Tiger Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $11.3 million (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 4-6 weeks for initial LOI review
Grant Range: $50,000 - $300,000
Average Grant: $200,000
Geographic Focus: Five boroughs of New York City

Contact Details

Address: 45 West 45th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036 Website: www.tigerfoundation.org Phone: 212-984-2565 Email: info@tigerfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1989 by Julian H. Robertson Jr., chairman of Tiger Management LLC, Tiger Foundation has distributed over $364 million in grants to New York City organizations working to break the cycle of poverty. With total assets of $103 million and annual giving of approximately $11-14 million, the foundation supports proven, high-impact, direct human services across three strategic portfolios: Education, Family Support, and Youth, Workforce & Justice. In 2022, the foundation launched a Seed and Expansion Fund to support earlier-stage organizations with innovative approaches and to accelerate growth of strong program models. Following Julian Robertson's death in 2022, the foundation has committed to carrying on its work in New York City in his honor and memory. Tiger Foundation is distinguished by its trustee-led model where board members perform site visits and actively engage in every grant decision.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Grantmaking

One-Year Grants: $50,000 - $300,000 (average $200,000)
Rolling application process, no fixed deadlines
Renewal requests considered for existing grantees
In 2023, awarded 49 grants totaling $11.3 million

Seed and Expansion Fund (launched 2022)

Supports earlier-stage organizations filling unmet needs with innovative approaches
Funds accelerated growth and replication of strong program models
Brings new ideas and leadership to the field
Grant amounts follow same range as core program

Priority Areas

Education Portfolio:

Public schools and school networks (district and charter) preparing students for success in high school, college, and workforce
Programs actively growing to serve additional students or serving underserved populations
School-support models adding capacity to public education system
Organizations increasing access to and persistence through post-secondary pathways
Early reading and literacy programs, with emphasis on grade-level reading by 3rd grade
High-impact tutoring and high-quality instructional materials
Innovative approaches to classroom instruction and teacher development
Mental health and social-emotional supports for students

Family Support Portfolio:

Early childhood programs fostering academic and social-emotional development
Full-day, year-round care and family supports
Comprehensive programs keeping families together
Programs reuniting families separated by foster care
Solutions supporting family success, permanency, and stability

Youth, Workforce, and Justice Portfolio:

Structured workforce development with sector-specific training for growth industries
Job-readiness and hard skills development
Placement in jobs with career and wage progression opportunities
Services for youth impacted by foster care system
Programs for individuals involved with or at risk of criminal legal system involvement
Preventive and engaging services for at-risk populations
Reentry services connecting individuals to employment, education, and community supports

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Annual or capital campaigns
Endowments
Benefits or special events
Public policy or lobbying efforts
Legal assistance
Existing obligations or debt liability
Organizations outside the five boroughs of New York City

Governance and Leadership

President: Charles Buice has served as President since 2012. He holds a master's degree in economics from New York University and joined Tiger Foundation in 2005.

Founder: Julian H. Robertson Jr. (1932-2022) established the foundation in 1989. Robertson was chairman of Tiger Management LLC, a prominent investment firm.

Former Executive Director: Phoebe Boyer served as Executive Director from 1999 to 2012. Boyer emphasized Robertson's vision that trustees would "engage with both their heads and their hearts" by applying investment sector skills to nonprofit evaluation.

Board Structure: The foundation maintains an active trustee-led model with 24 trustees who perform site visits and directly participate in evaluation and decision-making. John Griffin was a founding trustee and later founded Blue Ridge Capital. Every trustee serves as a liaison to specific organizations and actively participates in committee meetings where funding decisions are made.

Distinctive Approach: As one trustee noted, "Every individual on the board has an organization, a staff and a set of clients in their mind as they discuss and approve each investment." Trustees receive detailed profiles and key metrics for all organizations under consideration prior to committee meetings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Initial Step: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Submit through online portal at tigerfoundation.org/how-to-apply
Rolling basis with no deadlines
LOI acknowledged upon receipt
Must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization serving NYC's five boroughs

LOI Review Process:

Initial review takes 4-6 weeks
If formal consideration proceeds, program staff contacts applicant directly
May include request for full proposal
Trustees perform site visits for organizations under consideration

Full Proposal Stage:

By invitation only after LOI review
Site visits conducted by trustee liaisons
Organization profiles and metrics compiled for trustee review

Decision Timeline

Initial Review: 4-6 weeks for Letter of Inquiry review

Committee Meetings: Funding decisions made at committee meetings held multiple times per year

Trustee Process: Prior to each meeting, trustees receive profiles and key metrics for all organizations under consideration

Total Timeline: While initial LOI review takes 4-6 weeks, the full process from submission to final decision can take several months depending on committee meeting schedules

Notification: Program staff contacts applicants directly with decisions

Success Rates

2023 Awards: 49 grants distributed from $11.3 million total

Not Publicly Disclosed: Specific success rates and application numbers are not publicly available. However, the foundation's rigorous trustee-led review process and requirement for "proven, high-impact" programs suggests selective grantmaking.

Grantee Satisfaction: 80% of grantees report that tracking outcomes requested by Tiger has helped improve their organization's performance. 70% rate Tiger's impact on their organization as "excellent."

Reapplication Policy

Renewal Consideration: The foundation considers renewal requests from existing grantees, though grants are structured as one-year commitments.

Unsuccessful Applicants: The foundation reviews Letters of Inquiry on a rolling basis year-round, suggesting unsuccessful applicants may resubmit when circumstances change or proposals are strengthened. No specific waiting period is publicly stated.

Application Success Factors

Measurable Outcomes: Tiger Foundation requires "strong and consistent measurable outcomes over time." For education programs, this means performance on NYS English Language Arts, Math exams, and Regents exams. For youth and family programs, evidence should include recruitment/retention, academic performance, school attendance, graduation rates, and employment outcomes.

Replication and Scale: The foundation seeks "opportunity for broad impact (replicability, scale, and leverage of public and other private funding)." Show how your model can expand or be replicated, and how you leverage other funding sources.

Community Engagement: Organizations must demonstrate "efforts to engage clients and local community and to develop and refine models that are reflective of community needs." Evidence of client input and community responsiveness strengthens applications.

Financial Health and Leadership: Applications are evaluated on cost-effectiveness, financial health, and skilled leadership. Strong management and fiscal responsibility are critical factors.

Direct Service Focus: The foundation prioritizes "proven, high-impact, direct human services." While the Seed and Expansion Fund supports innovation, emphasis remains on direct service delivery rather than advocacy or policy work.

Recent Grantees as Examples:

Internationals Network for Public Schools (serving recently immigrated multilingual students)
Bard Prison Initiative
Center for Justice Innovation
Getting Out Staying Out (GOSO)
The Door
Fortune Society
Association to Benefit Children
Center for Family Life
KIPP Foundation New York
Children's Aid Society
Fund for the City of New York

Foundation Culture: Grantees describe Tiger as "one of the most straightforward foundations, with expectations that were very clear." The trustee-led model means board members are deeply engaged and knowledgeable about programs.

Key Quote from Leadership: Phoebe Boyer, former Executive Director, explained founder Julian Robertson's vision: "Julian felt that if given the opportunity, these energetic and analytic individuals would engage with both their heads and their hearts; that is, they would apply the same set of skills that they use to invest in the for-profit sector to investing in nonprofits."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Lead with Outcomes: Tiger Foundation is data-driven and requires strong, consistent measurable outcomes. Quantify your impact with specific metrics aligned to their portfolio priorities (academic performance, employment outcomes, family stability, etc.).
Demonstrate NYC Focus and Poverty Impact: Your organization must serve low-income communities in NYC's five boroughs and clearly connect to breaking the cycle of poverty. About 1 in 6 New Yorkers lives below the federal poverty line—show how you address this crisis.
Show Scale and Leverage: Beyond direct impact, demonstrate how your model can replicate, scale, or leverage public and private investment. The foundation values broad impact potential.
Emphasize Direct Service: While innovation matters (especially for Seed and Expansion Fund), the core focus is proven, direct human services. Policy advocacy, endowments, and capital campaigns are not funded.
Know Your Financial Story: Cost-effectiveness and financial health are key criteria. Be prepared to discuss your budget efficiency and fiscal management during trustee site visits.
Rolling Basis Advantage: With no deadlines and year-round review, you can apply when your organization is truly ready with a strong proposal. Don't rush—take time to develop compelling outcome data and alignment with priorities.
Expect Deep Engagement: Tiger's trustee-led model means board members will likely visit your site and deeply understand your work. Prepare for substantive conversations about your program model, outcomes, and clients served.

References

Tiger Foundation Official Website - Home Page https://tigerfoundation.org/ Accessed: November 2024
Tiger Foundation - Funding Guidelines https://tigerfoundation.org/funding-guidelines Accessed: November 2024
Tiger Foundation - How to Apply https://tigerfoundation.org/how-to-apply Accessed: November 2024
Tiger Foundation - Our Grantees https://tigerfoundation.org/our-grantees Accessed: November 2024
Tiger Foundation - Who We Are https://tigerfoundation.org/who-we-are Accessed: November 2024
Candid Foundation Directory - Tiger Foundation Profile https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=TIGE003 Accessed: November 2024
InfluenceWatch - Tiger Foundation https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/tiger-foundation/ Accessed: November 2024
Cause IQ - Tiger Foundation https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/tiger-foundation,133555671/ Accessed: November 2024
The Bridgespan Group - Tiger Foundation Profile (PDF) https://www.bridgespan.org/getmedia/067fbf4f-002c-4530-9fa6-16c4b4629c87/tiger-foundation-profile-pdf.pdf Accessed: November 2024
Philanthropy New York - Tiger Foundation https://philanthropynewyork.org/redhen/org/642 Accessed: November 2024
City & State New York - Leader to Leader: Phoebe Boyer https://www.cityandstateny.com/nyn-media/2020/03/leader-to-leader-phoebe-boyer/369485/ Accessed: November 2024
Instrumentl - Tiger Foundation 990 Report https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/tiger-foundation Accessed: November 2024