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Greentree Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.7M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,701,850 (charitable disbursements, 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,000 (Good Neighbor grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Long Island (North Hempstead area), with broader reach to Boston, Bronxville, Covington, Islip, Manhasset, and Melville across Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New York
  • Total Assets: $334.8 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 220 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030

Phone: (516) 684-2500

Website: http://gtftew.org and http://greentreefdn.org

Good Neighbor Fund Inquiries: goodneighborfund@aol.com

Good Neighbor Grant Applications (via Manhasset Community Fund):

Overview

The Greentree Foundation was established in 1982 by Betsey Cushing Whitney to support groups that want to improve education and lessen social and cultural tensions. Named after the historic Whitney family estate in Manhasset, the foundation operates as a private operating foundation on a 406-acre property featuring a state-of-the-art conference facility. With total assets of $334.8 million and annual charitable disbursements of $7.7 million (2024), Greentree pursues a dual mission: advancing international peace, human rights, and cooperation among nations through its conference center work with the United Nations and other international organizations; and supporting local Long Island communities through grant programs. The foundation has made significant contributions to educational achievement and community development, particularly through its Good Neighbor Fund which has distributed $2.7 million since 2003 and its Teachers' Ecology Workshop, now in its 14th year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Good Neighbor Fund ($5,000 - $10,000 per grant)

  • Administered through the Manhasset Community Fund
  • Annual contribution of approximately $185,000 from Greentree Foundation
  • Since 2003, has distributed over $2.7 million in grants
  • Application deadline: March 1st annually
  • Distributed 23 grants totaling $186,600 in 2018
  • Recent years: 3 awards in 2022, 4 awards totaling $451,500 in 2023

Teachers' Ecology Workshop

  • Year-long professional development program for educators
  • Operated in partnership with Seatuck Environmental Association
  • Founded in 2012, now in its 14th year
  • Provides up to 70 hours of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)
  • Option to earn up to 6 graduate credits through Adelphi University
  • Application deadline: May 1st annually

Priority Areas

Local Community Support (Good Neighbor Grants):

  • Education programs, particularly STEM/STEAM initiatives
  • Food security and hunger relief
  • Senior citizen services and facilities
  • Community health services
  • Child abuse prevention and family support
  • Guidance and counseling services
  • Youth development programs
  • Technology upgrades for educational institutions
  • Organizations addressing priority needs in the Town of North Hempstead

Education Focus:

  • Projects that provide clearly defined participatory roles for schools, parents, children, and community-based organizations
  • Initiatives that enhance educational achievements
  • Programs that lessen social and cultural tensions through education
  • Environmental education and outdoor learning for Long Island students

International Peace and Human Rights:

  • The foundation's conference facility hosts UN Secretary-General retreats
  • Supports international diplomatic negotiations
  • Provides neutral meeting space for leaders, scholars, and nongovernmental officials

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in available materials, though the Good Neighbor Fund is restricted to tax-exempt organizations serving the Town of North Hempstead.

Governance and Leadership

Nicholas Gabriel - President and Treasurer (Compensation: $442,711)

Kate R. Whitney - Vice President and Trustee

Ahmad Dawwas - Director, Conference (Compensation: $247,846)

Ramandip Kaur - Director of Finance (Compensation: $212,788)

Leadership Perspective: Nicholas Gabriel stated about the Greentree Foundation: "What this place is about... was to leave this place to do something good into the future." This quote reflects the foundation's commitment to both preserving the Whitney family legacy and using the property's resources for community benefit and international peacebuilding.

Manhasset Community Fund Connection: Tom O'Malley serves as a trustee of the Manhasset Community Fund and has been involved with administering the Greentree Foundation's Good Neighbor grant program, noting that the program "has been attempting to address priority needs in North Hempstead."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Good Neighbor Fund Grants: Applications are submitted through the Manhasset Community Fund, not directly to the Greentree Foundation.

Process:

  1. Download application materials from Manhasset Community Fund website (www.manhassetcommunityfund.org/grants-application/)
  2. Complete cover sheet, financial summary, and proposal narrative using provided template
  3. Submit by March 1st deadline
  4. Electronic submission required to both:
  5. Physical submissions can be sent to: Manhasset Community Fund, PO Box 322, Manhasset, NY 11030
  6. Specific Greentree Good Neighbor Fund inquiries: goodneighborfund@aol.com

Eligibility: All tax-exempt organizations that serve the people of the Town of North Hempstead are eligible to apply.

Teachers' Ecology Workshop:

  • Application deadline: May 1st
  • Apply through Greentree Foundation website
  • Eligibility: Active NYS certified teachers or administrators working in school districts on Long Island, Queens, or Brooklyn
  • Commitment: Must attend all 12 days (5 days in July plus 7 field trips throughout the school year)

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines from submission to decision are not publicly disclosed. Grant announcements appear to be made after the March 1st deadline, with distributions occurring throughout the year.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available. In 2018, 23 organizations received Good Neighbor grants totaling $186,600. Recent years show 3-4 awards annually from the general foundation (separate from the Good Neighbor Fund administered through Manhasset Community Fund).

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated in available materials. The foundation's multi-year partnership with organizations and continued annual funding to the Manhasset Community Fund suggests that past grantees are eligible to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission: The foundation prioritizes "focused projects initiated by local community groups that provide clearly defined participatory roles for schools, parents, children and community-based organizations in order to enhance educational achievements and lessen social and cultural tensions." Applications should explicitly demonstrate how they engage multiple stakeholder groups collaboratively.

Geographic Fit: For Good Neighbor grants, organizations must serve the Town of North Hempstead. The foundation has funded organizations from Great Neck to Bethpage and Freeport.

Types of Projects Funded: Based on 2018 grant recipients, successful applications have included:

  • Adventures In Learning: $10,000 for STEM/STEAM education programs
  • Island Harvest: $10,000 for food collection and distribution
  • Port Washington Senior Citizens Center: $10,000 for facility improvements
  • Science Museum of Long Island: $10,000 for technology upgrades
  • Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services: $8,500 for counseling services
  • Child Abuse Prevention Services: $5,000 for family support programs
  • COPAY: $10,000 (community organization serving youth)

Practical Community Impact: The foundation values tangible community improvements—facility upgrades, technology improvements, direct services, and programs with measurable benefits to North Hempstead residents.

Educational Focus: Given the foundation's emphasis on education and the Teachers' Ecology Workshop program, projects that enhance educational opportunities or support teachers and students are well-aligned with funding priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply through the right channel: Good Neighbor grants are administered by the Manhasset Community Fund, not directly by Greentree Foundation. Use the Manhasset Community Fund application process.
  • Emphasize collaboration: The foundation explicitly seeks projects with "clearly defined participatory roles for schools, parents, children and community-based organizations"—demonstrate multi-stakeholder engagement.
  • Geographic eligibility is strict: You must serve the Town of North Hempstead to be eligible for Good Neighbor Fund grants.
  • Grant amounts are modest: Good Neighbor grants typically range from $5,000-$10,000, so budget proposals accordingly.
  • Education and social cohesion: Projects that both improve educational outcomes AND reduce social/cultural tensions are most aligned with the foundation's core mission.
  • Long-term commitment: With over $1 million donated to the Good Neighbor program since inception and 14 years of the Teachers' Ecology Workshop, the foundation values sustained impact over time.
  • Dual mission awareness: While local grants focus on North Hempstead, understanding the foundation's broader mission of international peace and human rights can help frame how local educational projects contribute to building peaceful, inclusive communities.

References

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