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Cranaleith Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,309,053 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $270,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: National (grants made across U.S.)
  • Total Assets: $21.5 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 47 grants made in 2023

Contact Details

  • Address: c/o Anchin, 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036
  • EIN: 23-2726952
  • Foundation Type: Private Foundation
  • Year Founded: 1994

Overview

The Cranaleith Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1994 and based in New York, NY. With total assets of approximately $21.5 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $1.3 million in grants during its most recent reporting period. The foundation is led by Francis H. Trainer Jr. and Jeanne A. Trainer, who serve as officers without compensation. The foundation has maintained a consistent philanthropic approach, allocating over 95% of its annual expenses to charitable disbursements. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on diverse causes including spiritual development, humanitarian aid, children's health programs, environmental justice, and land conservation. Named after the Cranaleith Spiritual Center (one of its significant grant recipients), the foundation supports both established institutions and grassroots organizations working across multiple sectors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Cranaleith Foundation does not operate formal named grant programs. Instead, it makes discretionary grants determined by its trustees. Recent notable grants include:

  • Major institutional support: $270,000 to Psi Chi - Saint Joseph's University for the Arrupe Center; $100,000 to Saint Joseph's University for general support
  • Healthcare access: $100,000 to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for general support
  • Spiritual development: $50,000 to The Cranaleith Spiritual Center
  • Humanitarian aid: $20,000 to Friends of the Americas for humanitarian aid to South America
  • Children's programs: $15,000 to Roundup River Ranch for camps for children with serious illnesses
  • Environmental causes: $15,000 to Voices for Earth Justice for environmental litigation; $15,000 to Colorado Open Lands for land preservation

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants, the foundation supports:

  • Education and institutional development: Particularly institutions with ethics and values-based missions
  • Spiritual and religious centers: Including retreat centers and faith-based organizations
  • Children and youth services: Especially programs serving children with serious illnesses
  • Environmental justice: Including litigation support and land conservation
  • Humanitarian aid: International relief efforts
  • Healthcare access: Reproductive health services

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation with discretionary grantmaking, funding decisions are made at the trustees' discretion based on their philanthropic interests.

Governance and Leadership

Officers:

  • Francis H. Trainer Jr.: Officer (serves without compensation)
  • Jeanne A. Trainer: Officer (serves without compensation)

The foundation operates with no full-time employees and is supported administratively through its fiscal agent, Anchin, a professional services firm in New York.

Connection to Cranaleith Spiritual Center: The foundation is named after and connected to the Cranaleith Spiritual Center in Philadelphia, which was founded by Frank and Mary Trainer in 1996 in partnership with the Sisters of Mercy. The original Frank Trainer (likely Francis H. Trainer Sr.) bequeathed the property to create the spiritual center.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Cranaleith Foundation is a private foundation that makes grants based on trustee discretion. There is no online portal, application form, or public grant guidelines available.

Grants appear to be awarded based on the personal philanthropic interests and relationships of the trustees, Francis H. Trainer Jr. and Jeanne A. Trainer. Organizations seeking support would need to have pre-existing relationships with the foundation's leadership or be identified through the trustees' networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a discretionary grantmaker, the foundation likely evaluates opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than adhering to fixed review cycles.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With 47 grants made in 2023 from an unknown number of requests (if any public solicitation occurs), success rate data cannot be determined.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available due to the lack of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Cranaleith Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear to characterize successful grant recipients based on their documented giving patterns:

Mission alignment with trustee values: Successful recipients align with the foundation's diverse interests spanning education, spirituality, children's health, environmental protection, and humanitarian aid. Organizations with ethics-based or values-driven missions appear particularly favored, as evidenced by major support for Saint Joseph's University's Arrupe Center for Business Ethics.

Geographic diversity: While based in New York, the foundation funds organizations across the United States, from Colorado land conservation efforts to Rocky Mountain regional healthcare providers, indicating trustees are not limited by geographic proximity in their giving.

Range of organizational sizes: The foundation supports both large established institutions (major universities receiving $100,000-$270,000) and smaller specialized nonprofits (children's camps and environmental groups receiving $15,000-$20,000), suggesting they value impact over organizational scale.

Long-term relationships: Significant support for the Cranaleith Spiritual Center (their namesake organization) demonstrates the foundation's commitment to sustained support of organizations connected to their history and mission.

Practical program needs: Grants support both general operating support and specific program expenses, with straightforward project descriptions ("Spiritual Center," "Humanitarian Aid to South America," "Camp for Children with Serious Illnesses") rather than complex multi-year initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation makes grants by invitation only based on trustee discretion. Cold applications are unlikely to be considered.
  • Diverse portfolio approach: The foundation supports a wide range of causes rather than specializing in a single sector, reflecting the broad philanthropic interests of the Trainer family.
  • Values-driven giving: Ethics, spirituality, and social justice themes run through their grantmaking, from supporting business ethics centers to environmental justice litigation.
  • Significant range in grant sizes: Awards vary from $15,000 to $270,000, suggesting the foundation calibrates support based on the specific need and their relationship with the organization.
  • Relationship-based philanthropy: As a family foundation with trustee-directed giving, personal connections and trusted recommendations likely play a crucial role in funding decisions.
  • Sustained institutional support: Major grants to Saint Joseph's University indicate the foundation makes substantial commitments to institutions that align with their values.
  • Stable financial position: With over $21 million in assets and consistent annual giving around $1.3 million, the foundation has the capacity for both ongoing commitments and new initiatives within their areas of interest.

References

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