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Reed Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.2M
Grant Range
$8K - $0.1M
00

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,222,516 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $7,500 - $150,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and Washington State, with some national and international reach

Contact Details

Address: 500 Fifth Ave, Suite 4810, New York, NY 10110
Phone: (212) 768-4998
Website: thereedfoundation.org
Email: reedrubin@thereedfoundation.org (Reed Rubin, President)
Programs Administrator: giancarlo@thereedfoundation.org (Giancarlo Roma)

Overview

Reed Foundation Inc was founded in 1951 as a private grantmaking foundation based in New York. With total assets of $13,941,316 and annual giving of approximately $1.2 million, the foundation supports charitable organizations for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes. The foundation's focus spans arts and culture (including visual and performing arts, music, opera, and museums), education, libraries, and international human rights. The foundation also manages the Ruth Landes Memorial Research Fund, which has historically supported interdisciplinary research in anthropology and related fields. Leadership has remained within the Rubin family, with Reed Rubin serving as President and Jane Gregory Rubin as Secretary.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking Program: $7,500 - $150,000 The foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes. Recent grants have ranged from median awards of $7,500 to maximum grants of $150,000. In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling approximately $1.2 million.

Ruth Landes Memorial Research Fund: $10,000 - $60,000 Established in 1991 to honor Ruth Schlossberg Landes, Ph.D. (1908-1991), this program historically supported interdisciplinary research on aging, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, immigrant and minority populations, culture and education, language and identity, and religion. Awards were available for dissertation research, postdoctoral work, or independent scholarship for U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents. Note: This program paused grant-making activities in early 2023 for program review.

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture

  • Visual and performing arts
  • Music and opera
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Italian art (evidenced by grant to Magazzino Italian Art Foundation)
  • Arts and literature of the Caribbean Basin (historical area of major interest)

Education

  • Higher education institutions
  • Libraries and research institutions
  • Academic research

International & Humanitarian

  • International human rights
  • Humanitarian relief (evidenced by grant to Doctors Without Borders)

Recent Grant Recipients (2024):

  • Magazzino Italian Art Foundation: $150,000
  • Merton College Charitable Corporation: $150,000
  • Doctors Without Borders USA: $75,000

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, indicating they fund only preselected organizations with which they have established relationships.

Governance and Leadership

President: Reed Rubin (unpaid position)
Secretary: Jane Gregory Rubin (unpaid position)
Secretary: Peter Rubin (compensation: $50,000)
Treasurer: Maia A Rubin (compensation: $50,000)
Vice President: Lara R Constable (compensation: $50,000)
Administrator: Giancarlo Roma (compensation: $49,999)

The foundation is family-led, with the Rubin family maintaining control over grantmaking decisions. The foundation employs 4 staff members to manage its philanthropic activities and investment portfolio.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to Grantmakers.io, the Reed Foundation makes "grants to preselected charitable organizations only" and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations with which they have pre-existing relationships or knowledge. The foundation identifies grantees through trustee connections and their own research.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's website (thereedfoundation.org) may provide starting points for exploration, though specific strategies for unsolicited contact are not publicly documented. Given the family-led nature of the foundation and focus on preselected organizations, building relationships within the arts, education, and humanitarian sectors that align with their documented funding interests may be beneficial.

The foundation has historically supported specific institutions in New York and Washington State, suggesting geographic or institutional connections may play a role in grantmaking decisions.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation making grants at trustee discretion, there are no fixed deadlines or notification schedules.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the Reed Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, the following factors appear relevant based on their documented giving patterns:

Alignment with Core Focus Areas: The foundation demonstrates clear commitment to arts and culture (particularly Italian art and Caribbean literature), higher education, and international humanitarian causes. Organizations in these sectors, particularly those with established reputations, appear more likely to receive support.

Geographic Connections: The foundation shows preference for New York-based organizations (12 grants in 2024) and Washington State organizations (6 grants in 2024), suggesting geographic proximity or family connections to these regions.

Institutional Credibility: Grant recipients include well-established institutions like Merton College, Magazzino Italian Art Foundation, and Doctors Without Borders, suggesting the foundation supports organizations with proven track records and institutional stability.

Educational and Cultural Merit: The foundation's support spans prestigious educational institutions and cultural organizations, indicating they value academic excellence and cultural preservation.

Historical Relationship Building: The foundation's support of the Ruth Landes Memorial Research Fund and specific recurring grantees suggests they maintain long-term relationships with favored institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: The Reed Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, making it inaccessible through traditional application processes
  • Family foundation structure: Decisions are made by family trustees with deep personal connections to funded causes
  • Consistent focus areas: Arts and culture (especially Italian art and Caribbean literature), higher education, libraries, and international human rights remain steady priorities
  • Geographic preferences: Strong preference for New York and Washington State organizations, though not exclusive
  • Grant range: Recent grants have ranged from $7,500 to $150,000, with median awards around $7,500
  • Relationship-driven: Success appears dependent on pre-existing connections to the foundation's trustees or funded institutions
  • Not a pathway for most organizations: Unless your organization already has connections to the Rubin family or moves in their philanthropic circles, this foundation is unlikely to be accessible

References

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