OVERVIEW: The Gross Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish organizations, causes in the arts, human services, and education.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which restricts transparency about its grantmaking priorities and activities. It’s not an accessible or approachable funder, but this is an important funder of Jewish Causes in Florida, among other giving interests. It predominately gives in the Palm Beach County area.
PROFILE: Established in 1982, the Gross Foundation was launched by insurance veteran Paul Gross and his wife Gayle. Paul Gross founded NIA Group, which grew to become one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the Northeast. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Gross Foundation primarily funds Jewish organizations, causes in the arts, human services and education.
Grants for Jewish Causes
The Gross Foundation’s grantmaking to Jewish causes remains broad. Paul Gross once chaired the board of Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches, which the family steadily supports. Mandel JCC is a partner agency of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. The family created the Gross Family Center for the Study of Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. The Grosses also have a strong relationship with Ramapo College, where they made a $250,000 challenge grant to the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, renaming it in their honor.
Grants for the Arts, Education and Community Development
This family funder has steadily backed Hillsdale Free Library in New Jersey, as well. Arts grantees include the Norton Museum of Art and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $100 to $110,000. In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $525,000. Past grantees include Norton Museum of Art, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.
The foundation accepts letters. Applicants should submit a description of the organization and a detailed description of the project and amount of funding requested. There are no deadlines listed.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
Paul L. Gross
1600 Mayacoo Lakes Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 242-8844
