Highland Street Foundation

What Highland Street Foundation does

Highland Street Foundation (HSF) is a private nonprofit foundation established in 1989 by David J. McGrath, Jr., his wife JoAnn McGrath, and their five children, headquartered at Three Newton Executive Park in Newton, Massachusetts. Following David McGrath's death in 1995, the sale of his temporary-staffing company TAD Resources International to Adecco provided the majority of the Foundation's current endowment. HSF addresses the needs of children and families in Massachusetts and California through two parallel mechanisms: relationship-based grantmaking to nonprofit organizations across education, housing, mentorship, healthcare, environment, and the arts, and direct community programs operated by the Foundation itself, including Free Fun Fridays, the TADpole 10 Playground and Summer Series, Winter Camp, Spring Week, August Adventures, and Sports Partnerships (Highland Hat Tricks, Highland Headers, Highland Hitters, Highland Hoops). Signature initiatives include the Honoring Heroes veterans program, the JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Initiative, Community Impact Consultants, Highland Holidays, Let's Get Rolling, the Light of Dawnn Awards, and the HSF Ambassadors of Mentoring AmeriCorps program.

The Foundation does not sell products or services and operates on a philanthropic endowment model rather than a commercial revenue model. Its "go-to-market" is a relationship-based grant process combined with direct community programming that engages Massachusetts cultural institutions (125+ partners in Free Fun Fridays), major Boston sports franchises, the City of Boston, and a horizontal network of anchor nonprofits such as the YMCA of Greater Boston, Trust for Public Land, MENTOR, Nativity Schools, Home Funders, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Social Innovation Forum. Since inception, HSF has contributed more than $260 million to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and reached measurable scale: over 1.5 million participants in Free Fun Fridays (2009-2019), 8,000+ children taught to swim through SwimSafe, and 13 properties protected via the Trust for Public Land partnership. The Foundation is governed by McGrath-family trustees (David J. McGrath Jr. and Sean McGrath continue as trustees) and managed by a small professional team led by Executive Director Blake Jordan and CFO Gail Franck.

Name

Highland Street Foundation

Legal name

The Highland Street Foundation

Website

https://highlandstreet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Highland Street Foundation is a private family foundation that, since 1989, has provided more than $260 million in grants and direct community programs addressing education, housing, mentorship, healthcare, environment, and the arts for children and families in Massachusetts and California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

Keywords

• Philanthropic foundation
• Nonprofit grant making
• Community enrichment programs
• Family foundation
• Charitable giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Newton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment: The Highland Street Foundation operates as a philanthropic endowment funded by the sale of TAD Resources International to Adecco. The foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations and operates direct community programs.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Highland Street Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that distributes grants to nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts (with limited California funding) and operates direct community programs providing free access to cultural, educational, and recreational experiences for children and families. Its core offering is relationship-based grant-making across education, housing, mentorship, healthcare, environment, and the arts, complemented by flagship programs such as Free Fun Fridays, TADpole 10, Winter Camp, Spring Week, August Adventures, and Sports Partnerships.

Product overview

Highland Street Foundation is a charitable foundation offering a portfolio of community programs and grant-making services. The organization operates primarily as a philanthropic entity rather than a technology product company. Its programs include seasonal free community events (Free Fun Fridays, TADpole 10 Summer Series, Winter Camp, Spring Week, August Adventures), signature initiatives (Sports Partnerships, Veterans Support, JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment, Community Impact Consultants, Highland Holidays, Light of Dawnn Awards, Let's Get Rolling, Nonprofit Seminars), and a grant making program. The Foundation does not offer a technology platform or SaaS product but rather delivers community-focused programming and charitable giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grant Making Program Philanthropic grant program funding nonprofit organizations in education, youth programming and mentoring, housing and homelessness prevention, environment, healthcare, and the arts in Massachusetts and California. Grants are awarded through a relationship-based process rather than open applications.
• Free Fun Fridays Free admission program providing free access to museums, zoos, and cultural attractions across Massachusetts during summer months. Since 2009, more than 125 cultural institutions have participated and 1,548,555+ people have participated through 2019.
• TADpole 10 Summer Series Ten-week summer program hosting over 500 young children at the TADpole Playground with ReadBoston Storymobile, educational programming, and play sessions.
• Winter Camp Free activities for children and families during February school vacation including museum visits and ice skating across Massachusetts.
• Spring Week Free activities for families during April school vacation week spanning from Cape Cod to Western Massachusetts.
• August Adventures Month-long program offering free daily admission to arts and culture sites across Massachusetts during August.
• Sports Partnerships Ticket and experience programs including Highland Hat Tricks (Boston Bruins/Firebirds), Highland Headers (New England Revolution), Highland Hitters (Boston Red Sox/WooSox), and Highland Hoops (Boston Celtics) providing nonprofit tickets for youth, families, seniors, and veterans to attend games.
• Honoring Heroes (Veterans Support) Annual initiative supporting veterans and military families through job placement, housing, legal services, emergency aid, and community events.
• JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Annual initiative supporting organizations that help women achieve and sustain economic independence, announced around Mother's Day.
• Community Impact Consultants Program providing professional consultants to nonprofits for six-month periods to address specific organizational needs.
• Highland Holidays Holiday season program providing toys, books, games, clothing, winter coats, and other items to nonprofit partners serving families in need.
• Let's Get Rolling Bike distribution and instruction program in partnership with City of Boston and Bikes Not Bombs providing bikes and lessons to children.
• Nonprofit Seminars Networking and educational seminar series for nonprofit organizations featuring industry experts and policymakers.
• HSF Ambassadors of Mentoring AmeriCorps program placing ambassadors at mentoring programs and youth-serving organizations statewide to build capacity in program development, mentor training, and recruitment, in partnership with MENTOR and Mass Mentoring Partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $260 million contributed to nonprofit organizations since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trust for Public LandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Since 2002, the partnership has provided temporary loans to prevent development of vital lands while communities raise funds to protect land permanently. The collaboration has resulted in protection of 13 different properties throughout New England.
• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational champion for expanding quality youth mentoring relationships. The foundation supports through HSF Ambassadors of Mentoring program in partnership with Mass Mentoring Partnership, placing AmeriCorps members at mentoring programs statewide.
• YMCA of Greater BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides holistic community support. Since 2023, HSF has supported the SwimSafe program providing swim lessons to over 8,000 kids. YMCA delivers over $5 million annually in free or subsidized programs.
• Boston Red SoxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership from 2015-2023 for Out of the Park watch parties recreating Jersey Street and Fenway Park at Boston Common. HSF also supported renovation of 10 baseball and softball fields around Boston.
• City of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for community programs including Out of the Park events, Let's Get Rolling bike initiative with Mayor Michelle Wu's Office of Early Childhood, and various youth programming.
• Bikes Not BombsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Let's Get Rolling bike instruction program, providing bikes and instruction to children in Boston through partnership with City of Boston, Neighborhood Villages, BCYF, and YMCA.
• Nativity SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner with several Nativity Schools including Bellesini Academy (Lawrence), Nativity Preparatory School of New Bedford, and Nativity School of Worcester. These small, Jesuit-values schools serve economically disparate urban communities.
• Museum of Fine Arts, BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership. In 2011, HSF sponsored the acclaimed Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass exhibition featuring Dale Chihuly's work. The 42-foot Lime Green Icicle Tower was purchased permanently for the museum's courtyard.
• Boston BruinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Sports Partnerships (Highland Hat Tricks), provides nonprofit tickets for youth, families, seniors, and veterans to attend games.
• Boston CelticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Sports Partnerships (Highland Hoops), provides nonprofit tickets for youth, families, seniors, and veterans to attend games.
• New England RevolutionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Sports Partnerships (Highland Headers), provides nonprofit tickets for youth, families, seniors, and veterans to attend games.
• Boston Red Sox and Woo SoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Sports Partnerships (Highland Hitters), provides nonprofit tickets for youth, families, seniors, and veterans to attend games.
• Coachella Valley FirebirdsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Sports Partnerships (Highland Hat Tricks), provides nonprofit tickets for youth, families, seniors, and veterans to attend games.
• Massachusetts Cultural InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 125 museums and attractions participate in Free Fun Fridays, open free to the public for 10 Fridays between June and August annually since 2009.
• Home Funders CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner since 2003, developed innovative product pooling private dollars into low-interest loans and grants to build highly affordable housing. Developers commit to set aside at least 20% of units for extremely low income families.
• ReadBostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReadBoston Storymobile attends TADpole 10 program weekly to bring a storyteller and distribute books to participants at the Boston Common playground.
• PlayworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlayworks team provides fun, inclusive play sessions at TADpole 10 program on Boston Common.
• Social Innovation ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreates positive social change in greater Boston by engaging leaders, strengthening organizations, and building networks through funder engagement, nonprofit support, and community connections.
• Catholic Charities of BostonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Initiative, helping women achieve economic independence.
• Center for Women & EnterpriseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Initiative, helping women achieve economic independence.
• Dress for Success BostonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Initiative, helping women achieve economic independence.
• College of the Desert (CA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Initiative, helping women achieve economic independence.
• Martha's Village and Kitchen (CA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in JoAnn McGrath Women's Empowerment Initiative, helping women achieve economic independence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust: Boston-based private foundation supporting education, health, and environment in New England; comparable to HSF in mission focus and regional concentration.
• Barr Foundation: Boston-based private foundation focused on arts, climate, and education; comparable to HSF as a Massachusetts-based private family foundation with comparable grantmaking scale and direct program involvement.
• Boston Foundation: Community foundation serving Greater Boston with comparable focus on education, housing, arts, and community vitality; HSF is a close comparator in Massachusetts community philanthropy.
• Cummings Foundation: Massachusetts-based private foundation supporting education, healthcare, and social services; comparable as a regional private foundation with multi-cause giving and direct community programs.
• Yawkey Foundation: Boston-area private foundation focused on education, health, and youth development; closely comparable as a Massachusetts family foundation with similar cause areas and geographic focus.
• Klarman Family Foundation: Boston-based private family foundation funding education, poverty alleviation, and community vitality; closely comparable as a Massachusetts private family foundation with multi-cause grantmaking.
• Amelia Peabody Foundation: Massachusetts-based private foundation supporting arts, education, and conservation; comparable as a long-standing New England private foundation with multi-cause grantmaking.

Broad incumbents

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: One of the largest U.S. health-focused private foundations; comparable in structure as a private grantmaking foundation but with much larger scale and a single-cause focus.
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation: Large global private foundation with broader geographic reach and a similarly diversified multi-cause mandate; comparable as a major private grantmaking foundation but operates at significantly larger scale.

Others

• YMCA of Greater Boston: Major grantee partner of HSF delivering community programs; included as an ecosystem peer representing a downstream nonprofit beneficiary of HSF's grantmaking model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/highlandstreet
• Facebookfacebook.com/highlandstreet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highland-street-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Highland Street Foundation