Arcus Foundation
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $43 million (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly available
- Geographic Focus: United States and international
Contact Details
- Address: 445 5th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016-0163
- Website: www.arcusfoundation.org (currently appears to be unavailable)
- Phone: Not publicly listed
- Email: Not publicly listed
Overview
The Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 with a dual mission focusing on social justice and conservation. With total assets of approximately $302 million and annual charitable disbursements of $43 million (2024), the foundation works to achieve social justice that is inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity, and race, while also ensuring conservation and respect of great apes and gibbons. Based in New York City, the foundation operates as a significant funder in both LGBTQ rights and wildlife conservation sectors.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Based on available information, the foundation operates programs in:
- U.S. Social Justice grants
- Great Apes and Gibbons Conservation
- Program-Related Investments in wildlife conservation
Priority Areas
- LGBTQ rights and social justice
- Sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion
- Racial justice and equity
- Great ape and gibbon conservation
- Wildlife habitat protection
What They Don't Fund
Specific exclusions not publicly available
Governance and Leadership
Key Personnel:
- Jon L. Stryker - Board President and Founder
- Kevin Jennings - Chief Executive Officer
- Annette Lanjouw - CEO (compensation: $449,059)
- Thomas W. Nichols - Chief Operating Officer (compensation: $421,862)
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
Information about the application process is not publicly available. The foundation's website appears to be currently inaccessible, making it impossible to determine if they accept unsolicited applications or operate by invitation only.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly available
Success Rates
Not publicly available
Reapplication Policy
Not publicly available
Application Success Factors
Without access to the foundation's current guidelines or website, specific success factors cannot be determined. Organizations interested in funding should attempt to contact the foundation directly at their New York office address.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The foundation has substantial assets ($302 million) and makes significant annual grants ($43 million)
- Dual focus on LGBTQ/social justice and conservation makes it unique among major foundations
- Lack of publicly available application information suggests they may operate primarily through invitation or existing relationships
- Organizations working at the intersection of their two focus areas may be particularly well-positioned
- Direct contact may be necessary to determine application eligibility and process
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Arcus Foundation profile (accessed December 2025)
- GuideStar Organization Profile (accessed December 2025)
- IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024)
- InfluenceWatch organizational profile (accessed December 2025)