Fordham Street Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-0532818 · since 2004fordhamstreet.org·New York, United States, Washington·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
Typically $20,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$20,000
Typical grant (median)
50 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • Fordham Street Foundation funds public education and educational equity, so a nonprofit whose work centres on children's academic achievement fits its themes, and it gives preference to programmes in Washington State and New York while occasionally considering applications from across the United States.
  • Its typical grant is $20,000, and its largest grant in the filing was $65,000, so a request of around $20,000 is realistic; only a small number of single-year programme grants of up to $20,000 are open to new applicants.
  • In its most recent filing, 84% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, so the foundation seems relationship-led and new applicants should expect a harder route.
  • Email a brief programme summary first to ask whether the work is likely to fit, then submit a proposal signed by the executive director and board chair by 12 January each year, explaining how you will leverage existing resources, build partnerships and measure success.
  • Organisations that are not 501(c)(3) organisations, private foundations or governmental entities, and those seeking individual scholarships or international grants, should not apply.

Overview

Fordham Street Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Fordham Street Foundation supports initiatives that improve public education and reduce racial and socio-economic disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes. It seeks effective nonprofit organisations committed to giving all children access to excellent teaching and experiences that improve academic performance and long-term personal success. Its grants help children of colour succeed in school. Most resources support the general operations of long-term grantees; a small number of single-year programme grants are available to new applicants. Its efforts focus on human or direct services, education, training and resource development, and advocacy and policy work. It gives preference to programmes in Washington State and New York, while occasionally considering applications from organisations across the United States. It encourages applicants to identify ways to leverage existing resources and build partnerships, and favours projects with lasting benefits and clear measures of success.

Themes

  • Public education
  • Educational equity
  • Children's academic achievement

Geographic Focus

United States. Priority: Washington State; New York.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations that are not 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Private foundations and/or other governmental entities
  • Individual scholarships or international grants

How to apply

Applicants should submit a proposal dated and signed by the organisation’s executive director and board chair, preferably by email; US Mail or a delivery service is also accepted.

Deadlines: Grant applications are due on or before 12 January each year.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 143 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The Foundation encourages potential grantees to identify ways to leverage existing resources and build partnerships.
  • Applicants may email a brief programme summary before a full application to ask whether it is likely to be a good fit.
  • The Foundation favours proposals with opportunities for lasting benefit or change and significant anticipated benefit.
  • It values opportunities to leverage complementary funded efforts and work with other organisations or foundations.
  • Applicants should explain how they measure programme or organisational success.
  • When a site visit is requested, board members observe the programme and meet staff at the applicant’s location.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

New York55%
Washington36%
California5%
Massachusetts4%
  • The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations Fordham Street Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

50 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 50 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k94%
$25k–$50k6%

Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Funds for the City of New York · Funding for general charitable operations
    $40,0002024 tax year
  • Parent Institute for Quality Education · Funding for general charitable operations
    $40,0002024 tax year
  • Bard College · Funding for general charitable operations
    $25,0002024 tax year
  • East African Community Services · Funding for general charitable operations
    $20,0002024 tax year
  • East Side House · Funding for general charitable operations
    $20,0002024 tax year
  • Edge Foundation · Funding for general charitable operations
    $20,0002024 tax year
  • Educational Video Center · Funding for general charitable operations
    $20,0002024 tax year
  • Eskolta Research and Design · Funding for general charitable operations
    $20,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Emily C Stork — Secretary
  • Judith A Bigelow — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$1,123,670$920,000$20,761,781Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$1,234,784$1,030,000$25,634,825Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$1,165,548$1,045,000$26,414,854Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Other sources

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