OVERVIEW: The Sidman Family Foundation's Boston grantmaking involves supporting local hospitals, Jewish organizations, and more. Personal connections seem to animate much of this family's giving.
FUNDING AREAS: Health & Human Services, Jewish Causes, Education & Youth, Arts & Culture
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low-profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking will be key for getting on this funder's radar.
PROFILE: The Sidman Family Foundation is steered by the Sidman family who have strong ties to the Boston area. The foundation's president is Paula Sidman. Paula's father, the late Norman B. Leventhal was a real estate developer who helped shape the Boston skyline. Paula's husband, the late Edwin Sidman, meanwhile, joined Leventhal's company.
The family foundation is also steered by Paula's daughter, Hope Sidman, CEO of H2O Applied Technologies, and Paula's son, Matthew Sidman, founder of hedge fund firm Three Bays Capital. In the most recent fiscal year on record, the foundation gave under $40,000, an usually low amount. In prior recent years, however, the foundation gave away in the neighborhood of $1 million annually.
The foundation's Boston grantmaking involves health and human services outfits like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Children's Hospital Trust, which has received particularly large sums recently.
The Sidmans also support Jewish organizations in Boston, forces which involve several generations of family members. There's the Leventhal-Sidman JCC in the Boston area. The Sidmans, via their foundation, continue to support the JCC of Greater Boston. Other grantees have included and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, where Edwin once served as chair.
The Sidmans help fund education and youth outfits in Boston like Boys & Girls Club of Boston, Jump Start, Neighborhood House Charter School, and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. Away from Boston, the Sidmans support Matthew and Hope's alma mater, Duke University.
It's worth mentioning that Norman Leventhal was active with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, which the Sidmans have supported through their foundation. The family has also supported local arts and culture in Boston, including the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.
PEOPLE:
- Paula Sidman, President/Director
- Hope Sidman, Treasurer/Director
- Matthew Sidman, Assistant Treasurer
CONTACT:
The Sidman Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the family, but below is an address:
The Sidman Family Foundation, Inc.50 Federal St. Boston, MA 02110