The Teshinsky Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$3.6M (2023); ~$3.99M (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified (inquiry-first model)
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $100,000 (Career Pathways/Manufacturing grants); historical range $450 - $3,250,000
• Geographic Focus: Continental United States (with historical concentration in California and Rhode Island)

Contact Details

• Website: www.teshinsky.org
• Funding Opportunities: www.teshinsky.org/funding-opportunities
• Career Pathways Grant Page: www.teshinsky.org/careerpathways
• Key Contact: Matthew (Matt) Albert, Ed.D. — Director, Teshinsky Family Foundation
• Application Entry Point: Inquiry Form (accessed via the funding opportunities page)

Overview

The Teshinsky Family Foundation (TFF) is a private independent foundation established in 2006 and based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Fred and Lucy Teshinsky, the foundation is dedicated to promoting personal liberty, economic freedom, and career opportunities through support, training, and accountability.

TFF's current strategic focus challenges the established secondary education paradigm as the necessary model for employment, emphasizing skilled trades and increased connections between K-12 and post-secondary careers. As of 2024, the foundation holds total assets of approximately $109 million and made charitable disbursements of approximately $3.99 million. While the foundation has historically supported the arts, medical research, disaster relief, and education, its present grant-making is concentrated on workforce training programs in manufacturing, building trades, and welding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Career Pathways Training Grant: $25,000 - $100,000 (one-time grants to 501(c)(3) organizations running direct service post-secondary career pathways training programs; supports training costs, equipment, and capital improvements)
• Manufacturing Workforce Training Grant: $25,000 - $100,000 (targeted specifically at manufacturing skills training programs; program grants cover direct training costs; equipment and capital grants support purchasing or upgrading equipment and facilities)

Both grant programs operate on an inquiry-first model. Interested applicants submit an Inquiry Form, and selected organizations are then invited to submit a full application.

Priority Areas

• Workforce development in manufacturing (including CNC, CAD/CAM, composites, fabrication, mechatronics, robotics, and tooling)
• Building trades training (carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing, sheet metal, framing, hardscape, HVAC, and painting)
• Welding training (Stick, Flux, MIG, and TIG certification)
• Programs that provide direct, no-cost training aligned with career opportunities in high-wage, sustainable careers
• Organizations with demonstrable employment pipelines and job placement data
• Programs with an established track record of at least one year of training
• Programs that include support services to help participants overcome barriers to employment

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Intermediary organizations and community college foundations
• Programs that do not provide on-site, direct skills training
• Organizations that discriminate in any way
• Religious organizations (unless programs are non-sectarian and benefit a broad base of the community)
• Political action committees, candidates, causes, and lobbying organizations
• Labor, alumni, or fraternal groups
• Recreation, athletic, or sports teams, programs, or leagues
• For-profit entities
• Endowment funds
• Programs that limit participation to specific groups
• Programs serving participants under age 18

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Fred Teshinsky — Co-founder and Trustee
• Lucy Teshinsky — Co-founder and Trustee
• Adam Teshinsky — Trustee

Staff:

• Matthew (Matt) Albert, Ed.D. — Director, Teshinsky Family Foundation. Dr. Albert has a doctorate in education from UCLA and previously served as Executive Director of the Center for Reflective Communities and founded New Los Angeles Charter Schools. His stated focus at TFF is workforce development — specifically identifying, supporting, growing, and replicating alternative post-secondary career pathways training programs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

TFF uses a two-stage, inquiry-first process:

1. Inquiry Form: Eligible organizations submit an online Inquiry Form (available at www.teshinsky.org/funding-opportunities)
2. Invitation to Apply: After reviewing inquiry submissions, TFF invites selected organizations to submit a full grant application. Only organizations that have been invited may submit a full application.

Applications must come from registered 501(c)(3) organizations.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated. Given that only approximately 3 awards are made per cycle in recent years, the review process is selective.

Success Rates

The foundation made 3 awards in both 2022 and 2023, and 1 award in both 2020 and 2021. The total number of inquiry submissions is not publicly disclosed, but the low award volume indicates a highly selective process.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

• Direct delivery is essential: TFF explicitly excludes intermediary organizations and those that contract out their training. Applicants must be delivering skills training directly and on-site.
• No-cost training to participants is required: The program must offer training free of charge to participants. Compensation or stipends for participants are preferred.
• Job placement data matters: Applicants must have been operating for at least one year and should have demonstrable job placement data.
• Scalability and growth potential are prioritized: Priority is given to applicants with the capability to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and/or growth.
• Employment pipeline, not just training: TFF looks for programs with established connections to employers and pathways to careers with growth potential.
• Support services signal program maturity: Programs that include wraparound support services are better aligned with TFF's priorities.
• Sector focus is narrow: Current grant-making is concentrated on manufacturing, building trades, and welding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Inquiry form is the only entry point — there is no open grant application
• TFF funds direct-delivery organizations only — intermediaries are not eligible
• Small number of awards per cycle (approximately 3 per year) indicates high competition
• Demonstrate employment outcomes with job placement data and employer partnerships
• Articulate how the grant will enable organizational growth and expanded impact
• Despite substantial assets ($109M), TFF makes a limited number of targeted grants
• Matt Albert, as the sole professional staff member, is the key operational contact

References

1. The Teshinsky Family Foundation — Official Website: https://www.teshinsky.org (Accessed February 2026)
2. Teshinsky Funding Opportunities Page: https://www.teshinsky.org/funding-opportunities (Accessed February 2026)
3. Career Pathways Training Grant Page: https://www.teshinsky.org/careerpathways (Accessed February 2026)
4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — The Teshinsky Family Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/207165016 (Financial data for 2011-2024; accessed February 2026)
5. Instrumentl 990 Report — The Teshinsky Family Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-teshinsky-family-foundation (Accessed February 2026)
6. Cause IQ — Teshinsky Family Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/teshinsky-family-foundation-fred-lucy-teshinsky-tr,207165016/ (Accessed February 2026)
7. Grantmakers.io Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/207165016-teshinsky-family-foundation-fred-and-lucy-teshinsky-trustees/ (Accessed February 2026)
8. IMTS — Career Pathways Training Grant Announcement: https://www.imts.com/read/article-details/Teshinsky-Family-Foundation-Announces-Career-Pathways-Training-Grant/2106/type/Apprentice-Blog/8 (Accessed February 2026)
9. Matt Albert, Ed.D. — LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertmatt/ (Accessed February 2026)