Gerry Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,859,408 (2022); $6,594,276 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars (up to $2,500 for Sullivan Renaissance Business Assistance Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Sullivan County, New York (highly localized)
• Total Assets: Approximately $107 million

Contact Details

Gerry Foundation Inc

• Address: PO Box 311, Liberty, NY 12754
• Phone: (845) 295-2400
• Contact: Igor Birman
• Website: None (foundation does not maintain a public website)

Sullivan Renaissance Program (primary grant program)

• Email: info@sullivanrenaissance.org
• Phone: (845) 295-2445
• Website: Now merged with Sullivan 180 at sullivan180.org

Overview

The Gerry Foundation Inc was established in 1996 by Alan Gerry, billionaire founder of Cablevision Industries Corporation (sold to Time Warner for $2.7 billion), and his wife Sandra Gerry. With approximately $107 million in assets, the foundation is dedicated exclusively to stimulating economic activity and revitalizing Sullivan County in Upstate New York, where Alan Gerry grew up. The foundation operates with a deliberate low profile and does not maintain a public website. In recent years, annual giving has ranged from $1.8 million to $6.6 million, supporting 67-83 organizations annually. The foundation's primary vehicle for community grantmaking is Sullivan Renaissance, a beautification and community development program founded in 2000 by Sandra Gerry, which merged with Sullivan 180 in 2023. The foundation focuses on reversing the economic decline Sullivan County experienced after the collapse of the Catskill tourism industry. Notable projects include the restoration of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival site as the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sullivan Renaissance/Sullivan 180 Programs (primary grantmaking vehicle)

• Business Assistance Grants: Up to $2,500 for landscaping, signage, façade improvements, and outdoor seating
• Beautification Grants: Seed money for community beautification projects
• School Beautification Grants: Available to schools in Sullivan County
• Municipal Partnership Grants: For local government beautification initiatives
• Community Development Grants: Supporting neighborhood revitalization
• Healthy Community Initiatives: Supporting health-related community projects
• Capital Improvement Grants: For physical infrastructure improvements
• Seasonal Property Enhancement: Supporting seasonal improvements to properties

Direct Foundation Grants

• Larger institutional grants ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars
• Support for education, health, arts and culture, and community services

Priority Areas

• Community Beautification: Landscaping, façade improvements, public space enhancement
• Economic Development: Projects that stimulate business activity and job creation in Sullivan County
• Education: Schools, scholarship programs, educational institutions serving Sullivan County
• Health: Healthcare facilities and health-related services in Sullivan County
• Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions and programs (including support for major institutions like Bethel Woods)
• Community Services: Human services organizations serving Sullivan County residents
• Historic Preservation: Libraries, churches, and historic community institutions

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Restrictions (Primary exclusion):

• Organizations not based in or serving Sullivan County, New York
• The foundation's grantmaking is highly targeted and dedicated to this limited geographic area

Note: The foundation does not publish a formal list of exclusions beyond the geographic restriction. Given the focus on community development and beautification, it appears unlikely they fund:

• National organizations without Sullivan County presence
• Individual grants (except through scholarship programs)
• Programs outside their stated priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Key Leaders:

• Alan Gerry: Founder, billionaire cable television entrepreneur who created the foundation to revitalize his native Sullivan County
• Sandra Gerry: Co-founder, life-long Sullivan County resident, educator and former teacher, Founder and Chair of Sullivan Renaissance (2000-2023)
• Igor Birman: Foundation contact and staff member

Foundation Philosophy (Based on Alan Gerry's statements): Alan Gerry has stated that "Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the not-for-profit Gerry Foundation was never meant to make money but to help reinvigorate development in the area." This reflects the foundation's core mission of community revitalization rather than traditional philanthropy.

The foundation operates under a family-driven model with the Gerrys maintaining close involvement in grantmaking decisions. According to observers, "During the last several decades, Alan and Sandra Gerry have focused on philanthropic endeavors, helping the community where they've found so much success. Their influence extends widely: From the emergency room at Catskill Regional Medical Center to SUNY Sullivan, college scholarship opportunities, Sullivan Renaissance and now Sullivan 180, there's hardly any major institution in Sullivan County where the Gerrys' influence is not felt."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Sullivan Renaissance/Sullivan 180 Grants:

1. Visit sullivan180.org/grants-scholarships for current grant opportunities
2. Request an application by emailing info@sullivanrenaissance.org with:
   • Your name
   • Project location
   • Whether it was a past Renaissance project
   • Best way to reach you
3. Applications are available online with varying deadlines depending on grant category
4. A limited number of projects are funded each year through a competitive process

Direct Foundation Grants:

• The foundation does not maintain a public website or open application portal for direct grants
• According to available information: "requires a letter including pertinent information and purpose of funds"
• Send written proposals to: Gerry Foundation Inc, PO Box 311, Liberty, NY 12754
• Contact Igor Birman at (845) 295-2400 for guidance

Important Note: This funder is characterized as "neither accessible nor transparent" and "prefers a low-profile and proactive grantmaking close to the funder's personal interest areas." It operates primarily through trustee-initiated relationships and the Sullivan Renaissance competitive process.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish specific decision timelines. Given the competitive nature of Sullivan Renaissance grants with annual cycles and the foundation's reported 67-83 grants per year, decisions appear to be made on a rolling or annual basis depending on the program.

Success Rates

2022: 83 grants awarded totaling $1,859,408 2021: 80 grants awarded 2020: 67 grants awarded 2024: 11 grants awarded totaling $6,594,276 (suggesting larger institutional grants)

The number of applications received is not publicly disclosed, so success rate percentages cannot be calculated. However, the language "a limited number of proposals are funded each year" suggests a competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. However, the foundation has funded past grantees multiple times (organizations are asked to indicate "whether it was a past Renaissance project" in applications), suggesting that previous recipients can and do reapply successfully.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Essential:

• Organizations must demonstrate clear service to Sullivan County residents and communities
• Projects should contribute to the visible revitalization of Sullivan County
• Connection to the local community is paramount

Alignment with Foundation Mission:

• Projects that contribute to economic revitalization and community beautification are strongly preferred
• Proposals should show how they reverse economic decline or enhance quality of life
• Visible, tangible community improvements are favored over abstract programming

Strategic Considerations Based on Past Grants: Past successful grantees include:

• Church of St. Peter (religious/historic institution)
• Daniel Pierce Library (educational/community resource)
• Liberty History and Art Center (cultural institution)
• Monticello Central School (education)
• New York Philharmonic and St. Patrick's Cathedral (major cultural institutions, suggesting some funding beyond Sullivan County for organizations with prestige or special connection to founders)

Relationship Building:

• The foundation operates with "low-profile and proactive grantmaking close to the funder's personal interest areas"
• Building connections within Sullivan County's nonprofit community may be beneficial
• Participation in Sullivan Renaissance programs may provide visibility for organizations seeking larger foundation grants
• Observers note it "will be hard to get on this funder's radar and even more difficult to contact them, except by snail mail"

For Sullivan Renaissance Grants Specifically:

• Business grants limited to $2,500 focus on curb appeal: landscaping, signage, façades, outdoor seating
• Community beautification projects should engage volunteers and enhance public spaces
• Design consultations are available as part of the support offered

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic restriction is absolute: If your organization doesn't serve Sullivan County, NY, do not apply. This is the foundation's unwavering priority.

• Start with Sullivan Renaissance/Sullivan 180: This is the most accessible entry point to Gerry Foundation funding, with clear application processes and multiple grant categories.

• Think beautification and visibility: Projects with visible, tangible community improvement outcomes align best with the foundation's beautification mission.

• Understand the low-profile approach: This foundation does not seek publicity and maintains minimal public presence. Direct, professional, written communication via mail is most appropriate.

• Leverage the Gerry legacy: Understanding Alan and Sandra Gerry's commitment to reversing Sullivan County's economic decline can inform how you frame your project's impact.

• Build local connections: Given the foundation's proactive approach and limited accessibility, relationships within Sullivan County's nonprofit community may help organizations get on the foundation's radar.

• Be patient and persistent: With no website and limited transparency, gaining access to direct foundation funding requires patience. Starting with smaller Sullivan Renaissance grants may open doors to larger institutional support.

References

1. Grantmakers.io Profile - Gerry Foundation Inc. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/141798234-gerry-foundation-inc/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

2. Inside Philanthropy - Gerry Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/gerry-foundation (Accessed February 24, 2026)

3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Gerry Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/141798234 (Accessed February 24, 2026)

4. Sullivan County Democrat - "Alan Gerry looks back on legacy of Woodstock and Bethel Woods" https://www.scdemocratonline.com/stories/alan-gerry-looks-back-on-legacy-of-woodstock-and-bethel-woods,14026 (Accessed February 24, 2026)

5. The Catskill Chronicle - Sullivan Renaissance. https://thecatskillchronicle.com/sullivan-renaissance/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

6. Sullivan 180 - "Sullivan 180 Announces 2025 Grants" https://sullivan180.org/news/sullivan-180-announces-2025-grants (Accessed February 24, 2026)

7. Sullivan 180 - Grants & Scholarships. https://sullivan180.org/grants-scholarships (Accessed February 24, 2026)

8. Sullivan County Partnership - "Sullivan Renaissance provides assistance to 24 businesses" https://scpartnership.com/sullivan-renaissance-provides-assistance-to-24-businesses/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)

9. Instrumentl - Gerry Foundation Inc 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/gerry-foundation-inc (Accessed February 24, 2026)

10. Wikipedia - Alan Gerry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Gerry (Accessed February 24, 2026)