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Jerome L. Greene Foundation Inc.

Annual Giving
$32.0M
Grant Range
$300K - $15.0M

Jerome L. Greene Foundation Inc.

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $32,044,250 (2023)
  • Assets: Approximately $736.7 million
  • Number of Grants: 53 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $300,000 - $15,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City and surrounding areas
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited proposals accepted

Contact Details

Address: 146 Central Park West, Suite 1E, New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 688-1550
Email: letters@JLGreene.org
Website: https://jlgreene.org/

Overview

The Jerome L. Greene Foundation was established in 1978 by Jerome L. Greene, a real estate attorney and philanthropist who graduated from Columbia Law School in 1928. Over 40+ years, the foundation has invested more than $500 million in organizations that have transformative impact on New York City. Following Jerry Greene's death in 1999, his wife Dawn Greene served as CEO until 2010. Their daughter Christina McInerney, who joined the board in 1999 and became Executive Director in 2002, has served as President and CEO since 2010. Under her leadership, the foundation has evolved from capital projects to program-related initiatives focused on expanding access to education and the arts, supporting social justice work including voter protection and reproductive freedom, and partnering with theater organizations across NYC's outer boroughs. With approximately $736.7 million in assets, the foundation awarded 53 grants totaling over $32 million in 2023, maintaining its founder's vision "to give back to the city he loved."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation supports organizations across four distinct giving areas:

Arts

  • Theater and performance programs
  • Cultural institutions and museums
  • Music education and scholarships
  • Recent examples: $10 million matching challenge to Juilliard School (completed 2023), $300,000 to Special Music School High School

Education

  • Academic institutions, particularly law schools and medical schools
  • Scholarship programs and student financial aid
  • Public service and clinical education
  • Recent examples: $5 million to Columbia Law School (2024), $15 million to Columbia Law School for scholarships and public service (2017)

Medicine

  • Medical research and healthcare initiatives
  • Hospice care
  • Brain and mind research
  • Cancer research

Social Justice

  • Voter protection and democracy initiatives
  • Reproductive freedom
  • Organizations addressing systemic inequities
  • Grassroots community organizing

Priority Areas

The foundation invests in opportunities that enrich and advance people's lives, with focus on:

  • Organizations expanding access to education and the arts through affordability and free/discounted programming
  • Institutions serving underserved communities
  • Leaders and organizations addressing systemic inequities
  • Well-established New York City organizations with proven track records
  • Programs that increase access, expand audiences, and create opportunities for individual and institutional advancement

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited proposals from organizations not pre-selected by the foundation
  • Organizations outside their four core areas (arts, education, medicine, social justice)
  • The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Chris McInerney - President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2010)
Christina McInerney is Jerome L. Greene's stepdaughter who joined the Board of Directors in 1999 and became Executive Director in 2002. Prior to leading the foundation, she served as President and CEO of McInerney International Ltd., a literary agency representing foreign publishers. She holds a master's degree in German language and literature from the University of Colorado and pursued Ph.D. studies at Boston College. She also serves on the boards of the Juilliard School and New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Cristina Parnetti - Program Director
Michael Sosa - Program Officer
Jennifer Strikowsky - Senior Administrator/Board Secretary
Robert Weissenstein - Chief Investment Officer

Board of Directors

  • Hildy Simmons - Chair
  • Karen Brooks Hopkins
  • Brad Karp
  • Chris McInerney
  • Dr. Jane Salmon

Financial Advisory Committee

  • Robert Weissenstein - Chair
  • Chris McInerney
  • Drummond Pike
  • Jessie Zhu

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jerome L. Greene Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited proposals or donations. According to their official website: "We are a private family foundation and do not accept any donations or unsolicited proposals."

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, actively soliciting applications from pre-selected organizations rather than responding to external requests. They work directly with organizations that have been identified by the foundation's leadership and board as aligned with their mission and priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation maintains long-term relationships with established institutions. Analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals they "stick to pretty well-established organizations and continues to support them throughout the years." Many grants go to organizations that the late Jerry Greene was affiliated with during his life.

Potential pathways include:

  • Board connections: Christina McInerney serves on the boards of Juilliard School and New York Presbyterian Hospital, suggesting these types of affiliations may lead to foundation awareness
  • Sector leadership: The foundation supports well-established New York City organizations with proven track records in their four focus areas
  • Columbia University connections: The foundation has longstanding ties to Columbia (Jerry Greene graduated from Columbia Law School in 1928), with multiple grants to Columbia Law School and other Columbia institutions

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals what attracts their support:

Organizational Characteristics:

  • Established track record: The foundation favors "pretty well-established organizations" with demonstrated impact
  • New York City focus: Strong preference for organizations serving New York City and all New Yorkers
  • Transformative impact: Their tagline emphasizes investing in organizations "that have transformative impact"
  • Long-term relationships: They "continue to support them throughout the years," indicating preference for multi-year partnerships

Strategic Priorities Under Current Leadership:

  • Organizations expanding access to education and the arts
  • Programs serving underserved communities and addressing systemic inequities
  • Initiatives making voting easier and more accessible
  • Support for reproductive freedom
  • Theater partnerships across NYC's outer boroughs

Grant Size Patterns:

  • Major transformational gifts ($5-15 million) to flagship institutions like Columbia Law School and Juilliard
  • Mid-range grants ($300,000-$1 million) to specialized programs
  • Multi-year commitments and matching challenges that leverage additional funding

Historical Connections:

  • Jerry Greene's personal affiliations continue to influence grantmaking
  • Organizations connected to Columbia University receive significant support
  • Institutions in arts, education, medicine, and social justice aligned with the Greene family's values

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - do not submit applications unless specifically invited
  • Established organizations preferred: Focus on building your organization's track record and visibility in the New York City nonprofit sector rather than pursuing this funder directly
  • Long-term partnerships: The foundation makes multi-year commitments to organizations they support, often continuing relationships over decades
  • Strategic shift: Under Christina McInerney's leadership since 2010, the foundation has moved from capital projects to program-related initiatives focused on access and equity
  • Significant grant sizes: When they commit, they commit substantially - recent grants range from $300,000 to $15 million
  • New York City impact required: Organizations must demonstrate significant impact on the lives of New Yorkers
  • Four focus areas only: Stay within arts, education, medicine, or social justice - the foundation does not stray from these areas

References

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