Charles Engelhard Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.5M - $8M
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies significantly by organization and program
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New Jersey

Contact Details

Address: 25 DeForest Avenue, 3rd Floor, Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: 908-795-1392
Email: Not available
Website: None

Overview

The Charles Engelhard Foundation was established in 1954 by industrialist Charles W. Engelhard Jr. Following his death in 1971, the foundation was led by his wife and, after her passing in 2004, has been governed by their five daughters who serve as trustees. With assets of $61-70 million, the foundation distributes between $4.5 and $8 million annually in grants. The foundation operates as a private family foundation that supports initiatives primarily within New Jersey, focusing on education, environmental conservation, health and medical research, arts and culture, children and youth programs, and religious organizations. The foundation takes a highly selective approach, making grants only to preselected charitable organizations and does not maintain a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles or published grant ranges. Instead, it makes grants to preselected organizations based on trustee decisions. Annual grantmaking ranges from approximately $4.5 million to $8 million.

Priority Areas

• Education: Higher education institutions, secondary education programs, educational support organizations
• Environmental Conservation: Wildlife conservation organizations, environmental advocacy groups, conservation initiatives
• Health & Medical Research: Medical research institutions, health-related programs
• Arts & Culture: Cultural institutions, arts organizations
• Children & Youth: Youth development programs, children's services
• Religion: Religious organizations and initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from any organizations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by the five daughters of Charles W. Engelhard Jr.:

• Charlene B. Engelhard - Trustee
• Sophie Engelhard Craighead - Trustee
• Susan O'Connor - Trustee
• Anne E. de la Renta - Trustee (widow of fashion designer Oscar de la Renta)
• Sally E. Pingree - Trustee (known for contributions to progressive environmental, social, and educational causes)

Additional management:

• Michael Holland - Trustee (receives $25,000 compensation)
• Edward G. Beimfohr - Treasurer

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Charles Engelhard Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation only makes grants to preselected charitable organizations identified by the trustees. There is no formal application process, no online portal, and no published application guidelines.

Getting on Their Radar

Given that the foundation is governed by the five Engelhard daughters, organizations with existing relationships to the family or their philanthropic networks may have advantages. The foundation shows preference for:

• Organizations based in New Jersey or serving New Jersey communities
• Nationally recognized organizations with strong track records (past recipients include NRDC, National Wildlife Federation, Conservation International, Georgetown University, Refugees International)
• Organizations aligned with progressive environmental and social causes, reflecting trustee Sally E. Pingree's known interests
• Educational institutions and cultural organizations with connections to the arts community through trustee Anne E. de la Renta

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

Not applicable (invitation only)

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable (invitation only)

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, characteristics of funded organizations include:

• Quality and Impact: Past grant recipients include well-established, nationally recognized organizations with strong track records
• Mission Alignment: Organizations funded align closely with the foundation's stated priorities in education, environment, health, arts, culture, and religion
• Progressive Values: The foundation has been characterized as supporting progressive environmental, social, and educational causes
• New Jersey Connection: Strong preference for organizations based in or serving New Jersey communities
• Long-term Relationships: Evidence of multi-year grants (e.g., Georgetown University receiving $2 million since 2010, Potomac School receiving $1.7 million since 2010)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with preselected organizations
• Private family foundation structure: Grantmaking reflects the personal interests and values of the five Engelhard daughters who serve as trustees
• New Jersey focus: Geographic priority for New Jersey-based organizations or those serving New Jersey communities
• Progressive orientation: The foundation supports progressive causes in environment, education, health, and social issues
• Environmental conservation priority: Significant historical support for environmental and wildlife conservation organizations
• Multi-year support pattern: Evidence of sustained, multi-year grants to selected organizations suggests value placed on long-term partnerships
• Alternative strategy: Rather than pursuing this foundation directly, organizations might benefit from building sector recognition and developing excellence in areas aligned with trustee interests

References

• Cause IQ - The Charles Engelhard Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/charles-engelhard-foundation,226063032/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Charles Engelhard Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/226063032 (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• InfluenceWatch - Charles Engelhard Foundation: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/charles-engelhard-foundation/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• The Grantsmanship Center - Charles Engelhard Foundation: https://www.tgci.com/funder/charles-engelhard-foundation (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Grantable - The Charles Engelhard Foundation Profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/the-charles-engelhard-foundation-us-foundation-226063032 (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Instrumentl - Charles Engelhard Foundation 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/charles-engelhard-foundation (Accessed February 25, 2026)