Robert & Myra Kraft Family Foundation

Robert & Myra Kraft Family Foundation

Robert and Myra Kraft established their eponymous family foundation to channel the wealth created by Kraft's diversified business empire into large-scale philanthropy. The fortune stemmed from International Forest Products, a global paper and packaging conglomerate, and was later amplified by the acquisition of the New England Patriots and the development of mixed-use real estate around Gillette Stadium. The foundation reflects Myra Kraft's deep commitment to social justice, a cause she championed until her passing in 2011. Grantmaking spans education, healthcare, and access-to-justice work, with significant capital directed toward youth programs and underserved communities. The foundation is the primary funding vehicle for the family's charitable activities, distinct from the Kraft Group's corporate philanthropy. Major commitments include support for Massachusetts General Hospital, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, and the REFORM Alliance — a criminal-justice reform organization co-founded with Michael Rubin and Jay-Z. The giving is geographically concentrated in the Boston region and Israel, reflecting the family's personal and cultural ties. The foundation does not publicly report professional staff or a standalone investment team. Instead, it draws administrative and operational support from the Kraft Group ecosystem, where Jonathan Kraft serves as President and COO. Joshua Kraft, another son, leads the New England Patriots Foundation, which coordinates community-facing programs that often run parallel to the family's private grantmaking. In January 2024, Robert Kraft directed significant foundation resources into a Super Bowl ad campaign for the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, signaling continued operation as a platform for advocacy rather than passive philanthropy. What distinguishes the Kraft Foundation is its integration with an operating business empire without being a corporate foundation. It is a private family entity that leverages the visibility of the Patriots brand to amplify its grants while keeping its financials and governance fully private. There is no public evidence of a dedicated endowment model; funding is likely renewed annually through Kraft Group profits, making it structurally more akin to a giving vehicle than a perpetual institution.