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The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

Annual Giving
$19.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $10.0M

The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $19 million
  • Total Assets: Approximately $332 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,000,000+
  • Average Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: New York City (almost exclusively)
  • Application Process: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 156 West 56th Street, Suite 2001, New York, NY 10019

Phone: 212-792-9900

Email: info@lmtif.org

Website: https://thelmtif.org

Overview

The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund was founded in 2007 by philanthropist Laurie M. Tisch, building upon her decades of experience serving on boards and developing partnerships. With assets of approximately $332 million, the foundation makes about $19 million in grants annually, with almost all funding staying within New York City. The foundation's mission is "to increase access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and foster healthy and vibrant communities." The Fund has been recognized for its innovative approach to philanthropy, particularly its pioneering work connecting arts and health. Laurie Tisch was named a Notable Leader in Philanthropy 2025 by Crain's New York Business. Since its founding, the fund has granted more than $100 million to promote healthy food, arts, and mental health initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Arts in Health Initiative - $25 million total commitment In 2018, the Illumination Fund launched its Arts in Health initiative, supporting approximately 30 organizations throughout New York City. This program supports organizations using artistic disciplines (visual art, dance, music, theater, and film) to address mental health stigma, trauma, and aging-related diseases. A major component includes embedding arts programs into NYC Health + Hospitals, with a $3 million expansion grant awarded in 2024.

Play to Thrive Initiative - $10 million multi-year commitment (launched 2025) A new youth sports and health initiative supporting organizations that use sports to improve youth mental health, expand access for underserved communities, and promote equity across New York City and beyond. Initial recipients include State of Soccer NYC/Northern NJ, Playworks, and Street Soccer USA.

Healthy Food Program - $15 million five-year commitment Supports "novel strategies to increase access, availability, affordability and knowledge of healthy foods" throughout New York City's lower-income neighborhoods. Past grantees include NYC Green Carts (a pioneering $1.5 million public-private partnership creating permits for vendors selling fresh produce in food deserts), City Harvest, and Wholesome Wave.

Access to the Arts Program Focuses on New York's landmark cultural institutions and increasing access to enrichments for all New Yorkers. Major grants have included $10 million to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts to create an Illumination Lawn. Grantees include the Whitney Museum, Lincoln Center, Roundabout Theatre, and DreamYard Project.

Civic Engagement Program Funding organizations that mobilize communities toward social change.

Jewish Life Program Limited in scope, supporting only a handful of organizations in the areas of Jewish community development and cultural expression, exploration, and communication, both in the U.S. and Israel.

Priority Areas

  • Arts and culture with emphasis on accessibility for all New Yorkers
  • Arts as a tool for health, healing, and building understanding
  • Food access and nutrition in underserved communities
  • Youth development through sports and recreation
  • Mental health stigma reduction
  • Community engagement and social change
  • Jewish cultural and community development

What They Don't Fund

The fund focuses almost exclusively on New York City organizations. The foundation works primarily with well-established organizations and cultural institutions rather than emerging nonprofits.

Governance and Leadership

Founder and President: Laurie M. Tisch founded the Illumination Fund in 2007 and serves as President. She brings decades of experience in philanthropy and board leadership. According to her, "I have my own thing, the foundation, and I run it as a business." She has stated that "To me, the arts are not a luxury; they're essential, particularly when it comes to health. Everyone deserves access to the arts, regardless of their circumstances."

Executive Director: Rick Luftglass serves as Executive Director and Secretary (compensation: $380,623). His career has spanned private foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporate philanthropy, and government consulting, with expertise in health care, the arts, education, community and economic development, housing, urban history, and immigrant communities.

Staff: The Illumination Fund operates with a lean staff of three seasoned professionals with more than 50 years of collective experience in philanthropy and related fields.

Other Leadership Roles: Laurie Tisch is also a former Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Whitney Museum of American Art (where she founded the Laurie M. Tisch Education Center), former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, serves on the Board of Directors at The Juilliard School, and is a Trustee of the Aspen Institute.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "does not accept unsolicited requests for funding" and works through invitation-only partnerships. The fund "generates initiatives through targeted research and long-term partnerships" rather than responding to unsolicited proposals.

Exception for Targeted RFPs: Occasionally, the fund issues specific Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for targeted initiatives. For example, in 2021 they announced an RFP for their COVID-19-related Arts & Mental Health Program. When such RFPs are active, specific application instructions and contact information (such as rfp@lmtif.org) are provided.

Getting on Their Radar

The Illumination Fund identifies potential partners through its own targeted research and existing networks within the New York City nonprofit sector. Specific strategies based on the fund's documented approach include:

Demonstrate Deep NYC Community Impact: The fund seeks organizations with proven track records serving New York City communities, particularly underserved populations. University Settlement, for example, received a two-year grant to deepen an existing relationship with their Creative Center.

Participate in Sector Collaborations: The fund invests in partnership models and networks. Their recent partnership with the Jameel Arts & Health Lab at NYU Steinhardt to establish a city-wide Healing Arts network demonstrates their interest in convening practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. Being active in such collaborative spaces may increase visibility.

Align with Strategic Initiatives: The fund's roadmap emphasizes "innovative partnerships, community-centered approaches, and research and evaluation." Organizations that can demonstrate innovation in their field, particularly connecting arts to health or nutrition to community development, align with the fund's stated priorities.

Connect Through Cultural Institutions: Given Laurie Tisch's leadership roles at the Whitney Museum, Lincoln Center, and The Juilliard School, organizations with connections to major NYC cultural institutions may have pathways to the fund's attention.

Engage with Project Play/Aspen Institute: With the new Play to Thrive initiative being developed with the Aspen Institute's Project Play (where Laurie Tisch serves as a Trustee), organizations working in youth sports may find connection points through these networks.

Application Success Factors

The Illumination Fund looks for organizations and initiatives that align with their distinctive approach to philanthropy:

Long-Term Partnership Orientation

The fund emphasizes that it "works through long-term partnerships with well-known organizations and cultural institutions" and demonstrates "serious engagement with the grantee." According to Inside Philanthropy, "they are not passive funders but actively involved partners." Organizations should be prepared for sustained collaboration rather than transactional grant relationships.

Innovation and Catalytic Impact

The fund's recent roadmap emphasizes "innovative partnerships" and they seek organizations pioneering new approaches. Their Green Carts initiative, for instance, was described as a novel public-private partnership addressing food deserts in a creative way. Their Arts in Health work is described as "catalyzing the field of arts in healthcare."

Community-Centered Approaches

The fund's roadmap specifically calls out "community-centered approaches" as a priority. Organizations should demonstrate how their work directly responds to community needs and includes community voice in program design.

Research and Evaluation Capacity

"Research and evaluation" is explicitly mentioned in the fund's strategic directions. Organizations that can document impact and contribute to field knowledge are valued. The fund's partnership with NYU's Jameel Arts & Health Lab demonstrates their interest in building evidence for innovative approaches.

Well-Established Track Record

Inside Philanthropy notes that "most grantees are well-established organizations and cultural institutions." While the fund supports innovation, they appear to favor organizations with proven capacity and stability.

Strategic Alignment with NYC Needs

The fund's focus is clear: "Almost all grantmaking stays in New York City." Organizations must demonstrate deep understanding of and commitment to serving New York communities, particularly underserved populations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Do not submit unsolicited proposals - This foundation does not accept them and explicitly works by invitation only. Focus instead on building visibility within NYC nonprofit networks.

  • Think partnership, not grant - The fund seeks "long-term partnerships" with "serious engagement," not one-time funding relationships. Any approach should emphasize sustained collaboration.

  • Innovation matters - The fund is interested in "novel strategies" and "catalyzing" fields. Demonstrate how your approach is pioneering or breaks new ground in addressing community needs.

  • NYC focus is absolute - Almost all funding stays in New York City. Organizations outside NYC or without deep NYC community connections should look elsewhere.

  • Scale and capacity are important - Most grantees are "well-established organizations and cultural institutions." Emerging organizations may face barriers unless they're part of a targeted initiative.

  • Watch for rare RFPs - While general applications aren't accepted, the fund occasionally issues specific RFPs for targeted initiatives (like their 2021 Arts & Mental Health Program). Monitor their website and Philanthropy New York announcements.

  • Arts-health intersection is a priority - With a $25 million commitment to Arts in Health and ongoing expansion, organizations working at this intersection are clearly aligned with current strategic priorities.

References

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