring Boston district high schools, most notably Dorchester High School.
- In the past, most education funding backed policy strategies to transform teacher education.
- Trefler has been part of a group of Massachusetts funders dedicated to teacher preparation.
- The foundation has taken an interest in youth employment as wel, particularly in science and technology.
- Past Trefler education awards have funded Year Up, Boston Partners in Education, Summer Search, East Boston High School, and Fenway High School.
Grants for Public Health and Access
The funder’s Equalizing Healthcare Access program focuses on urban communities and supports programs that reduce racial and cultural disparities in access to mental health services, nutritional food, physical recreation activities, and cancer screenings and treatment, as well as enhance the patient care experience, and increase capacity at community healthcare organizations.
- Healthcare is Trefler’s second largest funding area and it directed nearly 25% of total grants toward health institutions in a recent year.
- Past grantees include The Dimock Center, Ellie Fund, Fenway Community Health Center, and Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
Grants for Economic Development
The Expanding Economic Security program works to remove systemic barriers to quality jobs.
- It supports projects that connect people to jobs, including in STEM-related fields, provide career coaching and guidance, and increase access to skills training.
- Historically, this is Trefler’s smallest giving area and it has received less than 10% of grants in recent years.
- Grantees include MSPCA Angell, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Soles4Souls, and Boys and Girls Club of Boston’s Ready to Work initiative.
Important Grant Details
Foundation grants vary in size by program area, although $10,000 is the most common amount. The foundation awarded over $1 million in grants in a recent year and held more than $5 million in assets.
- Foundation giving is largely focused on the Boston area.
- Some targeted support is provided nationally and internationally, too.
- View past grants by theme on the foundation website.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. However, it is entrenched in the Boston community and always keeping an eye out for new innovators.
- Direct general questions to the foundation at 617-454-1135 or via email at info@treflerfoundation.org.
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