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Ashken Family Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.4M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.6M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $360,039 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% for new applicants
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $377 average grant size reported; however, larger grants of $250,000 - $631,400 documented
  • Total Assets: $18.9 million
  • Geographic Focus: Florida, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Texas (cities include Miami Beach, Naples, Ann Arbor, Coral Gables, New York, Bridgeport)

Contact Details

Address: 500 S Pointe Dr Ste 240, Miami Beach, FL 33139-7310

EIN: 33-1080438

No public phone, email, or website information available.

Overview

The Ashken Family Charitable Foundation was founded in 2006 as a private independent foundation based in Miami Beach, Florida. With total assets of approximately $18.9 million and annual charitable disbursements of $360,039 in 2024, the foundation focuses primarily on education, the environment, and healthcare. The foundation is led by Ian and Nancy Ashken, along with their children Emily Ashken Zobl and Jonathan Ashken. Ian Ashken is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Jarden Corporation and served as its Vice Chairman, President, and CFO. He now serves on multiple corporate boards and is a board member of The Everglades Foundation, reflecting the family's commitment to environmental conservation. Nancy Ashken is a University of Michigan alumna and serves as an advisor at the University of Michigan Health System. The couple are dedicated environmentalists involved in tree conservation initiatives including the Marriage Tree Project.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs with publicly defined parameters. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Notable Recent Grants Include:

  • The Eden Trust (UK): $631,400 and $331,247
  • The Everglades Foundation: Multiple grants totaling over $1 million
  • Regents of the University of Michigan: $325,000 and $250,000 for educational support
  • Naples Children & Education Foundation: $271,812

Priority Areas

  • Education: Higher education, university education, and educational support programs
  • Environment: Everglades restoration, environmental conservation, tree planting initiatives
  • Healthcare: Health initiatives and disease-related causes
  • Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Support for charitable organizations across various causes

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are documented, but the foundation's giving history indicates focus on established institutions in education, environment, and health sectors.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team (all serve without compensation):

  • Nancy Ashken, President
  • Ian G. H. Ashken, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary
  • Emily Ashken Zobl, Vice President
  • Jonathan Ashken, Vice President

Ian G. H. Ashken Background: Ian Ashken has been a serial entrepreneur, co-founding four public companies over 30 years. He was co-founder of Jarden Corporation and served as its Vice Chairman and President until its business combination with Newell in 2016. He served as Jarden's CFO through June 2014. Between 1992 and 2000, he also served as Vice Chairman and/or CFO of Benson Eyecare Corporation, Lumen Technologies, Inc., and Bollé Inc. He currently serves as an Independent Director at APi Group Corp., Nomad Foods Ltd., and Element Solutions, Inc. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics & Accounting with honours from Newcastle University, England. He is a board member of The Everglades Foundation.

Nancy Ashken Background: Nancy Ashken is a University of Michigan alumna and serves as an advisor at the University of Michigan Health System. She is actively involved in environmental conservation efforts alongside her husband, particularly in tree conservation and the Marriage Tree Project.

Emily Ashken Zobl: Emily graduated from the University of Michigan in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management. She was a member of the University of Michigan Varsity Field Hockey team.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Ashken Family Charitable Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis through trustee discretion. The foundation identifies and selects organizations to support rather than accepting open applications from the public.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and leadership connections, organizations may increase their visibility by:

  • University of Michigan connections: The Ashken family has strong ties to the University of Michigan, with Nancy serving as an advisor to U-M Health System, Emily as an alumna, and documented substantial grants to the Regents of the University of Michigan. Organizations affiliated with U-M or operating in Ann Arbor may have pathways through these connections.

  • Everglades Foundation network: Ian Ashken serves as a board member of The Everglades Foundation, and the foundation has made multiple grants totaling over $1 million to this organization. Environmental organizations working on Everglades restoration or connected to The Everglades Foundation's network may gain visibility through this channel.

  • Geographic presence: The foundation has demonstrated consistent giving in specific geographic areas including Miami Beach, Naples (FL), Ann Arbor (MI), and selective locations in Connecticut, New York, and Texas. Organizations in these areas working in education, environment, or health may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are made at the discretion of the board throughout the year.

Success Rates

According to available data, the foundation is open to new applicants with a success rate of approximately 12% for new organizations. In 2024, the foundation made 7 grants, compared to 14 in 2023 and ranging from 11-16 grants annually in previous years.

Reapplication Policy

No public reapplication policy is documented. Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking, organizations are unlikely to have formal reapplication opportunities unless specifically invited by the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since the Ashken Family Charitable Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their giving patterns reveals:

Relationship-Based Giving: The foundation's grantmaking reflects the personal and professional connections of the Ashken family. Major beneficiaries include organizations where family members serve in leadership roles (Everglades Foundation) or have alumni connections (University of Michigan).

Multi-Year Commitments: The foundation has demonstrated sustained support for key organizations, with The Everglades Foundation receiving multiple grants totaling over $1 million and the University of Michigan receiving multiple grants of $250,000-$325,000.

Geographic Alignment: Grants concentrate in areas where the family has personal connections—South Florida (primary residence), Michigan (university connections), and select locations in the Northeast and Texas.

Focus on Established Institutions: Recent documented grants favor well-established organizations and institutions rather than small, emerging nonprofits.

Environmental Priorities: Ian and Nancy Ashken's documented dedication to environmental causes, particularly tree conservation and the Everglades, is reflected in significant funding to The Everglades Foundation and environmental initiatives.

Education Emphasis: Substantial grants to the University of Michigan for educational support align with the family's strong connection to the institution and stated priority in higher education.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder - The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and makes grants only to preselected organizations
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking - Funding decisions reflect the personal and professional networks of the Ashken family, particularly connections to the University of Michigan and The Everglades Foundation
  • Focus on three core areas - Education (particularly higher education), environmental conservation (especially Everglades restoration), and healthcare represent the foundation's primary interests
  • Significant grants to anchor organizations - While the average grant size is reported as $377, major institutional grants range from $250,000 to over $630,000, suggesting the foundation supports both small and large initiatives
  • Multi-year relationships preferred - Evidence of repeated grants to the same organizations (Everglades Foundation, University of Michigan) indicates the foundation values sustained partnerships
  • Geographic concentration - South Florida, Ann Arbor (MI), and select Northeast locations receive the majority of funding, correlating with family connections
  • 12% success rate for new grantees - While the foundation is technically "open to new applicants," the low success rate and preselected approach mean new organizations face significant barriers without direct connections to the family or trustees

References

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