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Lily Auchincloss Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

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Lily Auchincloss Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.5M
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: New York City (5 boroughs)

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1997 to continue the philanthropic legacy of Lily Auchincloss (1922-1996), the Lily Auchincloss Foundation envisions a more affordable and vibrant New York City. With assets of approximately $47 million, the foundation distributes $4.3-4.5 million annually through both competitive grant programmes and discretionary awards. The foundation has awarded over 1,500 grants totalling more than $23 million since its inception, focusing exclusively on enriching the lives of New Yorkers through support for the arts, built and natural environments, and human services. Under the leadership of President Alexandra A. Herzan (Lily Auchincloss's daughter), the foundation has recently shifted its strategy, narrowing its arts funding scope while expanding environmental support, with environmental organisation Riverkeeper receiving significant funding including the foundation's largest grant of $100,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Foundation Grants (3 annual cycles):

  • Human Services (January deadline): $3,000 - $40,000 for prevention, social change, and education programmes serving NYC residents. Organisations with budgets under $70M eligible.
  • Environmental & Preservation (April deadline): $5,000 - $100,000 for NYC history, parks, gardens, and environmental education. Organisations with budgets under $70M eligible.
  • Arts (September deadline): $5,000 - $30,000 for organisations providing FREE exhibitions, performances, and arts education (3+ years history required). Organisations with budgets under $40M eligible.

Discretionary Awards: $3,000 - $100,000 (nomination only by Board and Advisory Council members, not renewable)

Priority Areas

  • Free access to arts programming and exhibitions
  • Environmental conservation and clean water advocacy
  • Historic preservation and public gardens
  • Youth development and education programmes
  • Food security and emergency services
  • Mental health and social services
  • Professional support for artists (free/low-cost studio space, equipment, career services)

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Programmes outside NYC's five boroughs
  • Research projects
  • Medical or health programmes
  • Universities or schools
  • Organisations with tax-exempt status pending
  • Multi-year grants (though renewal applications accepted)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Alexandra A. Herzan (President and Treasurer) - Also serves as trustee of Museum of Modern Art, Fountain House, van Ameringen Foundation, and Riverkeeper
  • Lily A. Herzan (Vice President & Assistant Treasurer)
  • Paul K. Herzan
  • Janet Levoff (Secretary)
  • Lynne Harlow
  • Ingrid Dyott
  • Lee A. Link (Emeritus)

In recent years, the foundation has invited community members and past grantees to assist in the grant evaluation process, demonstrating a commitment to participatory grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Online portal only - no paper applications accepted
  • Organisations may apply only once per year, to one category only
  • Sample applications and budgets available on website
  • No supplementary materials accepted
  • Organisations with budgets over $1M must provide audited financial statements
  • Organisations under $1M need signed 990

Decision Timeline

  • Human Services: Applications typically open in December, deadline in January, awards announced in April
  • Environmental & Preservation: Applications typically open in March, deadline in April, awards announced in June
  • Arts: Applications typically open in August, deadline in September, awards announced in November
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from deadline to notification

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, the foundation notes an "overwhelming number of applications" in its arts category, which led to narrowed criteria. Competition appears significant across all funding categories.

Reapplication Policy

  • Past grantees may reapply annually
  • No waiting period for unsuccessful applicants
  • Past grantees applying for renewal may include brief description of previous grant impact
  • No final reports required for one-time grants

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding patterns and stated priorities:

Strong Alignment Indicators:

  • Organisations providing completely FREE services or programming (emphasised multiple times in arts criteria)
  • Environmental organisations focused on clean water and NYC parks/gardens
  • Small to mid-size organisations (most grants $15,000-$30,000)
  • General operating support requests (majority of funded proposals)
  • Organisations serving multiple NYC boroughs

Application Strategy:

  • Choose the grant cycle that best matches your organisation's primary mission
  • Education programmes should select the category (Human Services, Arts, or Environmental) that best fits programme focus
  • Organisations with $10M+ budgets must apply for programme support, not general operating
  • Include fiscal sponsor information clearly if applicable

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

  • Don't apply if tax-exempt status is pending - must have IRS determination letter
  • Don't submit supplementary materials - they won't be reviewed
  • Don't apply to multiple categories - one application per year only
  • Don't assume arts funding if you're an arts organisation - review narrowed criteria carefully

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Limited Arts Funding: Foundation has significantly narrowed arts grants due to overwhelming demand - focus must be on FREE access programmes with 3+ years history
  • Environmental Priority: Environmental organisations receive substantial foundation support, with clean water advocacy and NYC parks/gardens as particular areas of focus
  • Operating Support Friendly: Majority of grants are for general operating support rather than project-specific funding
  • No Reporting Burden: One-time grants require no final reports, reducing administrative burden
  • Community-Informed Decisions: Past grantees and community members participate in grant evaluation
  • Nomination Path Available: Organisations unable to apply competitively might cultivate relationships with Board/Advisory Council members for discretionary award nominations
  • Mid-size Sweet Spot: Foundation targets small to mid-size organisations; very large organisations (over $40-70M budgets) are ineligible

References

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