Andrew And Ann Tisch Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8.8 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $6.1 million
• Geographic Focus: New York-based with national reach

Contact Details

• Phone: (212) 521-2930
• Address: 655 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10065
• Website: None (foundation does not maintain a public website)
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

Established in 1992 by the late Laurence A. and Wilma S. Tisch, the Andrew And Ann Tisch Foundation Inc is a private grant-making foundation with assets of approximately $17 million and annual giving around $8.8 million. The foundation, led by Andrew H. Tisch (former Co-Chairman of Loews Corporation) and Ann Rubenstein Tisch (former NBC correspondent and founder of the Young Women's Leadership Network), takes a hands-on approach to philanthropy with a strong focus on education access, youth development, and Jewish causes. The foundation maintains a deliberately low public profile and operates exclusively through invitation-only grants to pre-selected organizations, with no public application process available.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but makes substantial contributions ranging from $1,000 to over $6 million to pre-selected organizations.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Education (K-12 and higher education) - with emphasis on access for underserved communities
• Youth Causes - particularly educational initiatives for young women
• Jewish Causes - supporting major Jewish communal organizations

Secondary Areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Health and Medical Research
• Environmental Conservation
• Policy and Community Development
• Women and Girls' Empowerment

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation only funds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Governance and Leadership

Officers:

• Andrew H. Tisch - President and Director (Cornell '71, Harvard MBA '77; Director Emeritus, Loews Corporation; extensive board service including Cornell, Harvard Business School, Wildlife Conservation Society)
• Ann R. Tisch - Senior Vice President and Director (Former NBC correspondent; Founder/President, Young Women's Leadership Network; Board of Trustees, Washington University)
• Alan H. Hirschfeld - Secretary
• Barry L. Bloom - Treasurer

Ann Tisch on their approach: "Money without action wouldn't change anything" - emphasizing their hands-on involvement with grantees.

Andrew Tisch on faculty support: "We didn't want to put so many restrictions on it that the university couldn't operate with free hands."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on their giving patterns, organizations connected to the foundation through:

• The Tisches' extensive board affiliations at Cornell University, Weill Cornell Medicine, NYU Tisch School, Washington University, and Harvard Business School
• Ann Tisch's Young Women's Leadership Network and related educational initiatives in NYC
• Jewish communal organizations where Andrew serves in leadership, including the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
• The Wildlife Conservation Society where Andrew serves as Trustee/Secretary
• Organizations introduced through their professional network in New York philanthropic circles

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no formal application cycle

Success Rates

Not publicly available due to invitation-only model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - foundation operates by invitation only

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only foundation, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, based on their giving patterns:

• Institutional credibility: The foundation strongly favors established institutions with proven track records, particularly in education
• Alignment with founders' direct involvement: Organizations where the Tisches serve on boards or have personal connections receive priority
• Education access focus: Projects that expand educational opportunities for underserved communities, particularly young women, align with Ann Tisch's lifelong work
• Long-term partnerships: The foundation maintains multi-year relationships with core grantees like Cornell ($55+ million in gifts), Young Women's Leadership Network, and major Jewish organizations
• Flexibility in implementation: Andrew Tisch has noted they prefer not to impose heavy restrictions, allowing institutions to operate with "free hands"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only foundation with no public application process - unsolicited proposals will not be considered
• Focus areas are highly personal to the founders: education (especially Cornell affiliates), youth development (particularly young women), and Jewish causes
• The foundation makes very substantial gifts (up to $6.1 million) to institutions with strong personal connections
• Ann Tisch is known for hands-on involvement - as Andrew noted: "A socialite goes to the lunch to honor a school in Harlem; Ann goes to the school"
• Building genuine relationships through shared institutional connections is the only pathway to consideration
• Geographic preference for New York-based organizations, though national institutions with strong ties are supported
• The foundation values unrestricted support that allows institutions flexibility in implementation

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Andrew And Ann Tisch Foundation Inc Profile. Accessed January 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133693583
• Inside Philanthropy - Andrew and Ann Tisch Foundation Profile. Accessed January 2025. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/andrew-and-ann-tisch-foundation
• Candid Foundation Directory - Andrew And Ann Tisch Foundation Inc. Accessed January 2025. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=TISC005
• Cornell Chronicle - "Ann and Andrew Tisch gift $20M to Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech" (2022)
• Goucher College - "$1 Million Gift from Ann and Andrew Tisch" announcement
• Form 990-PF filings (2022-2024) via ProPublica and GuideStar
• Grantmakers.io - Foundation Profile. Accessed January 2025. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/133693583-andrew-and-ann-tisch-foundation-inc/