George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3,731,390 (2023)
Total Assets: $88.3 million (2024)
Grant Range: $5,000 - $300,000
Number of Grants: 64 grants awarded (2023)
Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and Virginia
Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 500 Mamaroneck Ave, Suite 301, Harrison, NY 10528

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website or publicly listed contact email/phone number.

Overview

The George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation was established in 1993 by businessman and conservationist George L. Ohrstrom Jr., who passed away in 2005. Mr. Ohrstrom was the long-time chairman of G.L. Ohrstrom & Co., a New York private equity firm founded by his father that helped develop several NYSE-listed companies including Dover Corp., Carlisle Cos., and Roper Industries Inc. As of 2024, the foundation holds assets of approximately $88.3 million and distributed $3.7 million in grants during 2023. The foundation is a private family foundation that continues the founder's philanthropic legacy, with family members serving as trustees. The foundation keeps a low profile and does not maintain a public website, focusing its grantmaking on health, education, and environmental conservation—areas that reflected George Ohrstrom Jr.'s personal passions, particularly his pioneering work with the Piedmont Environmental Council and conservation easements.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $300,000, with an average of 64-99 grants made annually.

Priority Areas

Health: The foundation has a strong focus on medical research and healthcare institutions, particularly cancer research and treatment.

Past recipients include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation

Environment: Reflecting the founder's conservation legacy, environmental protection and land conservation are core priorities.

Past recipients include North Shore Land Alliance and organizations in Virginia focused on land preservation
George Ohrstrom Jr. was the founder of the Piedmont Environmental Council and an early supporter of conservation easements

Education: The foundation supports educational institutions and initiatives, particularly those aligned with health and environmental fields.

Human Services: Some grantmaking to organizations providing direct services.

Past recipients include City Harvest (food rescue and distribution)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's focused grantmaking history suggests they:

Do not fund organizations outside their established priority areas
Do not typically fund start-up organizations without established track records
Concentrate giving in the New York metropolitan area and Virginia

Governance and Leadership

Key Officers and Trustees

Wright R.S. Ohrstrom - Vice Chairman

Son of founder George L. Ohrstrom Jr.
Partner at G.L. Ohrstrom & Co., LLC
Angel investor with family business background

Donald G. Calder - Vice Chairman

Former Chairman of Clear Harbor Asset Management
Former President of G.L. Ohrstrom & Co.
Director of Central Securities Corporation and Atlantic Salmon Federation (US)
Graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School

Alan S. Berlin - Vice Chairman

David W. Laughlin - Treasurer

Clarke Ohrstrom - Trustee

Daughter of founder George L. Ohrstrom Jr.
Co-Executive Director of The Ohrstrom Foundation (the separate foundation established by George L. Ohrstrom Sr. in 1955)
Board member of National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Virginia

George F. Ohrstrom - Trustee (son of founder)

Winifred O. Nichols - Trustee (daughter of founder)

All trustees serve without compensation according to IRS filings.

Family Legacy

George L. Ohrstrom Jr. (1927-2005) was survived by his wife Jacqueline, four children, and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Peter F.S. Ohrstrom. The foundation continues to be governed by family members who share his commitment to health, education, and environmental conservation. The family's involvement with conservation efforts, particularly through the Piedmont Environmental Council, spans decades and multiple generations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their knowledge of organizations and causes aligned with the foundation's mission.

Getting on Their Radar

This section is intentionally omitted as there is no documented public pathway for organizations to approach this foundation for funding. The foundation operates through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through internal trustee decisions rather than a formal application and review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there are no documented success factors for grant seekers to follow. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations they identify and select.

For organizations already supported by the foundation:

Continued alignment with the foundation's core priorities in health, education, and environment
Demonstration of impact and effective use of previous grants
Strong institutional reputation and financial sustainability
Projects that align with the founder's legacy, particularly in conservation and medical research

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, so traditional grant seeking strategies will not be effective
Trustee-directed grantmaking: All funding decisions are made internally by family trustees based on their priorities and relationships
Focused giving: The foundation concentrates on major institutions in health (particularly cancer research), environmental conservation (especially land preservation), and education
Geographic concentration: Primary focus on New York and Virginia, reflecting the family's connections to these regions
Legacy-driven: Grantmaking reflects George Ohrstrom Jr.'s personal passions, particularly his pioneering conservation work
Long-term relationships: Analysis of giving patterns suggests the foundation supports established institutions with which trustees have ongoing relationships
Substantial grants: With grants ranging from $5,000 to $300,000, this foundation can provide meaningful support when organizations are selected

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - George L Ohrstom Jr Foundation Inc (EIN 13-3415874). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133415874. Accessed January 12, 2026.
Inside Philanthropy - George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/george-l-ohrstrom-jr-foundation. Accessed January 12, 2026.
Cause IQ - George L. Ohrstrom JR. Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/george-l-ohrstrom-jr-foundation,133415874/. Accessed January 12, 2026.
Instrumentl - George L Ohrstrom Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/george-l-ohrstrom-jr-foundation. Accessed January 12, 2026.
The Chronicle of the Horse - Obituaries (George L. Ohrstrom Jr., October 21, 2005). https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/obituaries-102105/. Accessed January 12, 2026.
SourceWatch - George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_L._Ohrstrom,_Jr. Accessed January 12, 2026.
Atlantic Salmon Federation - USA Board of Directors (Donald Calder profile). https://www.asf.ca/about-us/directors-american/. Accessed January 12, 2026.
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership - Board Members (Clarke Ohrstrom). https://www.trcp.org/2021/02/09/theodore-roosevelt-conservation-partnership-welcomes-five-new-board-members/. Accessed January 12, 2026.