The Teagle Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Teagle Foundation funds work that strengthens liberal arts education, with themes covering humanities in general education, civic learning and liberal arts transfer, and its geographic focus is the United States.
- Typical grants to organisations range from $600 to $125,000, with a median of $25,000, so a modest request fits most applicants, though its stated ranges for single-programme work are $100,000–$400,000 for implementation grants and $100,000–$250,000 for single institution grants.
- The Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis, starting with a brief concept paper submitted in response to a current request for proposals, with only a limited number invited afterwards to submit a full proposal.
- A large share, 81%, of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, suggesting that it leans toward sustained relationships with grantees rather than one-off funding, so new applicants should expect a competitive process.
- It will not fund individuals, international travel, indirect or overhead costs, organisations that are not tax-exempt 501(c)3 bodies, or organisations not based in the United States, so those outside this scope should not apply.
Overview
The Teagle 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
The Teagle Foundation seeks to strengthen liberal arts education and make its benefits broadly accessible. It invites two- and four-year colleges, universities, higher-education consortia and nonprofit entities committed to the liberal arts to pursue work under its initiatives. Its grantmaking emphasises revitalising the humanities in general education, helping underserved high-school students explore purpose and civic responsibility, and building transfer pathways to complete liberal arts degrees. It also supports efforts to prepare students for informed participation in the civic life of New York City. The Foundation’s approach centres on faculty leadership in transforming undergraduate education and widening access to liberal arts learning.
Themes
- Humanities in general education
- Civic learning
- Liberal arts transfer
Geographic Focus
United States.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- International travel
- Indirect or overhead costs
- Organizations that are not tax-exempt 501(c)3 organizations
- Organizations that are not based in the United States
How to apply
Prospective grantees submit brief concept papers in response to a current request for proposals. After review, a limited number are invited to submit full proposals.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 81% 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 469 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants should put engaged student learning in the liberal arts at the centre of their institution’s mission.
- The Foundation favours institutions that allocate resources to sustain this mission.
- It looks for stable enrolments and finances.
- It values systematic assessment of student progress.
- It is interested in institutions serving underrepresented populations and communities.
- The Foundation pays attention to the student profile and is interested in reaching students from low-income backgrounds and those underrepresented by race and ethnicity.
- Concept papers should explain how the project will strengthen the institution and sustain changes beyond the grant.
- Applicants should show cost-sharing wherever possible, using direct costs borne by their institutions.
- Grantees are required to provide annual narrative and financial reports.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 24%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 25%
- The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations The Teagle 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
How much do they typically give?
Share of 138 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $32,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Bard College · Endowment Gift$1,000,0002024 tax year
- International Scholarship & Tuition · Scholarship Program$608,0002024 tax year
- California Maritime Academy Foundation · Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative$245,0002024 tax year
- North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities · Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts initiative$175,0002024 tax year
- North Carolina State University · Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative$175,0002024 tax year
- Vanderbilt University · Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative$175,0002024 tax year
- University of Massachusetts Amherst · Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative$150,0002024 tax year
- New England Board of Higher Education · Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts initiative$143,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mary Dana Hinton — Director
- Eric O Fornell — Director
- W Scott Essex — Director
- Andrew Delbanco — President
- Ann-Marie Buckley — CFO / Treasurer / Secretary
- Elizabeth S Boylan — Chair
- Gregory Brown — Director
- Sheryl Hilliard Tucker — Director
- Saskia Levy Thompson — Director
- Brian Rosenberg — Director
- Grant A Porter — Director
- Elsa M Nunez — Director
- Kevin W Murphy — Director
- Roosevelt Montas — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $11,566,716 | $6,987,507 | $157,504,856 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $14,912,329 | $9,246,981 | $165,384,050 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,137,282 | $8,564,349 | $169,874,160 | Filing 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Teagle Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
Applying to The Teagle Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required