← Back to US Funders Directory

Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$9.6M
Grant Range
$13K - $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$9.6 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months
  • Grant Range: $13,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Long Island and New York metropolitan area

Contact Details

Website: https://rdlgfoundation.org
Phone: 631-594-3990
Email: gardiner@rdlgfoundation.org
Address: 30 West Main Street, Suite 309, Riverhead, NY 11901
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm

Key Contacts:

Overview

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation was established in 1987 by Robert David Lion Gardiner, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner's Island, which has been owned by the Gardiner family since 1639 through a royal grant from King Charles I. With total assets of approximately $115 million and annual expenses of $9.6 million, the foundation is dedicated to educating, cultivating, and encouraging the study and understanding of Long Island and New York's role in American history. The foundation focuses on supporting museums, historical sites, and cultural institutions through grants for preservation, education, and public programming.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Structural Stabilization & Restoration: Up to $500,000 (historic buildings and sites)
  • Adaptive Reuse: Up to $500,000 (repurposing historic structures)
  • Collections Conservation: Up to $300,000 (preserving artifacts and objects)
  • Cataloguing & Digitalization: Up to $300,000 (organizing and digitizing collections)
  • Collections Care: Up to $300,000 (ongoing maintenance and storage)
  • Exhibitions: Up to $100,000 (creating and mounting exhibits)
  • Education Programs: Up to $100,000 (educational initiatives)
  • Public Programs: Up to $50,000 (community outreach)
  • Publications: Up to $50,000 (books, catalogs, materials)
  • Events and Community Activities: Up to $50,000
  • Cohalan Scholarship: $40,000 (for American History students)

Priority Areas

  • Historic preservation and restoration
  • Museum collections and exhibitions
  • Educational programming about Long Island and New York history
  • Cultural heritage preservation
  • Digital archiving and cataloguing
  • Community engagement through historic sites

What They Don't Fund

  • Tuition remission
  • Staff salaries
  • Property purchase
  • Lobbying activities
  • Fundraising campaigns
  • Indirect costs/overhead
  • Research projects
  • Pre-award expenses
  • Insurance costs
  • Debt service or interest payments

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Kathryn M. Curran ($205,047 compensation)
Administrative Director: Terry Tirado ($145,458 compensation)
Treasurer/Secretary: Lynne C. Nowick ($90,000 compensation)

The foundation maintains its connection to the Gardiner family legacy, with the historic Gardiner's Island now managed by Alexandra Goelet, descendant of the original family line.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the foundation's online portal at rdlgfoundation.org/application. The foundation operates on a two-cycle annual schedule with fixed deadlines. Pre-application consultation is strongly recommended, particularly for structural projects.

For Structural/Restoration grants, special requirements apply:

  • All matching funds must be secured before application
  • Consultation with NY Preservation League and NY Landmarks Conservancy required
  • All permits and contractor bids must be in place

Decision Timeline

  • Spring Cycle: Applications due March 6, decisions by May 15, notifications by May 31
  • Fall Cycle: Applications due August 7, decisions by November 6, notifications by November 26
  • Total time from submission to notification: approximately 2.5-3 months

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation actively funds numerous projects annually across Long Island and New York City.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply in subsequent grant cycles. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to attend the foundation's annual grant workshop for guidance on strengthening future applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding patterns and requirements:

  • Strong alignment with Long Island/New York history: Projects must directly relate to the region's historical significance
  • Matching funds secured: Larger organizations face higher match requirements (up to 100% for budgets over $1 million)
  • Complete documentation: For structural projects, all permits, bids, and consultations must be complete before applying
  • Clear educational component: Projects should demonstrate how they will educate the public about regional history
  • Realistic budgets: In-kind contributions limited to 20% of match, cannot include staff hours
  • Workshop attendance: The foundation offers annual grant workshops to help organizations understand funding opportunities

Recent successful projects include the Green-Wood Cemetery's $500,000 Research Center, the Museum of the City of New York's Revolutionary War exhibition, and the Waterfront Museum's collections digitization project.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Regional focus is mandatory: Only fund projects related to Long Island and New York's historical role
  • Match requirements scale with organizational size: Prepare adequate matching funds based on your budget tier
  • Structural projects need extensive preparation: Complete all planning, permits, and fundraising before applying
  • Two annual opportunities: Plan submissions for either March or August deadlines
  • Educational mission essential: All projects must have clear public education components
  • Attend the annual workshop: Scheduled for January 15, 2026, provides valuable insights and networking
  • No operating support: Focus requests on specific projects rather than general operations

References

← Back to US Funders Directory