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Secunda Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

Secunda Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.5 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $235.6 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: National, with concentration in New York/Greater NYC area
  • Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
Secunda Family Foundation
P.O. Box 1510
New York, NY 10150

Phone: (212) 583-6001

Note: The foundation does not have a public website and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Overview

The Secunda Family Foundation was established in 2006 by Thomas and Cynthia "Cindy" Secunda in Delaware. Thomas Secunda is a co-founder and Vice Chairman of Bloomberg L.P., with an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion. The Secundas are signatories of the Giving Pledge, committing to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy. The foundation holds assets of $235.6 million and distributed $13.5 million in grants during 2023 to 39 organizations. Since 2020, the foundation has awarded 161 individual grants totaling $61.5 million. The foundation focuses on environmental conservation (particularly national and local parks), healthcare and disease research, Jewish causes, arts and culture, and disaster relief. Thomas Secunda received the Simon Wiesenthal Center's award in 2012 for his philanthropic work and has been deeply involved in U.S. Virgin Islands reconstruction efforts following the devastating 2017 hurricane.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation (Primary Focus)

  • National parks protection and conservation (particularly through the National Parks Conservation Association)
  • Local parks and recreation (New York area focus)
  • Governor's Island conservation efforts
  • Environmental preservation organizations
  • Recent grantees: National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Friends of the Natural Heritage Trust, Teatown Lake Reservation, Scenic Hudson, National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy

Healthcare & Disease Research

  • Medical research institutions
  • Disease-specific research organizations
  • Recent grantees: Target ALS, Lupus Research Alliance, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Jewish Causes

  • Israel education and support
  • Holocaust education and remembrance
  • International humanitarian aid
  • Community support
  • Recent grantees: American Israel Education Foundation, Holocaust Human Rights Education Center, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, UJA Federation of New York, American Friends of Magen David Adom, American Jewish World Service

Arts & Culture

  • Theatre companies
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Film and arts organizations
  • Recent grantees: Manhattan Theatre Club, Intrepid Museum Foundation, Hudson Stage Company, World Trade Center Performing Arts Center, Jacob Burns Film Center, Little Orchestra Society, Public Art Fund, Brooklyn Red Hook Art Project, Women Make Movies, Opera Training Institute of Chicago, WhyHunger

Disaster Relief & Reconstruction

  • U.S. Virgin Islands rebuilding efforts (ongoing since 2017)

Grant Characteristics

  • Grants range from $5,000 to approximately $1,000,000
  • Many organizations receive ongoing, multi-year support
  • Supports both large, well-established institutions and smaller community organizations
  • Geographic scope is national, though significant concentration in New York state and the greater New York City area
  • Pattern of substantial gifts to organizations where Thomas Secunda serves in leadership roles

Governance and Leadership

Thomas F. Secunda - President & Treasurer
Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Bloomberg L.P. Serves as Trustee Emeritus of the National Parks Conservation Association, having previously served as Chairman of the Board (appointed 2011) and Vice Chair. Also serves as Chair of the Northeast Regional Advisory Board for NPCA and Chairman of the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Additionally serves on the boards of Westchester County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board and the Intrepid Museum Foundation. He was the second recipient of NPCA's Sequoia Award, recognizing extraordinary commitment to the organization through philanthropy, volunteer service, and programmatic efforts. Both officers receive $0 in compensation from the foundation.

Cynthia "Cindy" Secunda - Vice President & Secretary
Co-founder of the foundation alongside her husband Thomas. Together they are Giving Pledge signatories committed to giving away at least half of their wealth.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Secunda Family Foundation explicitly states that it "contributes only to select organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for proposals."

The foundation operates on a discretionary basis, with grants awarded to pre-selected charitable organizations chosen by the trustees. Grant decisions appear to be driven by the personal interests and board involvement of Thomas and Cynthia Secunda.

Getting on Their Radar

According to Inside Philanthropy, "A direct connection through the Secunda family or a past grantee represents likely the best way in here."

Specific strategies that may be relevant for this foundation:

  • Board connections: Thomas Secunda's active board service with organizations like NPCA, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, Westchester County Parks, and Intrepid Museum Foundation suggests that organizations where he has direct involvement receive significant support
  • Geographic proximity: While the foundation gives nationally, there is clear concentration in New York state and particularly the greater New York City area
  • Repeat grantees: The foundation demonstrates a pattern of ongoing support to organizations it already funds, suggesting that once in the portfolio, organizations may receive multi-year support
  • Established organizations: The foundation tends to support well-established organizations with proven track records, though some smaller community organizations also receive grants

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are made on a discretionary, invitation-only basis, there is no formal application cycle or published decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations already receiving support may continue to receive grants at the trustees' discretion.

Application Success Factors

Since the Secunda Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the following patterns emerge from analyzing the foundation's grantmaking:

Personal Connection and Board Service: The strongest predictor of funding appears to be Thomas Secunda's direct involvement. Organizations where he serves in leadership positions (NPCA, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, Westchester County Parks, Intrepid Museum Foundation) are among the foundation's priority recipients. According to Inside Philanthropy, NPCA "has often received the foundation's largest sums in recent years."

Giving Pledge Commitments: As Giving Pledge signatories, the Secundas have publicly committed to the following focus areas: "National Parks, local parks, conservation, healthcare and Jewish causes." Organizations working in these specific areas align with their stated philanthropic priorities.

Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation demonstrates loyalty to organizations it supports, with many grantees receiving ongoing funding over multiple years. This suggests that once an organization enters the foundation's portfolio (typically through personal connection), continued support is likely.

Geographic Alignment: While giving is national in scope, there is clear concentration in New York state and the greater NYC area, reflecting the Secundas' personal ties to the region.

Established Track Records: The foundation "gives mainly to well-established organizations," suggesting preference for institutions with proven impact and operational stability, though smaller community organizations working in priority areas also receive support.

Range of Support: The wide grant range ($5,000 to $1,000,000) indicates the foundation supports organizations at different scales, from major institutions to smaller community groups, as long as they align with priority areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation operates entirely on a discretionary, invitation-only basis. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.
  • Personal connections are essential: The only realistic pathway to funding is through direct connection to the Secunda family or existing grantees. Thomas Secunda's board service is the strongest indicator of funding priority.
  • Focus on the Big Four: Align with their stated Giving Pledge priorities: national parks, local parks, conservation, healthcare, and Jewish causes. Environmental conservation appears to be the primary focus area.
  • Geographic advantage for New York organizations: While the foundation gives nationally, New York-based organizations (particularly in the greater NYC area) have a clear advantage.
  • Demonstrate long-term impact: The foundation's pattern of multi-year support to repeat grantees suggests they value sustained relationships and ongoing impact over one-time projects.
  • Track Thomas Secunda's involvement: Organizations where Thomas Secunda takes on board or leadership roles receive substantial support. Monitor his civic and nonprofit engagement for clues about funding priorities.
  • Assets are growing substantially: With assets increasing from $43.4 million (2011) to $235.6 million (2023), the foundation has significant and growing capacity, though annual grantmaking ($13.5 million in 2023) represents a relatively modest payout rate, suggesting potential for increased giving in future years.

References

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