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The Riggio Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $2.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,948,200 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $68 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $2,300,000
  • Number of Grants: 41 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City, with selective support nationwide
  • Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Address: The Riggio Foundation, 122 5th Ave., Ste. 10, New York, NY 10011

Phone: (212) 633-3375

Important Note: The foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Recommended approach is to call and introduce your work to get on their radar.

Overview

Established in 1994 by Leonard and Louise Riggio (founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble), the Riggio Foundation is a private New York-based philanthropic organization with approximately $68 million in assets. The foundation made 41 grants totaling nearly $3 million in 2023, continuing a long-standing commitment to arts and culture, education, health, and human services. The Riggios have a demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and diversity, with major initiatives including millions to establish Dia:Beacon, leading the nation's first-ever private endowment for a public high school (Brooklyn Technical High School), and pledging $20 million to rebuild homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina through their Project Home Again initiative. The New School honored Leonard and Louise Riggio at its 2007 LaGuardia Award Dinner, and Leonard Riggio received the Americanism Award from the Anti-Defamation League in November 2000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal programs. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project and organization:

  • Major Grants: $1 million - $2.3 million (for significant capital projects and endowments)
  • Mid-Level Grants: Typically ranging from $25,000 - $500,000
  • Small Grants: As low as $1,000 for specific initiatives

Recent major grants include:

  • $2 million to Spelman College for the Center for Innovation & the Arts
  • $1 million to establish the Leonard and Louise Riggio Scholarship Fund at Kingsborough Community College
  • $5.6 million to Weill Cornell Medicine to establish a named scholarship for medical students with financial need

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture:

  • Art museums and contemporary art institutions (Dia Art Foundation, Studio Museum)
  • Cultural centers and performing arts organizations
  • Public art initiatives
  • Arts education programs

Education:

  • HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
  • Community colleges
  • Medical education scholarships
  • Writing and democracy programs
  • Youth development through education
  • Support for public high schools

Health & Human Services:

  • Hospitals and medical colleges
  • Children's services
  • Housing and homelessness initiatives
  • Food security programs
  • Disaster relief and community rebuilding

Civil Rights & Social Justice:

  • Organizations promoting equity and diversity
  • Community leadership development
  • Children's advocacy

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation:

  • Only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations
  • Does not accept unsolicited requests for funds
  • Operates through trustee discretion rather than open application cycles

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Leonard Riggio (Trustee) - Founder and former chairman of Barnes & Noble; entrepreneur who built one of the largest enterprises in the history of American retail beginning with a single college bookstore in 1965
  • Louise Riggio (Trustee) - Co-founder and active philanthropist

Staff:

  • Maria Florez (CFO)

Leonard Riggio's Philanthropic Philosophy:

In discussing the foundation's New Orleans relief efforts, Riggio articulated their approach to giving: "How can we live here and have such a luxurious life and not share the bounty of our success with people who need it the most?" He described the New Orleans initiative as "an affair of the heart," demonstrating the foundation's values-driven, relationship-based approach to philanthropy.

Speaking about New Orleans' resilience: "No storm or flood or disaster could ever destroy this city, because its people are too resilient and too resourceful, too proud and too anchored in deep roots, to ever be washed away."

The foundation maintains a low profile and operates with a personal, relationship-focused approach to grantmaking rather than formalized processes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Riggio Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, Leonard and Louise Riggio, based on their philanthropic interests and relationships with organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Call to Introduce Your Work: The foundation can be reached at (212) 633-3375. Inside Philanthropy recommends calling to introduce your work and organization to potentially get on the foundation's radar for future consideration.

Alignment with Trustee Interests: Review the foundation's documented areas of support (arts and culture, education, health, human services, social justice) and ensure your organization's work strongly aligns with these priorities.

New York City Focus: The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York City, though they have supported select institutions nationwide (particularly HBCUs) and made a major commitment to New Orleans disaster relief.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a trustee-directed foundation making grants to preselected organizations, there is no standardized decision timeline.

Success Rates

With 41 grants made in 2023 from a pool of preselected organizations (no public application process), success rate data is not applicable in the traditional sense.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Strong Alignment with Trustee Values:

  • Social justice, equity, and diversity initiatives
  • Organizations serving underrepresented communities
  • Projects that combine arts/culture with community impact
  • Educational opportunities that expand access and reduce barriers

Geographic Considerations:

  • New York City organizations have clear advantage given primary funding focus
  • National organizations with compelling missions aligned with trustee interests (particularly HBCUs, major medical institutions, arts organizations) have received significant support
  • Demonstrated community impact and resilience (as evidenced by New Orleans support)

Institutional Relationships: Past grantees suggest the foundation supports:

  • Established institutions with strong reputations (Columbia University, Boston University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Spelman College)
  • Community-based organizations with proven track records (Children's Aid Society, Goddard Riverside Community Center)
  • Arts institutions advancing contemporary art and cultural access (Dia Art Foundation, Studio Museum, Korean Cultural Center)

Project Characteristics: Funded initiatives often include:

  • Capital campaigns for centers and facilities
  • Endowed scholarship programs
  • Long-term community development initiatives
  • Programs expanding educational or artistic access

Personal Connection: Leonard Riggio's own background (Brooklyn Technical High School alumnus, entrepreneur, art collector) influences giving, with support directed to his alma mater and arts organizations he personally values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals; grants are made to preselected organizations at trustee discretion
  • Relationship-Based Philanthropy: Personal connections and established relationships with the trustees appear critical to receiving funding
  • Values-Driven Grantmaking: The Riggios' commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, and arts access drives their philanthropic decisions
  • Significant Grant Capacity: With grants ranging from $1,000 to over $2 million, the foundation can support both major capital projects and smaller initiatives
  • NYC-Centric with Selective National Reach: Primary focus on New York City organizations, but willing to support compelling missions nationwide
  • Long-Term Commitment: Major initiatives like Project Home Again ($20 million) and scholarship endowments demonstrate willingness to make substantial, sustained investments
  • Consider Phone Introduction: While unsolicited proposals aren't accepted, calling to introduce your organization may be worthwhile if there's strong mission alignment

References

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