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Norman E Alexander Family M Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$6.8M
Grant Range
$25K - $3.0M

Norman E Alexander Family M Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,756,932 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $116,306,439 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $3,000,000
  • Median Grant: $250,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and Massachusetts, with some national/international reach
  • Founded: 2011

Contact Details

Address: 420 Lexington Ave, New York, NY
Phone: 212-661-0078
EIN: 26-4413461

Overview

The Norman E Alexander Family M Foundation Inc was established in 2011 as a private foundation honoring Norman E. Alexander (1914-2006), an illustrious businessman and philanthropist whose remarkable career spanned seven decades. In 1954, he purchased Ampacet Corp.—then a small plastics recycler—and built it into one of the world's largest color and additive concentrate makers. The foundation manages assets exceeding $116 million and distributed approximately $6.8 million in grants in 2024. Led by Dr. Mark Alexander, Norman's son and a physician trained at New York Medical College, the foundation focuses on advancing scientific research, medical education, policy innovation at the intersection of science and foreign affairs, and social justice initiatives. The foundation made 7 grants in 2024, reflecting a strategic approach to high-impact philanthropy in education, science, healthcare, and human services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than competitive programs. Recent major grants include:

  • Scientific Research & Infrastructure: $2,600,000 to American Committee for the Weizmann Institute for construction of the Frontiers of the Universe physics building
  • Medical Education: $3,000,000 to New York Medical College for endowed scholarships for medical students pursuing internal medicine
  • Policy & Thought Leadership: $333,333 to Council on Foreign Relations for the annual Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation Forum on Science and Foreign Policy
  • Social Justice: $150,000 to Parents for Peace for general support

Grant amounts typically range from $25,000 to $3,000,000, with a median of $250,000.

Priority Areas

  • Scientific Research: Support for physics, astrophysics, space exploration, and advanced materials research
  • Medical Education: Scholarships and educational infrastructure for medical students, particularly those pursuing primary care and internal medicine
  • Science Policy: Forums and initiatives exploring interconnections between natural sciences, emerging technologies, foreign policy, and national security
  • Healthcare: General support for medical institutions and healthcare innovation
  • Social Justice: Prevention of extremism, peacebuilding, and community support
  • Education: Support for educational institutions and programs that advance knowledge

Geographic Focus

Primarily New York and Massachusetts, with select grants supporting national and international organizations, particularly in Israel (Weizmann Institute).

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation, specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Mark Alexander - President, Treasurer, and Director. Physician trained at New York Medical College and Brown University, former Vice President at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and currently Vice Chair of the Board at Ampacet Corporation. Member of the International Board and National Board of Directors at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
  • Daniel Binderman - Vice President, Secretary, and Director
  • Rachel Zoffness - Vice President and Director
  • Nancy Cautillo - Assistant Secretary

All board members serve without compensation.

Leadership Perspective

Dr. Mark Alexander has spoken about his father's "lifelong ferocious appetite for knowledge and education," which continues to guide the foundation's mission. The Weizmann Institute recognized Dr. Alexander with an Honorary PhD "in recognition of his visionary thinking and passionate intellectual curiosity" and commitment to scientific achievements.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and the foundation's strategic priorities, typically to organizations with which the foundation or its leadership has existing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns, organizations that align with the foundation's interests might consider:

  • Weizmann Institute connections: Dr. Mark Alexander serves on the International Board and National Board of Directors at the Weizmann Institute. Organizations working in physics, astrophysics, space exploration, or advanced materials research may benefit from connections within this network.
  • New York Medical College relationships: Norman E. Alexander was a founding board member of Albert Einstein Medical College and served as president of the NYMC Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1979. Medical education institutions with ties to NYMC or similar missions may have natural affinity.
  • Council on Foreign Relations network: The foundation established an endowed annual forum at CFR focused on science and foreign policy. Organizations working at this intersection may find alignment through CFR connections.

The foundation appears to identify grantees through its board members' professional networks in medicine, science, and business leadership.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a trustee-directed foundation, decisions are made on the board's timeline rather than fixed cycles.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Documented Priorities

The foundation's recent grantmaking reveals several key patterns:

  1. Intersection of Science and Society: The foundation established the Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation Forum on Science and Foreign Policy at CFR "to explore the interconnections among the natural sciences, emerging technologies, and foreign policy and national security." This reflects interest in initiatives where scientific advancement meets societal impact.

  2. Medical Education with Focus on Primary Care: The $3 million scholarship endowment at NYMC specifically supports students pursuing internal medicine with "financial need and strong academic standing who have matched in general internal medicine." This reveals commitment to making primary care more accessible by reducing financial barriers.

  3. Major Infrastructure for Scientific Research: The multi-million dollar support for the Weizmann Institute's Frontiers of the Universe building demonstrates willingness to fund transformational physical infrastructure that enables cutting-edge research.

  4. Values-Aligned Organizations: The grant to Parents for Peace, an organization preventing extremism and radicalization, suggests interest in peacebuilding and social healing initiatives.

Key Success Factors

  • Alignment with Norman E. Alexander's legacy: Projects honoring his "lifelong ferocious appetite for knowledge and education" and commitment to advancing human knowledge
  • Transformational potential: The foundation favors high-impact projects that create lasting change through infrastructure, endowments, or sustained programs
  • Scientific rigor and excellence: Support for world-class research institutions and scientists
  • Connection to board priorities: Existing relationships with board members or organizations in their professional networks
  • Education and accessibility: Programs that remove barriers to education, particularly in medicine and science

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - grants are by invitation only to preselected organizations
  • Large strategic grants: The foundation makes relatively few grants (7 in 2024) but at significant levels, with median grants of $250,000
  • Focus on scientific excellence: Strong support for physics, astrophysics, medical research, and science policy initiatives
  • Medical education emphasis: Particular interest in supporting future physicians, especially in primary care and internal medicine
  • Infrastructure and endowment approach: Preference for funding transformational capital projects and endowed programs over short-term operating support
  • Leadership connections matter: Board members' professional networks in science, medicine, and business appear to drive grantee identification
  • Values alignment with founder: Projects that embody Norman E. Alexander's commitment to knowledge, education, and human betterment

References

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