Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $14-16 million
- Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
- Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
- Grant Range: Varies widely (average ~$525,000)
- Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City
Contact Details
- Address: 655 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10065
- Website: None
- Phone: Not publicly available
- Email: Not publicly available
- Application Process: Invitation-only (does not accept unsolicited applications)
Overview
The Alice M And Thomas J Tisch Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1993 that distributes approximately $14-16 million annually to preselected charitable organizations. With assets of $10.9 million (2024), the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly does not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals. Led by Thomas J. Tisch (son of billionaire businessman Laurence Tisch) and his wife Alice M. Tisch, the foundation focuses on education, arts and culture, healthcare, and Jewish causes, with a strong geographic preference for New York City-based organizations. The foundation maintains a low public profile with no website and limited public information about its grant-making activities.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes substantial contributions to preselected organizations:
- Education: Major gifts to universities and youth development programs
- Arts & Culture: Significant support for major museums and cultural institutions
- Healthcare: Focus on pediatric health initiatives
- Jewish Community: Support for Jewish social service organizations
Priority Areas
- Higher education (Brown University, NYU, Barnard College)
- Youth development in underserved communities (KIPP NYC, Harlem Children's Zone)
- Major arts institutions (MoMA, Metropolitan Museum, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall)
- Pediatric healthcare (NYU Langone's KiDS of NYU)
- Jewish community services and cultural organizations
What They Don't Fund
- Unsolicited proposals or applications
- Organizations without pre-existing relationships with the trustees
- Individual requests
- Organizations outside their established network
Governance and Leadership
Thomas J. Tisch (President, Director): Born 1953, Brown University B.A. (1976), NYU School of Law J.D. (1979). Managing Partner of Four Partners investment firm. Former Chancellor of Brown University (2007-2016), NYU Medical Center board member, and co-owner of the New York Sun. Son of late billionaire businessman Laurence Tisch.
Alice M. Tisch (Director): Board and Executive Committee member of Museum of Modern Art, chairing MoMA's Acquisitions Department of Architecture & Design. Trustee of NYU Langone Medical Center, where she led the KiDS of NYU pediatrics initiative for over 20 years. Co-Chairman of the Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services.
Both trustees receive no compensation from the foundation and are deeply embedded in New York's philanthropic community through their board positions and leadership roles.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or proposals. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations within their established network.
Getting on Their Radar
Organizations receive funding through:
- Board service connections where Thomas or Alice Tisch hold leadership positions (Brown University, NYU Langone, MoMA, Jewish Board)
- Personal relationships with the Tisch family developed through New York philanthropic circles
- Connections through major NYC cultural, educational, and healthcare institutions
- Introductions from organizations already in the foundation's portfolio
The Tisches are particularly active in NYC arts circles (especially through MoMA), higher education leadership (Brown and NYU), and Jewish community organizations.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - grants are made at trustees' discretion to preselected organizations.
Success Rates
Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Application Success Factors
Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive funding share these characteristics:
- Direct board connections: Organizations where Thomas or Alice Tisch serve in leadership roles receive the most significant and sustained support
- Mission alignment: Strong track record in education, arts, healthcare, or Jewish community services
- Institutional reputation: Established, well-regarded institutions rather than newer organizations
- Geographic proximity: NYC-based organizations or institutions with strong NYC connections
- Long-term relationships: Evidence shows the Tisches make sustained, multi-year commitments rather than one-time grants
- Network connections: Organizations introduced through trusted sources within the Tisch philanthropic network
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Do not submit unsolicited proposals - they will not be considered under any circumstances
- Relationship-building is essential - funding only comes through pre-existing connections with the trustees
- Board service matters - organizations where the Tisches serve on boards receive major support
- Focus on networking through NYC arts, education, and healthcare philanthropic circles
- Geographic location is critical - overwhelming preference for NYC-based organizations
- Long-term commitment is valued - the foundation maintains decades-long relationships with core grantees
- No public-facing grant process exists - all funding decisions are made internally by trustees
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings for Alice M And Thomas J Tisch Foundation Inc (2023-2024)
- Candid Foundation Directory - Alice M And Thomas J Tisch Foundation profile
- Cause IQ - Foundation profile and grant recipient data (2023-2024)
- Inside Philanthropy - Tisch family philanthropy profiles and grant-making patterns
- Brown University official announcements regarding Thomas J. Tisch chancellorship and major gifts
- Museum of Modern Art board listings and trustee profiles
- NYU Langone Medical Center trustee information and KiDS of NYU initiative documentation
- Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services leadership profiles
- Various news articles documenting major gifts and philanthropic activities (2020-2024)
- Dates accessed: January 2025