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Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$39.8M
Grant Range
$1K - $2.9M

Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $39,802,900 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $403,894,894 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $2,925,000
  • Median Grant: $27,304
  • Geographic Focus: National (concentrated in New York, Washington DC, and California)
  • Application Process: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: New York, NY

Website: Not publicly available

Leadership Contact:

  • Sara Kay, CEO
  • Dana C. Newberry, COO
  • Maya Yael Jakubowicz, COO

Note: The Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.

Overview

The Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust was established in 2001 by real estate developer and philanthropist Bernard Spitzer and his wife Anne. The Trust's assets grew dramatically in 2014 when Bernard Spitzer left $250 million to the Trust upon his death, more than quintupling its roughly $40 million in assets at that time. The foundation's mission is to support advocacy for social change that promotes human dignity and contributes to a more just, democratic, and environmentally sustainable world. As of 2017, the Trust focuses primarily on three program areas: Democracy, Environment, and Equitable Growth. The foundation awarded 172 grants in 2023 and has made 344 grants totaling $84,065,832 across 24 states throughout its history. The Trust maintains a relatively low public profile and operates with limited staff, taking a proactive approach to grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust makes grants primarily in three program areas:

  • Democracy: Supporting projects and research that advance public policy, immigrant rights, democracy protection, and legal services
  • Environment: Environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives
  • Equitable Growth: Economic justice and equity programs

Additional focus areas based on tax filings:

  • Arts and Culture: Supporting major artistic and cultural institutions (particularly in New York City)
  • Education: Educational initiatives and scholarships
  • Jewish Causes: Jewish cultural and religious organizations

Priority Areas

The Trust has demonstrated support for:

  • Human rights advocacy and civil liberties organizations
  • Public policy research and advocacy
  • Immigrant rights initiatives
  • Democratic institutions and voting rights
  • Environmental conservation
  • Legal services and justice reform
  • Major cultural institutions (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Shakespeare Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Museum of Jewish Heritage, WAMC Northeast Public Radio)
  • Educational institutions and scholarship programs

Recent major grant: $25 million to the City College of New York to support the school of architecture, including undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, study-abroad opportunities, supplemental stipends for faculty, and faculty research, publications, and exhibitions (2024).

Past Grantees

Organizations that have received grants from the Trust include:

  • Global Justice Center
  • Physicians for Human Rights
  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
  • Brennan Center for Justice ($1,050,000 in 2018)
  • Alliance for Justice (AFJ)
  • American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS)
  • Center for Law and Social Policy
  • Hopewell Fund
  • Proteus Fund
  • Center for American Progress (CAP)
  • NEO Philanthropy (over $1 million)

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available, but the Trust's invitation-only model means they proactively identify organizations aligned with their three core program areas rather than responding to general requests.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Anne Spitzer (Co-Founder)
  • Emily Spitzer
  • Daniel Evan Spitzer
  • Eliot L. Spitzer (former New York Governor)

Senior Staff

  • Sara Kay, CEO: Brings over a decade of experience in the progressive non-profit sector with a background in litigation. Previously served as Head of Advocacy and Health Equity Programmes at The Atlantic Philanthropies, where she developed the Foundation's concluding U.S. health equity and advocacy portfolio during its final phase of grantmaking. She also held positions at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NY eHealth Collaborative.
  • Dana C. Newberry, COO
  • Maya Yael Jakubowicz, COO

The Trust operates as a family foundation with trustees being members of the Spitzer family.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals, requests for funding, or letters of inquiry.

Grants are awarded through proactive identification by the Trust's board and staff of organizations that align with their strategic priorities in Democracy, Environment, and Equitable Growth.

Grant Characteristics

  • Grant type preference: The Trust tends to award unrestricted general operating cost grants rather than project-specific grants
  • Grant amounts: Vary widely, typically ranging from $500 to $1 million, with individual grants historically ranging from $1,000 to $2,925,000
  • Geographic distribution:
    • New York: 128 grants (37% of US giving)
    • Washington, DC: 106 grants
    • California: 37 grants
    • Additional grants across 21 other states

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available, as the Trust operates on an invitation-only basis without a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the Trust operates by invitation only.

Application Success Factors

Since the Trust operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

  • Alignment with core program areas: Strong focus on Democracy, Environment, or Equitable Growth
  • Advocacy orientation: The Trust supports "advocacy for social change" and has funded numerous policy advocacy organizations
  • Progressive values: Tax filings and past grantees indicate support for progressive causes and social justice
  • Established track record: Many grantees are well-established organizations with significant impact in their fields
  • Operating support needs: The Trust's preference for unrestricted general operating grants suggests they value supporting organizations' overall mission rather than just specific projects
  • Geographic concentration: While the Trust makes grants nationally, there is significant concentration in New York, Washington DC, and California, particularly urban areas

Past grantees span from large, nationally recognized institutions (ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice, major cultural institutions) to smaller advocacy organizations, suggesting the Trust supports organizations of varying sizes that align with their mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications - they proactively identify and approach organizations for funding
  • Unrestricted support: The Trust strongly prefers general operating grants over project-specific funding, indicating confidence in grantee organizations' overall missions
  • Progressive advocacy focus: While supporting arts and education, the Trust's core mission centers on advocacy for social change in democracy, environment, and economic equity
  • Significant capacity: With over $400 million in assets and nearly $40 million in annual grantmaking, the Trust is a major funder capable of substantial grants
  • Family foundation structure: Decision-making involves the Spitzer family trustees working with experienced professional staff
  • Long-term relationships: The Trust appears to maintain ongoing relationships with grantees rather than one-time awards
  • Geographic preferences: While national in scope, there is clear geographic concentration in New York, Washington DC, and California - regions with high concentrations of policy advocacy organizations

References

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