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Equitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.4M

Equitable Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.4 million in charitable grants (2023)
  • Additional Support: $3.2 million in matching gifts, $1.3 million in scholarships (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation/partnership-based)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Varies by partnership
  • Geographic Focus: National, with community-based partnerships

Contact Details

Address: 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104

Website: https://equitable.com/foundation

Phone: Contact through parent company Equitable Holdings

Status: 501(c)(3) organization

Overview

Established in 1987, Equitable Foundation Inc serves as the charitable giving arm of Equitable Holdings, one of America's leading financial services companies. For over 30 years, the foundation has contributed to the success and vitality of communities through grants, partnerships, and volunteerism. In 2023, the foundation provided $4.4 million in charitable grants to nonprofits, another $3.2 million through the matching gifts program, $1.3 million in academic scholarships, and facilitated 188 volunteer events representing 6,500 volunteer hours. The foundation focuses its investments on college access and career readiness, K-12 educator support, and building healthy and vibrant communities. Equitable Foundation aligns with community-based organizations throughout the country that can activate with their people on a local level, amplifying commitment to equity and opportunity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Corporate Partnership Grants: Varies by partnership

  • Grants to nonprofit partner organizations where Equitable volunteer events take place
  • Three-year grants to collaborative partnerships (as seen with Crescent Coalition)
  • No fixed amounts publicly disclosed; determined by partnership scope

Employee Matching Gifts Program: Up to doubled employee donations

  • Doubles the impact of charitable contributions made by employees and financial professionals
  • Designed to help magnify the impact of giving while leveraging community activities

Volunteer Grants: Support for organizations hosting volunteer events

  • Grants awarded to nonprofits where the 188 annual Equitable volunteer events take place
  • Employees receive paid time off to volunteer in their communities

Scholarship Program: $1.3 million annually

  • 100 scholarships of $5,000 each, renewable for four years (total $20,000 per student)
  • 100 one-time scholarships of $2,500
  • Managed in partnership with Scholarship America
  • Since inception: $30 million awarded to 7,400+ students

Priority Areas

College Access and Career Readiness

  • Supporting first-generation college students
  • College essay help, SAT prep, college tours, and financial aid guidance
  • Partnerships with college access nonprofits
  • Focus on breaking barriers for underserved students

K-12 Educator Support

  • Teacher recognition programs
  • Teacher pipeline development
  • Teacher retention and professional development initiatives

Building Healthy and Vibrant Communities

  • Affordable housing initiatives
  • Job training programs
  • Programs assisting the economically disadvantaged
  • Quality healthcare access
  • Supportive human services
  • Cultural institutions and arts access
  • Disaster relief preparedness (annual Red Cross support)

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but based on their focus areas, the foundation appears to prioritize:

  • Educational initiatives over other sectors
  • Community-based organizations with volunteer engagement opportunities
  • Programs aligned with employee presence and corporate locations

Governance and Leadership

Equitable Foundation operates under the governance of Equitable Holdings Inc. Specific trustee and leadership information is not publicly disclosed on their foundation website, though the organization maintains a board of directors, officers, and key employees as documented in their annual Form 990 filings.

The foundation's strategic direction aligns with the parent company's commitment to being "a force for good" in communities where Equitable operates.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

Equitable Foundation awards grants primarily through:

  1. Volunteer-linked partnerships: Grants to nonprofit organizations where Equitable employees volunteer
  2. Strategic collaborative partnerships: Multi-year grants to nonprofit coalitions (such as the Crescent Coalition in Charlotte)
  3. Employee-initiated support: Through the matching gifts program where employees direct giving
  4. Trustee discretion: Foundation leadership identifies and supports community partners

The foundation operates on a partnership model rather than an open solicitation model. Grants are awarded to organizations that align with Equitable's geographic presence, volunteer activities, and strategic priorities in education and community development.

Getting on Their Radar

Crescent Coalition Model: In 2019, Equitable Foundation identified a need in Charlotte and provided seed grant funding to unite nine college access nonprofits into the Crescent Coalition. Each local organization received a three-year grant and direct access to program support. This demonstrates the foundation's approach to strategic, multi-year partnerships in communities where Equitable has a significant presence.

Equitable Volunteer Events: In 2023, the foundation facilitated 188 volunteer events. Organizations hosting these events become grant recipients. Building relationships with local Equitable offices and employees may create opportunities for volunteer partnerships that lead to funding.

Matching Gifts Engagement: Nonprofits can benefit from Equitable's matching gifts program by encouraging Equitable employees and financial professionals to make individual donations that the foundation will match.

Geographic Presence: Equitable has offices and financial professionals across the United States. Organizations in communities with a strong Equitable employee presence may have better opportunities for partnership.

Application Success Factors

Since Equitable Foundation operates through partnerships rather than competitive applications, success factors differ from traditional grantmaking:

Alignment with Priority Areas: Organizations focused on college access, career readiness, K-12 educator support, or community development have the strongest alignment.

Volunteer Engagement Opportunities: The foundation awards grants to support nonprofit partner organizations where volunteer events take place. Organizations that can offer meaningful volunteer opportunities for Equitable employees are well-positioned for support.

Charlotte Partnership Model: The Crescent Coalition partnership demonstrates the foundation's interest in collaborative nonprofit models. The coalition serves 1,542 students through combined efforts of nine organizations. This suggests the foundation values:

  • Collaborative approaches among multiple nonprofits
  • Measurable outcomes (students served, college access improvements)
  • Long-term commitment (three-year grants)
  • Local activation with national support

Community-Based Implementation: The foundation seeks "community-based organizations throughout the country that can activate with their people on a local level." Local organizations with strong community ties and the ability to engage participants directly are preferred.

Educational Focus: Given that education receives the strongest emphasis (college access, career readiness, educator support, and scholarships), organizations in this sector have the clearest alignment with foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists – traditional grant applications are not accepted; the foundation operates through strategic partnerships and employee-driven initiatives
  • Volunteer connections are key – grants flow to organizations where Equitable employees volunteer, making relationship-building with local Equitable offices important
  • Education is the primary focus – particularly college access for first-generation and underserved students, educator support, and career readiness programs
  • Multi-year collaborative partnerships – the Crescent Coalition model shows the foundation's willingness to make significant, long-term investments in nonprofit collaboratives that align with their mission
  • Geographic strategy matters – organizations in communities with Equitable employee presence have better access to volunteer-linked grants and matching gifts
  • Leverage employee connections – if your organization has relationships with Equitable employees or financial professionals, cultivating those connections may lead to matching gifts and volunteer partnerships
  • Total annual impact of $9 million – while only $4.4 million is in direct grants, the matching gifts ($3.2M) and scholarships ($1.3M) represent additional resources that benefit the nonprofit sector

References

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