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Lily Auchincloss Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.4M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

Lily Auchincloss Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.3M - $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 programs and discretionary awards. The foundation has awarded over 1,500 grants totaling 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 organization Riverkeeper receiving its largest grant of $100,000 in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Foundation Grants (3 annual cycles):

  • Human Services (January deadline): $3,000 - $40,000 for prevention, social change, and education programs serving NYC residents. Organizations with budgets under $70M eligible.
  • Environmental & Preservation (April deadline): $5,000 - $100,000 for NYC history, parks, gardens, and environmental education. Organizations with budgets under $70M eligible.
  • Arts (September deadline): $5,000 - $30,000 for organizations providing FREE exhibitions, performances, and arts education (3+ years history required). Organizations 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 programs
  • 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
  • Programs outside NYC's five boroughs
  • Research projects
  • Medical or health programs
  • Universities or schools
  • Organizations 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)

Advisory Council:

  • Lauren Tsuboyama
  • Jonathan Bock

Staff:

  • Rossana Martínez (Foundation Manager)
  • Kira Feldman (Archives & Database)

Since 2022, 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
  • Organizations may apply only once per year, to one category only
  • Sample applications and budgets available on website
  • No supplementary materials accepted
  • Organizations with budgets over $1M must provide audited financial statements
  • Organizations under $1M need signed 990

Decision Timeline

Using Human Services 2026 cycle as example:

  • Application Opens: December 15, 2025
  • Deadline: January 15, 2026, 5:00 PM EST
  • Review Period: January - February 2026
  • Awards Announced: April 2026
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from deadline to notification

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, the foundation made:

  • 2024: 165 grants totaling $4,342,000
  • 2023: 149-157 grants totaling $4,513,000 Given the foundation's note about "overwhelming number of applications" leading to narrowed arts criteria, competition appears significant.

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:

  • Organizations providing completely FREE services or programming (emphasized multiple times in arts criteria)
  • Environmental organizations focused on clean water and NYC parks/gardens (61% of 2023 grants)
  • Small to mid-size organizations (most grants $15,000-$30,000)
  • General operating support requests (majority of funded proposals)
  • Organizations serving multiple NYC boroughs

Application Strategy:

  • Choose the grant cycle that best matches your organization's primary mission
  • Education programs should select the category (Human Services, Arts, or Environmental) that best fits program focus
  • Organizations with $10M+ budgets must apply for program 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 organization - 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 programs with 3+ years history
  • Environmental Priority: Environmental organizations received 61% of 2023 grants, with largest single grant ($100,000) to Riverkeeper
  • 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: Since 2022, past grantees and community members participate in grant evaluation
  • Nomination Path Available: Organizations 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 organizations; very large organizations (over $40-70M budgets) are ineligible

References

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