Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust 
A New England Philanthropy

Jessie B. Cox, who died in 1982, was noted for her philanthropy. She established the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust to continue that tradition following her death.

The Trustees normally make grants within the guidelines and consistent with the policies that follow. Grants are made to such eligible organizations as the Trustees may determine. In order to retain flexibility to respond to special circumstances or changing conditions, the Trustees may modify these guidelines from time to time.

Trustees
 

Jessie B. Hill		Roy A. Hammer, Esq.
Heidi Cox		Timothy F. Fidgeon, Esq.  Hemenway & Barnes

PURPOSE

The Trust makes grants which will address important societal issues in the Trust's fields of interest, and for which adequate funding from other sources cannot be obtained. Through their support, the Trustees also hope to increase significantly the ability of nonprofit organizations in the Trust's fields of interest to carry out their stated missions. The Trust makes annual grants in excess of $3 million, a substantial portion of which may have been committed in previous years. The average annual grant is about $35,000, with grants generally in the range of $25,000 to $75,000. Although the Trustees occasionally award grants outside this range, the Trust ordinarily does not consider grant requests for less than $20,000.

The Trust funds projects in New England in the areas of health, education and the environment. The Trust also makes grants to support the development of philanthropy in New England. The Trustees are interested particularly in projects which primarily benefit underserved populations and disadvantaged communities in New England, as well as projects which focus on prevention rather than remediation. The Trust also is interested in fostering collaborations among nonprofit organizations in communities throughout New England and welcomes collaborative concept papers.

From time to time, the Trustees also will consider operating support to assist applicants to achieve their long-range organizational goals. Such goals might include significant growth in current service or advocacy programs, development of a new field of service, or the adaptation or expansion of current programs to reach a new geographic area or to serve a new client base. Applicants whose mission is allied closely with the Trust's fields of interest will be considered for such support, and preference will be given to organizations with annual budgets under $1 million. Applicants must identify benchmarks against which progress towards identified goals can be measured, and in no case will operating support exceed three years.

The Trustees recognize that to accomplish certain tasks, support over two or more years may be necessary. Multiple year awards will be based on a careful review of performance in meeting measurable objectives, at least annually, including the development of funds from other sources for both the initial period and the long term. Objectives will be primarily defined by the applicant and the Trustees at the time of the initial award. While the Trustees prefer to make multiple year awards which diminish in amount as recipients move towards self-sufficiency, they will be flexible in attempting to structure suitable funding arrangements with each grantee, to ensure the continuation of newly developed projects.

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS

The geographic focus of the Trust is New England. Preference will be given to organizations located in New England for projects which will primarily provide benefits within New England.
 

FIELDS OF INTEREST

Grants are made for the following purposes:

1) Health

To assist in improving the level of health in New England.

• The Trust is particularly interested in supporting primary health care, advocacy projects and research which will have a positive effect on:
• the prevention and treatment of illness and disability, especially among children and youth;
• increased access to appropriate levels of care for New England's underserved populations; and
• delivery of health services to the poor.

2) Education

To enhance educational opportunities and achievement in New England, especially for underserved children and youth.

• The Trust is particularly interested in supporting projects which will have a significant positive effect on:
• the availability of academic resources, both traditional and innovative;
• increased access, incentives and opportunities for educational participation by underserved populations in New England;
• the availability of instruction and training in the visual and performing arts; and
• improved academic performance and achievement.

3) The Environment

To protect and enhance the natural and urban environment, and to conserve New England's natural resources.

• The Trust is interested in supporting environmental projects which will have a positive impact on:
• protection of critical natural resources;
• energy conservation;
• public awareness of the critical environmental issues facing the region; and
• protection of the public's health, especially in low- income or minority communities.

4) Development of Philanthropy

To increase philanthropy in New England.

• The Trust is interested in supporting projects which will:
• encourage the development and expansion of community foundations,
• increase philanthropic resources in underserved areas,
• provide modest support for certain special efforts of philanthropic donors.

EXCLUSIONS

The Cox Trust does not normally provide support for:

• buildings, equipment or land purchases
• endowments, scholarship funds, or fundraising activities
• loans to charitable organizations
• deficits or normal operating budgets or where the Trust may become the organization's predominant source of support
• programs or projects usually supported by the public sector
• any attempt to influence legislation
• requests from individuals
• sectarian religious activity
• organizations or activities outside New England
• recent grantees, or extension of multiple year awards

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants are asked to approach the Trust either through a telephone call to staff of the Donor Services Office at Hemenway & Barnes to discuss the appropriateness of a proposed project, followed by a concept paper, or through initial submission of a concept paper.

Concept papers, signed by the Executive Director or Board President, should be no more than 3 or 4 typed pages in length, and should include a brief background statement about the applicant organization and its purposes, a description of how the proposed project will strengthen the ability of the organization to reach its own goals, an outline of the specific project to be supported, and the total amount desired. Applicants should attach a preliminary budget and evidence of 501(c)(3) status. Full proposals, if not requested following a concept paper, will be treated as concept papers under these guidelines.

Concept papers may be submitted at any time, but must be received by January 15, April 15, July 15 or October 15 to be considered at the next regular meeting of the Trustees. In case of a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. The Trust does not accept facsimile submissions. Staff availability for interviews depends upon the appropriateness of the application under these guidelines and policies, and upon the possible need for further information.

Concept papers will be reviewed by the Cox Trust Administrators and Trustees, following which the Trustees will invite full proposals from a limited number of applicants. Decision to invite a full proposal does not insure that the Trustees will act favorably on that proposal. An organization may submit only one concept paper at a time and, if denied, should wait one year from the date of notification before reapplying. Similarly, an organization which has received a grant should expect to wait at least one year after receiving a final payment from the Trust before submitting another application. Concept papers from prior grantees will not be considered until a final report on the prior grant has been received.

The Trustees hold regular meetings in March, June, September and December to review full proposals previously requested and concept papers received by the deadline for that meeting. Letters requesting full proposals are mailed within two weeks of a Trustees' meeting. Applicants may submit proposals in time for the next deadline date, or may wait to submit for up to a year. Grants are announced within two weeks of each regular meeting and are normally paid by the end of each calendar quarter.
 

INFORMATION

Please direct all inquiries and concept papers to:

Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust
Donor Services Office
Hemenway & Barnes
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109-1899
617/557-9775
dso@hembar.com
 

Donor Services Office Staff:

Katherine S. McHugh, Director
Rachel L. Pohl, Senior Program Officer
Gioia C. Perugini, Program Officer
Susan M. Fish, Grants Administrator

January 2000