The Esther A And Joseph Klingenstein Fund Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,575,338 (2023)
• Total Assets: $123.3 million (2023)
• Decision Time: 4-5 months (neuroscience program)
• Grant Range: Varies by program; Neuroscience fellowships $450,000 over 3 years
• Geographic Focus: National (US-based institutions and organizations)

Contact Details

Address: 61 Broadway, Room 1601, New York, NY 10006-2756
Phone: 212-583-1100
Email: info@klingenstein.org
Website: https://klingenstein.org

Overview

Established in 1945 by Esther and Joseph Klingenstein, the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund (EAJK Fund) is a family-driven philanthropy now in its third generation of leadership. With total assets of $123.3 million and annual grant distributions of approximately $7.6 million (2023), the Fund operates under the umbrella of Klingenstein Philanthropies. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Andy Klingenstein since 2013, the Fund has maintained its commitment to investing in breakthrough neuroscience research while expanding into three additional strategic areas: helping communities mitigate climate change, improving early childhood mental health and well-being, and ensuring all children can read. The Fund's approach is characterized by patience, scientific rigor, long-term commitment to chosen fields, and collaboration with expert advisors. As stated in their philosophy: "We try to smell the flowers. The problems we're collaborating with others to solve are difficult and often long-standing, so it is important to celebrate the incremental successes of our partners, fellows, and grantees."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience

• $150,000 per year for three years ($450,000 total)
• Supports early career neuroscientists (maximum four years post-postdoc)
• Open application process via online portal (September 15 - February 1 annually)
• Awards announced in early June

Early Childhood Mental Health & Well-being

• Multi-year grants (typically 2-3 years)
• Invitation-only; Fund invites specific organizations to apply
• Focus on policy, research, and systems change
• Recent grantees include AppleTree Institute, Home Grown, Zero to Three, Stanford University Center on Early Childhood

Early Literacy

• Supports organizations ensuring all children can read
• Invitation-only grants
• Recent grantees include The Reading League, National Council on Teacher Quality, Relay Graduate School of Education, ExcelinEd

Environment/Climate Change Mitigation

• Focus on helping communities mitigate climate change through legal/policy tools
• Invitation-only grants
• Recent grantees include Georgetown Climate Center, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Smart Surfaces Coalition, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law

Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants Program (separate foundation under Klingenstein Philanthropies)

• $5,000 - $25,000 grants
• Open application (April 15 - May 31 annually)
• Supports health of Maine children (birth to 18 years old)

Priority Areas

Neuroscience Research

• Cellular and molecular neuroscience
• Neural systems research
• Translational research on neurological and psychiatric disorders
• High-risk, high-reward projects
• Basic research without immediate disease applications

Early Childhood

• Mental, emotional, and behavioral health of young children
• Focus on low-income families and under-resourced communities
• Educator training and caregiver support
• Systems change and policy advocacy

Early Literacy

• Evidence-based reading instruction
• Teacher quality and training
• Education policy and advocacy
• Implementation of science of reading

Climate/Environment

• Municipal climate adaptation and mitigation policies
• Building performance standards and decarbonization
• Clean energy and transportation ordinances
• Urban heat and flood resilience (smart surfaces)

What They Don't Fund

• Capital grants (building projects)
• Grants to individuals (except neuroscience fellowships)
• Organizations with budgets over $5 million (strong preference, particularly for Patricia D. Klingenstein program)
• Re-applications within 2 years of previous funding (for some programs)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• Andy Klingenstein - Chairman & CEO (Third generation; former lawyer and early-stage investor; devotes time to family philanthropies focused on scientific research, mental health, and early childhood development)
• Nancy Klingenstein Simpkins - Vice President (Board Chair of The Wild Center)
• Julie Klingenstein - Trustee
• Sally Klingenstein Martell - Trustee
• Al Klingenstein - Trustee
• Alexandra D. Klingenstein - Trustee
• Emma Brownstein - Trustee (Fourth generation, joined 2018)
• Greg Brownstein - Trustee
• Kathy Klingenstein - Trustee
• Zack Toal - Trustee

Staff

• Eliot Brenner, Ph.D. - Executive Director & Trustee (background in clinical psychology)
• Jay Andrews, Ph.D. - Program Officer
• Kathleen Pomerantz - Chief of Operations & Director of Fellowship Programs
• Jinmo Koo - Program Assistant

Leadership Philosophy

When John Klingenstein (Andy's father) took the reins in the early 1970s, "he applied his considerable business experience and engineering training toward bringing a more business-like and disciplined approach to philanthropy." This tradition continues with the current generation's emphasis on measurable results, expert collaboration, and strategic focus. The family values: "family involvement, patience and discipline, scientific research, measurable results, the advice of experts, and the joy that comes from helping make a difference in people's lives."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience (PUBLIC APPLICATION)

• Online application portal opens September 15, closes February 1 annually
• Eligibility: Tenure-track appointment or equivalent at US institution; maximum four years between completion of last postdoc and application deadline
• Application includes: confirmation letter from institution, research abstracts, detailed research plan (max 4 double-spaced pages, 11-point font, 1" margins), three letters of recommendation
• Each department may submit multiple individual applications
• Applications reviewed by Scientific Advisory Committee of distinguished neuroscientists
• Awards announced early June
• Contact: info@klingenstein.org for questions

Early Childhood, Early Literacy, and Environment Programs (INVITATION-ONLY)

• The Fund does not accept unsolicited applications for these programs
• The Fund strategically identifies and invites organizations to apply based on alignment with program goals
• Grants are made through strategic partnerships rather than open competitions

Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants Program (PUBLIC APPLICATION - Maine only)

• Online application portal opens April 15, closes May 31 annually
• Eligibility: Organizations promoting health of Maine children (birth to 18 years)
• Grant range: $5,000 - $25,000

Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Fellowship Program (NOMINATION-BASED)

• Department chairs at approved institutions nominate one candidate per fellowship area
• Nominees receive invitation to submit full application
• Separate foundation under Klingenstein Philanthropies umbrella

Decision Timeline

Neuroscience Fellowship: Application deadline February 1; awards announced early June (approximately 4 months)

Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants: Application deadline May 31; timeline not publicly specified

Success Rates

The Fund does not publicly disclose application numbers or acceptance rates for its neuroscience fellowship program. However, the program is described as "highly competitive with many strong applicants," and the Fund notes that "given the large numbers of highly qualified submissions, there is no guarantee that a re-submission will be successful."

Reapplication Policy

Neuroscience Fellowship: Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent years, though success is not guaranteed

Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants: Organizations that received funding must wait 2 years before reapplying

Application Success Factors

For Neuroscience Fellowship Applicants

Priority Factors the Fund Emphasizes:

• Career stage and funding history: "Priority will be given to candidates who may not have received substantial funding from other private awards yet have highly promising scientific careers"
• Institutional commitment: Must provide letter from institutional official confirming tenure-track appointment date and commitment of institutional resources
• Risk and reward: The Fund promotes "high-risk, and potentially high-reward, projects"
• Diversity and inclusion: The Fund welcomes "neuroscientists from underrepresented and minoritized backgrounds"

Research Plan Requirements:

• Concise (maximum 4 double-spaced pages including figures)
• Clear specific aims
• Relevance to neuroscience and neurological/psychiatric disorders explicitly stated
• Basic research without immediate disease applications is welcomed: "The fund recognizes that some of the most important contributions toward disease cures can come from basic research, without an immediate understanding of their relationship to disease"

Funding Disclosure:

• Applicants must inform the Fund of other funding sources
• While not strictly prohibited, the Fund "may take other funding into account when deciding whether to grant an Award"

Selection Philosophy: Fellows are selected based on "demonstrated research capabilities and potential for a successful career in neuroscience," with the Fund seeking those who have "made valuable contributions in their early research efforts, and who show the greatest promise for a successful research career"

For Organizations Seeking Invitation-Only Grants

Since early childhood, literacy, and environment grants are invitation-only, organizations cannot apply directly. However, understanding the Fund's strategic approach is valuable:

• The Fund relies on "scientific advisory committees with deep knowledge of their programmatic areas"
• They focus on "areas of greatest need and potential impact"
• They demonstrate "willingness to fund projects others may not support"
• They value "measurable results"
• They take a "long-term, patient approach to creating change"
• They prefer to support "systems change" rather than short-term interventions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• For neuroscience researchers: This is one of the nation's most prestigious early-career fellowships ($450,000 over 3 years). Apply between September 15 - February 1 if you're within 4 years post-postdoc and have tenure-track position at US institution. Emphasize high-risk/high-reward nature of research and demonstrate institutional commitment.

• For early childhood, literacy, or climate organizations: These are invitation-only programs. The Fund does not accept unsolicited applications. Do not submit proposals for these programs; the Fund strategically identifies partners.

• For Maine children's health organizations: The Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants Program ($5,000-$25,000) accepts open applications April 15 - May 31. Prefer organizations with budgets under $5 million.

• Funding philosophy matters: The Fund values patience, long-term commitment, measurable results, expert collaboration, and willingness to take risks on novel approaches. They celebrate "incremental successes" in difficult, long-standing problems.

• Diversity and inclusion: The neuroscience program explicitly welcomes applicants from underrepresented and minoritized backgrounds and prioritizes those who haven't received substantial prior private funding.

• Family-driven strategic philanthropy: Now in its third generation, the Fund maintains disciplined focus on chosen areas and stays the course once committed to a field. They operate more like strategic partners than traditional grantmakers.

• Expert review is central: All programs rely on scientific advisory committees or expert panels, not just trustee discretion, reflecting the Fund's commitment to rigorous, evidence-based decision-making.

References

• Klingenstein Philanthropies official website, https://klingenstein.org (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund page, https://klingenstein.org/esther-a-joseph-klingenstein-fund/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Neuroscience Fellowship application page, https://klingenstein.org/esther-a-joseph-klingenstein-fund/neuroscience/applying/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Leadership page, https://klingenstein.org/about-kp/leadership/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• About Klingenstein Philanthropies, https://klingenstein.org/about-kp/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Early Childhood grantees, https://klingenstein.org/esther-a-joseph-klingenstein-fund/early-childhood/grant-programs/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Early Literacy grantees, https://klingenstein.org/esther-a-joseph-klingenstein-fund/early-literacy/grantees/all-grantees/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Esther A And Joseph Klingenstein Fund Inc, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136028788 (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Simons Foundation - Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Awards, https://www.simonsfoundation.org/klingenstein-simons-fellowship-awards-in-the-neurosciences/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants Program, https://klingenstein.org/sadie-harry-davis-foundation/patricia-d-klingenstein-grants-program/applying/ (accessed January 21, 2026)
• Philanthropy News Digest - Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund Announces New President, https://philanthropynewyork.org/news/esther-joseph-klingenstein-fund-announces-new-president (accessed January 21, 2026)