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Annette Heyman Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.5M
000

Annette Heyman Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.47 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available (invitation/preselected organizations only)
  • Grant Range: Varies by organization
  • Geographic Focus: New York and national (Jewish organizations, education, arts, health)
  • Total Assets: $115.96 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: New York, NY
EIN: 06-6035519

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed website, email, or phone number for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Annette Heyman Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in October 1962 and named after Annette Heyman, mother of the late philanthropist Samuel J. Heyman. The foundation is currently led by Ronnie F. Heyman (President, Secretary, & Trustee), widow of Samuel Heyman, who serves as an unpaid volunteer. With total assets of approximately $116 million and annual giving of $5.47 million (as of 2024), the foundation supports Jewish religious organizations, arts and cultural institutions, higher education, healthcare, and social services. The foundation has experienced significant growth, accelerating from $5.4 million in assets in 2011 to $116 million by 2024, fueled by substantial contributions including $20 million in both 2020 and 2022, and $43.1 million in 2015. The foundation made 45 grants in its most recent reporting year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. There are no formal grant programs with defined application cycles or funding tiers. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the organization and project.

Known Grant Recipients Include:

  • Fifth Avenue Synagogue (New York Jewish congregation)
  • American Friends of Shavei Yisrael ($25,000 in 2023 - supports Jewish charitable organizations)
  • Various organizations in arts, education, healthcare, and Jewish causes

Priority Areas

Based on the giving patterns of the Heyman family foundations, priority areas include:

  • Jewish Organizations: Synagogues, Jewish museums, and Israel-related causes
  • Arts and Culture: Major support for museums and cultural institutions (notably the Museum of Modern Art)
  • Higher Education: Universities and law schools
  • Healthcare: Hospitals and health organizations
  • Social Services: Community support organizations
  • Public Service: Organizations promoting government service and civic engagement

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions. However, as a family foundation making grants to preselected organizations, they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established network
  • Unsolicited applications from unknown organizations
  • Organizations without connection to the Heyman family's areas of interest

Governance and Leadership

Ronnie F. Heyman - President, Secretary, & Trustee (serves without compensation)

Ronnie Heyman is a prominent philanthropist and attorney who earned her law degree from Yale Law School. She currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and as chairman of GAF Corporation and managing partner of Heyman Properties. She was co-founder of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging public service careers, and was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve a five-year term on the National Council on the Arts.

The foundation is closely connected to the Samuel and Ronnie Heyman Family Foundation, which supports similar causes. Together, the Heymans have established multiple educational centers and fellowship programs, including:

  • The Samuel & Ronnie Heyman Center on Corporate Governance at Yeshiva University
  • The Samuel & Ronnie Heyman Center for Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions at Duke University
  • Fellowship programs at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Seton Hall School of Law to encourage law students to enter federal government service

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Annette Heyman Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Organizations seeking support from this foundation must already be known to the trustees or have a connection through the Heyman family's network of interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing relationships.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation made 45 grants in its most recent reporting year, with 25 awards in 2021 and 37 awards in 2020, all to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept public applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's giving patterns can inform relationship-building strategies:

  1. Alignment with Heyman Family Interests: Organizations in the foundation's core areas (Jewish causes, arts/culture, higher education, healthcare, public service) receive support.

  2. Established Reputation: Grant recipients tend to be well-known, established institutions such as major synagogues, museums, and universities.

  3. New York Connection: While the foundation supports national causes, many grant recipients have a New York presence or connection.

  4. Jewish Identity and Values: The foundation shows consistent support for Jewish religious and cultural organizations, including those focused on Israel and Jewish education.

  5. Educational Excellence: Support for elite educational institutions, particularly law schools and programs promoting public service careers.

  6. Institutional Prestige: Recipients include prominent institutions like MoMA, where Ronnie Heyman serves as Board President, suggesting trustee board service and personal connections influence funding decisions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications - all grants go to preselected organizations
  • Relationship-Based Giving: Funding decisions are made based on trustees' existing relationships and personal connections to organizations
  • Substantial Assets: With $116 million in assets and $5.47 million in annual giving, this is a significant foundation, but access is limited to their established network
  • Jewish and Cultural Focus: Strong emphasis on Jewish organizations, major arts institutions, and elite educational institutions
  • Family Foundation Character: Operates as a traditional family foundation with concentrated decision-making by the Heyman family
  • Connection to Other Heyman Foundations: The Annette Heyman Foundation works alongside the Samuel and Ronnie Heyman Family Foundation - organizations connected to one may have access to the other
  • Strategic Networking: Organizations seeking support should focus on building relationships within the Heyman family's established network rather than submitting applications

References

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