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The Freeman Foundation

Annual Giving
$19.1M
Grant Range
$3K - $7.4M

The Freeman Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $19,080,000 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 69 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $7,354,658 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Vermont (environmental grants) / National (Asian studies grants)
  • Application Method: No public application process / Partnership-based

Contact Details

Primary Office (Honolulu):

  • Address: 1601 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848
  • Phone: 808-944-7663

Stowe, Vermont Office:

  • Address: 499 Tabor Hill Road, Stowe, VT

New York Office:

  • Managed through J.P. Morgan, New York

EIN: 13-2965090

Overview

The Freeman Foundation was established in 1993, one year after the death of Mansfield Freeman, to fulfill his philanthropic vision. Mansfield Freeman, who spent his early career teaching at Tsinghua University in Beijing before helping to found what became American International Group (AIG), placed a significant portion of his assets in a trust in 1978 to fund the foundation upon his death. The foundation operates with offices in Honolulu, Stowe (Vermont), and New York, and has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars globally. With $19.08 million in annual giving (2023), the foundation pursues a dual mission: strengthening bonds between the United States and East Asia through educational and cultural exchange programs, and preserving Vermont's natural resources including forests, farmlands, and waterways. The foundation operates with an exceptionally lean structure, with family members personally reviewing applications and conducting site visits rather than employing traditional program officers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Asian Studies & Educational Exchange (National)

  • Freeman-ASIA Program: $3,000 (summer), $5,000 (semester), $7,000 (academic year) for undergraduate study abroad in East/Southeast Asia
  • University/College Institutional Grants: Varies widely, supporting Asian studies programs, internships, and fellowships at 33+ U.S. colleges and universities
  • ASIANetwork Student-Faculty Fellows: $7,354,658 total funding (1998-2023) supporting 256 grants to 1,248 fellows from 120 institutions
  • K-12 Education Programs: Support for teachers and curriculum development focused on Asia

Vermont Environmental & Historic Preservation (Vermont only)

  • Land Conservation: Major conservation easements and land protection projects
  • Historic Preservation (via Preservation Trust of Vermont): $25,000 - $45,000, typically awarded annually in spring for Northeast Kingdom historic buildings
  • Environmental Protection: Forest, farmland, and waterway conservation projects

Policy & Humanitarian Relief

  • Policy research organizations (CSIS, Brookings Institute)
  • Disaster relief in Southeast Asia, Japan, Vietnam, and Samoa
  • Humanitarian organizations (Red Cross)

Priority Areas

U.S.-East Asia Relations:

  • Educational exchanges and study abroad programs in East/Southeast Asia
  • Asian studies programs at undergraduate and graduate institutions
  • K-12 curriculum development and teacher training on Asia
  • Cultural exchange programs promoting mutual understanding
  • International policy research focused on U.S.-Asia relations

Vermont Environmental Conservation:

  • Land conservation and conservation easements
  • Historic preservation (particularly in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom)
  • Forest and farmland protection
  • Waterway and natural resource conservation
  • Projects requiring strong community support and volunteer engagement

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has a tightly focused mission and geographic scope. Based on their dual-mission structure:

  • Asian studies grants are limited to educational and cultural exchange purposes
  • Environmental and preservation grants are limited to Vermont
  • The foundation does not appear to support causes outside these two core areas

Governance and Leadership

The Freeman Foundation is managed by the Freeman family, specifically:

Houghton "Buck" Freeman - Chair of the Board of Trustees. Born in China and fluent in Chinese, Buck Freeman personally reviews grant applications and conducts site visits.

Doreen Freeman - Board of Trustees member and Buck's wife

Graeme Freeman - President (appointed 2010), previously Executive Director since the foundation's establishment in 1993. Buck and Doreen's son.

Staffing Structure: The foundation operates with minimal staff - Graeme Freeman manages operations with one part-time lawyer and one full-time assistant from a modest office in a Stowe shopping center. All three family members are deeply involved in reviewing applications and site visits. Investment management and much of the program administration is handled by J.P. Morgan in New York.

On Education Priorities: Graeme Freeman has stated that "the critical factor is and has been teachers" who are "at the forefront of change and of our educational efforts." He emphasized: "If there weren't teachers with the interest to teach about Asia, students wouldn't be learning about it."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Freeman Foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation operates through established partnerships and relationships rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Their grantmaking is primarily administered through:

  1. Partner Organizations Acting as Quasi-Program Officers:

    • Vermont Land Trust (for land conservation grants)
    • Preservation Trust of Vermont (for historic preservation grants)
    • Institute of International Education (for Freeman-ASIA student scholarships)
    • Individual colleges and universities (for institutional Asian studies support)

  2. Institutional Partnerships: For Asian studies grants, the foundation works directly with 33+ U.S. colleges and universities that have established relationships with the foundation. These institutions administer Freeman Foundation grants and scholarships to their students.

  3. Trustee Discretion: Grant decisions are made by the Freeman family trustees based on their knowledge of organizations, site visits, and recommendations from partner organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

For Vermont Environmental/Preservation Projects:

  • Work with Preservation Trust of Vermont: Organizations interested in historic preservation grants should contact PTV's Preservation Field Staff to discuss projects before applying. PTV grants are typically awarded "after ongoing work with the Preservation Trust."
  • Partner with Vermont Land Trust: For land conservation projects, establish a relationship with VLT, which helps recommend and monitor grantees to the Freeman Foundation.
  • Demonstrate Community Support: The foundation values projects with "strong community support, as demonstrated by volunteer and fundraising efforts."

For Asian Studies Programs:

  • The foundation identifies institutions through their decades-long involvement in the field and typically works with colleges and universities that have demonstrated commitment to Asian studies.
  • Historically, the foundation has been approached directly by educational institutions, but given their lean staffing and established partnerships, new relationships likely develop through sector connections and the Freeman family's extensive knowledge of the Asian studies field.

General Approach:

  • The foundation conducts extensive site visits, so demonstrating tangible work and community impact is essential.
  • Given the family's hands-on approach, building genuine relationships within their existing network of partner organizations may be the most viable path.

Application Success Factors

For Vermont Projects:

  1. Strong Community Engagement: The foundation values projects that demonstrate "strong community support, as demonstrated by volunteer and fundraising efforts." Show that your project has grassroots backing and isn't just a top-down initiative.

  2. Partnership Approach: Success in Vermont grants typically requires working through established partner organizations (Vermont Land Trust for conservation, Preservation Trust of Vermont for historic preservation) rather than direct approaches.

  3. Long-term Conservation Impact: For environmental projects, the foundation has supported some of Vermont's largest conservation initiatives, including $4.5 million for conservation easements on 132,000 acres of Champion Paper Co. lands - "the largest in state history."

  4. Ongoing Relationships: Historic preservation grants are typically awarded "after ongoing work with the Preservation Trust," suggesting that one-off projects or first-time applicants need to build relationships over time.

For Asian Studies Programs:

  1. Focus on Teachers: Graeme Freeman has emphasized that "the critical factor is and has been teachers." Programs that invest in teacher training and support are aligned with the foundation's priorities.

  2. K-12 Through Higher Education: The foundation wants to "expose Americans to Asia with a focus on students from kindergarten through higher education," indicating support across all educational levels.

  3. Mutual Understanding: Projects should promote genuine cultural exchange and understanding, not just one-directional learning. The mission emphasizes developing "a better understanding of American institutions and purposes on the part of the peoples of East Asia" alongside American appreciation of Asian cultures.

  4. Institutional Commitment: The foundation works with institutions showing long-term commitment to Asian studies, not one-off programs or opportunistic grant-seeking.

General Success Factors:

  1. Alignment with Dual Mission: Projects must fit squarely within either the U.S.-East Asia educational/cultural exchange mission OR Vermont environmental conservation - the foundation does not stray from these focus areas.

  2. Lean Operation Appreciation: The foundation operates with minimal staff and values efficient, well-managed organizations that don't require extensive oversight.

  3. Site Visit Readiness: The Freeman family personally conducts site visits, so organizations should be prepared to demonstrate tangible work and impact on the ground.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Focus on building relationships with their partner organizations (Vermont Land Trust, Preservation Trust of Vermont) or work through established institutional partnerships for Asian studies programs.

  • Geographic Specificity Matters: Environmental and preservation grants are exclusively for Vermont; Asian studies grants are distributed nationally. Do not apply for Vermont environmental funding if you're outside the state.

  • Multi-Year Track Record Required: Particularly for Vermont preservation grants, success typically comes "after ongoing work with the Preservation Trust," indicating the need for established relationships before funding.

  • Community Support is Non-Negotiable: The foundation values projects with demonstrated grassroots community engagement, volunteer participation, and local fundraising efforts - not just institutional applications.

  • Teachers are the Priority: For Asian studies programs, Graeme Freeman has explicitly stated that teachers are "the critical factor" and are "at the forefront of change." Programs should invest in teacher development.

  • Expect Personal Engagement: With family members personally conducting site visits and reviewing applications, be prepared for hands-on engagement and direct accountability.

  • Think Partnership, Not Transaction: The foundation operates through trusted partner organizations rather than transactional grantmaking. Position your organization as a long-term partner in their mission rather than a one-time grant recipient.

References

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