Emily Landecker Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2.3 million (2024)
• Total Assets: $36.8 million
• Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Grant Range: $500 - $872,119
• Number of Grants: 111 awards (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Upper Connecticut River Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont
• Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 80 South Main Street #202, Hanover, NH 03755-2053

Phone: (603) 643-7799

Email: Not publicly available

Important Note: The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Emily Landecker Foundation was established in 2004 by Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli to honor her mother, Emily Landecker (1922-2017). The foundation is a private family foundation with assets of approximately $36.8 million and annual giving of $2.3 million. Based in Hanover, New Hampshire, the foundation focuses its grant-making on education, philanthropy, human services, and environmental conservation in the Upper Connecticut River Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. The foundation has had a profound impact in the region, most notably as the primary funder of the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in Hartford, Vermont, to which it has contributed millions of dollars since the facility opened in 2009. More recently, the foundation has made transformative gifts totaling $8 million to the University of New Hampshire for sustainable seafood and aquaculture research.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Emily Landecker Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with application deadlines. Instead, the foundation proactively identifies and supports organizations aligned with its mission through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships.

Grant Size Range: $500 - $872,119

Recent Grant Activity:

• 2024: 111 awards totaling approximately $2.3 million
• 2023: 107 awards
• 2022: 97 awards

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant-making patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Education:

• Aquaculture and marine science education
• Environmental education programs
• Scientific research initiatives

Conservation and Environment:

• Land conservation and land trusts
• Sustainable resource management
• Climate change mitigation
• Environmental protection in the Connecticut River Valley

Human Services:

• Community health and wellness facilities
• Treatment centers and behavioral health
• Food security programs
• Community development organizations

Community Infrastructure:

• Recreation and athletic facilities
• Community centers
• Public facilities serving the Upper Valley region

Notable Recent Recipients Include:

• University of New Hampshire Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems: $5 million (2020) and $3 million (2025)
• Upper Valley Aquatic Center: Over $5 million from 2014-2016, plus ongoing support
• Upper Valley Land Trust: $145,000
• Vermont Institute of Natural Science: $224,500
• Alliance for Vermont Communities: $25,000
• Mountain Valley Treatment Center: Major grant for fitness center renovation

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's geographic restriction means they do not fund organizations outside the Upper Connecticut River Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from any organization.

Governance and Leadership

Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli - President/Founder

Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli created the Emily Landecker Foundation in 2004 to honor her mother. She is a member of the Reimann family, heirs to a German industrial fortune, with an estimated net worth of $702 million. Born and raised in Germany, she has lived in Hanover, New Hampshire for 38 years with her husband, Thomas Ciardelli. She holds a background in molecular biology, having studied at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, Germany.

Regarding the foundation's support for sustainable seafood initiatives, representatives stated: "We have deep concerns about climate change, the world we live in and how this could impact food availability for future generations."

On the $5 million gift to UNH in 2020, the foundation noted that "UNH is uniquely positioned to develop one of the nation's top sustainable seafood systems programs with its tremendous research and academic strengths in oceanography, ocean engineering and marine biology."

Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli also serves as president of the Sports Venue Foundation, which operates the Upper Valley Aquatic Center.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Emily Landecker Foundation has explicitly indicated that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

According to multiple sources, including the foundation's listings in Candid Foundation Directory and other nonprofit databases: "The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding."

All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations that have been identified and selected by the foundation's leadership.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their funding patterns may be valuable for organizations in the Upper Connecticut River Valley region:

Pre-existing Relationships: The foundation appears to work primarily with organizations already known to the trustees or with which they have established relationships. Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli's deep ties to the Hanover and Upper Valley community (38 years of residence) inform the foundation's philanthropic decisions.

Community Presence: The foundation's largest grants have gone to highly visible community infrastructure projects and academic institutions in the region. Organizations with strong community presence in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, particularly in education, conservation, and human services, align with the foundation's priorities.

Board Connections: Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli serves as president of the Sports Venue Foundation (which operates the Upper Valley Aquatic Center), suggesting that board members' direct involvement with organizations may influence funding decisions.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by trustees throughout the year based on their philanthropic priorities and relationships.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates exclusively through trustee-initiated grants to preselected organizations, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's funding patterns reveal clear priorities:

Geographic Focus is Essential: All grants are restricted to the Upper Connecticut River Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont. Organizations outside this region will not be considered.

Transformative Projects Attract Major Support: The foundation has made several multi-million dollar commitments to projects with significant regional impact:

• $8 million total to UNH's sustainable seafood program
• Over $5 million to the Upper Valley Aquatic Center

Environmental and Climate Priorities: The foundation representatives have explicitly stated concerns about "climate change, the world we live in and how this could impact food availability for future generations."

Education and Research: Grants to UNH were motivated by the university's "tremendous research and academic strengths" in relevant fields.

Community Benefit: The foundation supports projects serving the Upper Valley community broadly, from aquatic centers to food banks to land conservation.

Long-term Partnerships: The foundation demonstrates commitment through multi-year support, suggesting they value ongoing partnerships with effective organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: Do not send unsolicited proposals - the foundation explicitly does not accept them and will not respond
• Geographic Restriction Absolute: Only organizations in the Upper Connecticut River Valley of NH and VT are funded
• Relationship-Based Philanthropy: The foundation works through pre-existing relationships and trustee knowledge of organizations
• Think Transformative: Recent grants show preference for projects with significant regional impact
• Environmental Focus Growing: Climate change, sustainable resource management, and environmental education are clear priorities
• Multi-Year Partnership Potential: Organizations that receive funding may see continued support over many years if projects are successful
• Community Visibility Matters: The foundation's largest grants go to highly visible community-serving organizations and institutions

References

1. Instrumentl - Emily Landecker Foundation 990 Report. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/emily-landecker-foundation
2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Emily Landecker Foundation
3. Grantmakers.io - Emily Landecker Foundation Profile
4. Candid Foundation Directory - Emily Landecker Foundation Inc.
5. Valley News (August 11, 2019). "The Bottom Line: Reckoning in Germany sheds light on Upper Valley foundation."
6. New Hampshire Union Leader. "Forbes' 'wealthiest person in NH' has history of generosity."
7. University of New Hampshire Today (September 29, 2020). "UNH Receives Millions in Donations, Including $5M to Expand Its Commitment to Sustainable Seafood."
8. University of New Hampshire Today (February 5, 2025). "UNH Receives $3 Million to Expand Global Impact of Sustainable Seafood Program."
9. SeafoodSource. "USD 3 million donation will expand programming at University of New Hampshire aquaculture education center."
10. Mountain Valley Treatment Center. "Mountain Valley Receives Major Grant from the Emily Landecker Foundation."
11. Valley News. "As Municipal Pool Languishes, Hartford's Upper Valley Aquatic Center Flourishes."