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Cheryl C and Blair Effron Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.0M
Grant Range
$100K - $1.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,000,268 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A - Closed foundation
  • Decision Time: N/A - Invitation only
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $1,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on New York City
  • Application Status: ⚠️ DOES NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED APPLICATIONS

Contact Details

Address: 1475 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 874-8800 Website: No public website Email: Not publicly available

Important Note: This foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The Cheryl C and Blair Effron Family Foundation was established in 2002 as a private family foundation. With assets of $22.4 million, the foundation distributed $1,000,268 in grants during 2023 to approximately 10 organizations. Blair Effron is co-founder of Centerview Partners, a leading global investment banking firm, while Cheryl Cohen Effron co-founded Greater NY in 2009, a nonprofit that pairs business leaders with nonprofit executives for strategic partnerships. The foundation operates as a closed entity, supporting organizations where the Effrons maintain board memberships or personal connections. Their philanthropy centers around the East Coast, particularly New York City where the family lives, with primary interests in arts and culture, higher education (especially Princeton University, Blair's alma mater), policy research, and civic engagement. The foundation's giving strategy is highly aligned with the personal involvement and governance roles of Blair and Cheryl Effron.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

This foundation does not operate formal grant programs open to public application. All grants are made to preselected organizations based on the foundation trustees' strategic priorities and personal affiliations.

2023 Major Grants Awarded:

  • Princeton University: $1,500,000 and $250,000 (Blair's alma mater; he serves on board of trustees)
  • Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: $600,000 (Blair serves as Treasurer on the board)
  • High Line: $200,000
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art: $150,000 and $125,000 (Blair serves on the board)
  • Rockefeller University: $100,000

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture: The foundation provides significant support to major New York cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Historical Society, and the High Line, reflecting Blair's board service at several of these institutions.

Higher Education: Princeton University is a primary beneficiary, having received major gifts including funding for the Effron Center for the Study of America and the Effron Music Building. Other education grantees include Brown University (Cheryl's alma mater), Dalton School in Manhattan (where Cheryl serves on the board), New Visions for Public Schools, and NYC Outward Bound.

Policy & Research: The foundation directs steady support to the Brookings Institution and its affiliated Hamilton Project (where Blair serves on the advisory board), Council on Foreign Relations (where Blair serves as vice chairman), and Vera Institute for Justice.

NYC Community & Social Services: Organizations supported include Robin Hood Foundation, New York City Anti-Violence Project, Breaking Ground (New York City's largest supportive housing provider), and Greater NY (co-founded by Cheryl, where she serves as board chair).

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited grant applications from any organization
  • Organizations without existing relationships to the Effron family
  • Grants to individuals
  • International organizations without US operations

Governance and Leadership

Blair W. Effron - President & Treasurer Blair Effron is co-founder and partner at Centerview Partners, a leading global investment banking firm. He serves on numerous boards including Princeton University (trustee), Council on Foreign Relations (vice chairman), Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (Treasurer), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Visions for Public Schools, Partnership for New York City, and the advisory board of The Hamilton Project at Brookings Institution. He is a 1984 graduate of Princeton University.

Cheryl Cohen Effron - Vice President & Secretary Cheryl Effron has an extensive background as a New York-based real estate developer, having been president of ATC Management and involved in projects like Chelsea Market. She left full-time real estate work to dedicate her time to tri-sector (government, nonprofit, and corporate) solutions for urban issues. She co-founded Greater NY in 2009 during the financial crisis, a nonprofit that pairs business leaders with nonprofit executives in strategic partnerships, where she currently serves as board chair. She serves on the boards of Dalton School, Greater NY, Brookings Institution, and Markle Foundation. She is a graduate of Brown University.

Drew Effron - Director

Cathy Lasry - Director

Note: All foundation officers receive no compensation for their service.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. According to their IRS filings, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Organizations are selected by the foundation's trustees based on:

  • Existing board relationships and governance connections
  • Personal affiliations with the Effron family
  • Strategic alignment with foundation priorities
  • Geographic proximity to New York City (for local grants)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are proactively identified and awarded by trustees rather than through a competitive application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable for external applicants, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's giving patterns reveals the following insights:

Board Connections Are Essential: Nearly all grants flow to organizations where Blair or Cheryl Effron serve on the board or have significant governance involvement. Examples include Princeton University, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brookings Institution, and Greater NY.

Long-Term Relationships Matter: The foundation supports organizations with which the Effrons have sustained engagement over many years, often providing repeat grants to the same institutions.

Alignment with Personal Expertise: Cheryl's background in real estate development and urban solutions is reflected in support for organizations like Breaking Ground (supportive housing) and Greater NY (civic partnerships). Blair's focus on economic policy is evident in support for Brookings Institution and The Hamilton Project.

Geographic Focus: While some national organizations receive support (especially Princeton), there is a strong emphasis on New York City-based cultural, educational, and social service organizations.

Major Gift Philosophy: The foundation tends to make fewer, larger grants rather than numerous small grants, with several gifts in the six-figure range to flagship institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Do Not Apply: This foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only supports preselected organizations. Submitting an application would not be productive.

  • Board Relationships Are Key: Virtually all grantees have board-level connections to Blair or Cheryl Effron. If your organization has such a connection, internal relationship development may be appropriate, but cold outreach is not advised.

  • Focus on Established Institutions: The foundation gravitates toward well-established cultural, educational, and policy institutions rather than emerging or grassroots organizations.

  • New York City Focus: While some national organizations receive support, there is strong emphasis on NYC-based organizations, particularly in arts, culture, and social services.

  • Major Gift Scale: Recent grants range from $100,000 to $1.5 million, indicating the foundation operates at a major gift level rather than providing smaller capacity-building or program grants.

  • Personal Philanthropy vs. Foundation: Some of the Effrons' philanthropic giving may occur outside the family foundation. The foundation represents only one vehicle for their charitable giving.

  • Strategic Advice: Rather than pursuing this foundation, grant writers should focus efforts on foundations with open application processes. If your organization has board members or major donors connected to the Effrons, those individuals might cultivate relationships, but this should be approached with appropriate sensitivity and patience.

References

  1. Cause IQ - Cheryl C and Blair Effron Family Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cheryl-c-and-blair-effron-family-foundation,010720431/. Accessed November 2024.

  2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Cheryl C And Blair Effron Family Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10720431. Accessed November 2024.

  3. Grantmakers.io Profile - Cheryl C and Blair Effron Family Foundation (2023 tax year data). https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/010720431-cheryl-c-and-blair-effron-family-foundation/. Accessed November 2024.

  4. Inside Philanthropy - Blair and Cheryl Effron Profile. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/blair-effron. Accessed November 2024.

  5. Inside Philanthropy - Blair Effron, Wall Street Philanthropists. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/wall-street-donors/tag/Blair+Effron. Accessed November 2024.

  6. Princeton University - "Effron Center for the Study of America established at Princeton through a major gift to the Venture Forward campaign." November 15, 2021. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2021/11/15/effron-center-study-america-established-princeton-through-major-gift-venture. Accessed November 2024.

  7. Greater NY - About. https://www.greaterny.org/about. Accessed November 2024.

  8. The Hamilton Project - Blair W. Effron Profile. https://www.hamiltonproject.org/people/blair-w-effron/. Accessed November 2024.

  9. Charity Navigator - Cheryl C and Blair Effron Family Foundation Profile. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/010720431. Accessed November 2024.

  10. Markle Foundation - "Cheryl C. Effron Joins the Board of the Markle Foundation." https://www.markle.org/about-markle/expert/cheryl-c-effron/. Accessed November 2024.

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