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One8 Foundation
One8 Foundation was established in 1997 by Jonathon Jacobson and Joanna Jacobson. The endowment originated from proceeds of Highfields Capital Management, the...
One8 Foundation
One8 Foundation was established in 1997 by Jonathon Jacobson and Joanna Jacobson. The endowment originated from proceeds of Highfields Capital Management, the hedge fund Jonathon Jacobson led until 2021. The foundation operates as a venture philanthropy vehicle that pairs grants with direct consulting to grantees. The foundation allocates across private equity holdings, public equities, and direct program investments. Asset-class exposure includes venture capital commitments through vehicles such as WestCap Strategic Operator Fund and early-stage positions in Lendbuzz and Juniper Square. Geographic reach centers on the United States with additional exposure to Israel through holdings such as WINN.AI and Obligo Technologies. Confirmed positions include ZoomInfo Technologies, where HighSage Ventures entities hold stakes reported at 5.3 percent to 6.7 percent, and PennyMac Financial Services. The organization maintains 28 professionals and directs operations from its Boston headquarters. HighSage Ventures LLC serves as investment advisor. One8 Foundation participates in the Jewish Funders Network and Grantmakers for Education. In April 2026 the foundation spoke at the ASU+GSV Summit on education innovation and AI applications in schooling. One8 Foundation maintains a hybrid governance model that integrates family principals with an external investment advisor and program staff. This setup separates philanthropic deployment from the original hedge-fund operations while preserving direct oversight by the founding principals through trustee and president roles.
General information
Firm type
Foundation
Year founded
1997
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Boston
Corporate office
177 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, United States
Principals
Jonathon Jacobson
Co-founder and Trustee
Joanna Jacobson
Co-founder and President
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at One8 Foundation?
Jonathon Jacobson serves as Co-founder and Trustee. HighSage Ventures LLC acts as the external investment advisor with Owen Wurzbacher as Chief Investment Officer.
How does One8 Foundation source proprietary deal flow?
The foundation identifies leaders through its education and Jewish community networks and evaluates opportunities via its investment advisor HighSage Ventures.
Is One8 Foundation structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
One8 Foundation functions as a venture philanthropy vehicle. It combines grantmaking with pro bono consulting and holds both public equities and private fund commitments.
Does One8 Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation makes fund commitments such as its position in WestCap Strategic Operator Fund and maintains direct holdings through HighSage Ventures entities.
What investment stages does One8 Foundation typically target?
The foundation targets early-stage venture and growth equity through its advisor alongside longer-horizon program-related investments in education initiatives.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The endowment traces to Jonathon Jacobson’s tenure at Highfields Capital Management, the hedge fund he founded and led.
Does One8 Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
One8 Foundation itself serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle. It coordinates with Strategic Grant Partners, a coalition of family foundations focused on Massachusetts nonprofits.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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