Leir Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2,853,000 (2023)
Total Assets: $102.1 million (2023)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies by program
Geographic Focus: International, with emphasis on Connecticut and institutions with educational/research missions
Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 240 Branchville Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877-5900
Phone: 475-215-5690
EIN: 06-1466481

Note: The foundation has no public website and operates through direct relationships with preselected organizations.

Overview

The Leir Foundation Inc was established in 1996 by Henry J. Leir (1900-1998) and his wife Erna D. Leir (d. 1996), following Henry's successful career in international minerals and metals trading. Granted 501(c)(3) status in March 1997, the foundation currently holds assets of $102.1 million and distributed $2.85 million in grants in 2023. The foundation is committed to the global humanitarian ideals of its founders, supporting high-quality educational and cultural institutions, medical research and care, services for disadvantaged children, and programs that enhance multicultural understanding and diversity. At age 97, Henry Leir oversaw construction of Leir House, a conference center on the foundation's 37-acre Ridgefield property, dedicated to programs for disadvantaged children of all races and religions, and scientific and educational conferences. The foundation operates as a traditional private foundation, with investment income supporting its charitable activities.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Education & Research The foundation has established endowed professorships at major universities including:

Clark University (Henry J. Leir Professor)
Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Henry J. Leir Professor of International Humanitarian Studies)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (Leir Professor of International Trade and Business, plus the Leir Research Institute for Business, Technology, and Society with a five-year $1.5 million grant)
Weizmann Institute in Israel (Henry J. Leir Professorial Chair)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Henry J. Leir Professor of Neurodegenerative Diseases)

Medical Research & Care Supports medical research initiatives, particularly neurodegenerative diseases and humanitarian medical care, through endowed chairs at universities and hospitals.

Arts & Culture

Title sponsor of the Ridgefield Playhouse's Arts for Everyone Outreach Program, providing free tickets to families and children from low-income areas and Title 1 Schools
Support for cultural institutions and programs

Interfaith Understanding Supports conferences on religious understanding sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding (CCJU), promoting interfaith dialogue and multicultural understanding.

Services for Children & Disadvantaged Populations Programs benefiting disadvantaged children of all races and religions, aligned with the founders' humanitarian values.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on preselected organizations suggests they do not fund:

Organizations outside their established mission areas
Projects without prior foundation relationships
General operating support for organizations they haven't previously identified

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel (2023):

Markus Fuchs - Director, President & Secretary
Compensation: $327,438
Paul Cambrai Bell - Director & Vice President
Compensation: $233,890
Laurie Kuhn - Assistant Secretary
Compensation: $57,509

The foundation operates with a small, dedicated leadership team that manages both the investment portfolio and grant-making activities. The leadership structure reflects a professional management approach typical of established family foundations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Leir Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

According to the foundation's Form 990-PF filing, they indicate that they "Only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This is a common practice among 71% of private foundations, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives and build long-term relationships with specific grantees.

Grant-Making Approach

The foundation appears to operate through:

Trustee/Director Discretion: Leadership identifies and selects organizations aligned with the foundation's mission
Long-term Institutional Relationships: Focus on endowed positions and multi-year commitments to universities and research institutions
Strategic Initiatives: The foundation creates lasting infrastructure (like Leir House and endowed chairs) rather than just providing annual grants
Geographic Connection: Strong focus on Connecticut-based organizations and institutions with ties to the founders' interests

Financial Pattern

The foundation's expenses consistently exceed its revenues, indicating an intentional spend-down approach. In 2023, the foundation had $4.67 million in revenue but $7.48 million in expenses, drawing from assets to fund operations and charitable activities. This suggests the foundation is actively deploying its resources rather than building endowment.

Application Success Factors

Since the Leir Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their documented funding patterns, organizations that have received support share these characteristics:

Mission Alignment

Strong focus on education, particularly international affairs, humanitarian studies, business/technology, and religious/cultural understanding
Medical research with humanitarian impact, especially neurodegenerative diseases
Programs serving disadvantaged children across racial and religious backgrounds
Arts and cultural programs increasing access for underserved communities

Institutional Excellence The foundation has supported top-tier institutions including Tufts, NJIT, Clark University, Weizmann Institute, and Hebrew University, suggesting a preference for organizations with demonstrated academic or cultural excellence.

Long-term Impact Rather than annual grants, the foundation creates endowed positions and multi-year commitments, indicating they value sustainable, lasting impact over short-term project funding.

Connecticut Connection The foundation shows particular interest in Ridgefield-area organizations, as evidenced by the Ridgefield Playhouse sponsorship and the establishment of Leir House as a conference center in the community.

Multicultural Understanding Projects that bridge cultural, religious, or ethnic divides align with the founders' values and the foundation's stated mission to "enhance multicultural understanding and diversity."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant proposals. They work exclusively with preselected organizations.
Focus on Endowed Positions: The foundation's preference for creating permanent professorships and research institutes suggests they value long-term institutional commitments over project grants.
Educational & Research Emphasis: Universities and research institutions, particularly those focused on international affairs, business ethics, humanitarian studies, and medical research, form the core of their funding portfolio.
Connecticut Roots Matter: Local organizations in Ridgefield and the surrounding area may have better access, as evidenced by the Ridgefield Playhouse partnership and the Leir House facility.
Strategic Spend-Down: The foundation is actively deploying assets (spending more than investment income annually), which may indicate time-limited opportunities rather than perpetual grant-making.
Relationship-Based Giving: With 67 awards in 2022 but only 1 in 2023 (per available data), the foundation appears to be consolidating relationships with fewer, more strategic partners rather than expanding its grant portfolio.
Founders' Vision Drives Decisions: The foundation remains committed to Henry and Erna Leir's specific interests in humanitarian education, interfaith understanding, and services for disadvantaged children—organizations should align with these specific values rather than general charitable purposes.

References

Information compiled December 2025