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Tang Fund

Annual Giving
$7.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.8 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly (from smaller grants to multi-million dollar gifts)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, with national reach to major educational and cultural institutions

Contact Details

Address: 551 Fifth Ave, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (646) 701-6084
Website: Not available

Overview

The Tang Fund was established in 2015 as a private grantmaking foundation led by Oscar L. Tang (President) and Agnes Hsu-Tang (Director/Vice President). With total assets of $54 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $7.8 million in charitable grants. The fund serves as the philanthropic vehicle for Oscar Tang, a co-founder of Reich & Tang asset management firm, and his wife Agnes Hsu-Tang, a noted cultural historian and former U.S. Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Their giving is guided by a deep belief in the transformative power of education and the arts, with particular focus on promoting Chinese-American cultural understanding and supporting institutions that advance diversity, education, arts, and social justice. The Tangs have collectively given over $190 million in philanthropic gifts, emerging as major figures in New York's cultural philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Tang Fund does not have traditional grant programs but makes strategic contributions to institutions aligned with the founders' priorities. Recent major beneficiaries (2023) include:

  • New-York Historical Society: $2,260,950 (supporting the Tang Wing for American Democracy and Chinese-American history exhibits)
  • New York Philharmonic: $1,405,418 (part of the $40 million endowment for the Music and Artistic Director Chair)
  • The Masters School: $685,390

The foundation made 81 grants in 2023, including support for Americans For Oxford Inc and Oxford University Press.

Priority Areas

Education & Asian Studies:

  • Establishing academic centers focused on Chinese studies and East Asian art at major universities (Columbia, Princeton, Berkeley, Oxford)
  • Supporting financial aid and educational access, particularly at Phillips Academy Andover
  • Funding Asian Studies programs and professorships (e.g., Frances Young Tang Program in Asian Studies at Skidmore College)

Arts & Cultural Institutions:

  • Major support for museums and performing arts organizations, particularly those displaying modern and contemporary art
  • Preserving and promoting Chinese and East Asian cultural heritage
  • Supporting institutions that educate the public about Chinese-American history

Diversity & Racism Awareness:

  • Programs that combat anti-Asian discrimination
  • Initiatives that promote understanding between American and Chinese cultures
  • Support for the Yellow Whistle campaign to combat anti-Asian violence (500,000 whistles distributed)

Social Justice & Democratic Education:

  • The Tang Academy for American Democracy (teaching democracy to fifth and sixth grade students in NYC public schools)
  • Institutions promoting excellence in athletics and advancement of social justice

What They Don't Fund

The Tang Fund's specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, based on giving patterns, the foundation focuses primarily on established educational and cultural institutions rather than grassroots organizations, direct service providers, or organizations outside their core focus areas of education, arts, Chinese-American culture, and social justice.

Governance and Leadership

Oscar L. Tang, President: Co-founder of Reich & Tang asset management firm, life trustee of Phillips Academy Andover and Skidmore College, and co-chairman of the New York Philharmonic. Tang is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and co-founded the Committee of 100, a Chinese-American leadership organization promoting better U.S.-China relations.

Agnes Hsu-Tang, Director/Vice President: Cultural historian, former U.S. Representative to UNESCO, and chairwoman of the board of trustees at the New-York Historical Society (the first person of Asian heritage to hold this position). She holds a Ph.D. and has been instrumental in promoting Chinese-American cultural understanding.

Gwenn S. Winkhaus, Secretary/Treasurer

Catherine L. Wornom, Assistant Secretary

Leadership Quotes

Oscar Tang on philanthropic strategy: "Come up with a concise concept of what you are trying to accomplish through your philanthropy and stick with it, while being clear about exactly what your objectives are."

Agnes Hsu-Tang on giving: "Even when I was an impoverished grad student, I always gave away 10 percent of what I had."

On their public philanthropy shift: "We're Chinese-Americans; we didn't come over on the Mayflower, and it's important for us to declare that we are Americans." Agnes felt strongly that they should be the principal sponsor to "lead by example as Chinese-Americans rather than remaining anonymous."

Oscar Tang's mission: "I hope to help Americans thrive in a world in which China is such a force by increasing understanding of the early civilization and culture."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Tang Fund operates as a private foundation that makes grants based on the trustees' discretion and strategic philanthropic objectives. Grants are typically awarded to institutions with which the Tangs have pre-existing relationships or that align closely with their well-defined mission of supporting education, arts, Chinese-American cultural understanding, and social justice.

The foundation's giving pattern shows support for major established institutions, often involving multi-year commitments and transformational gifts rather than responding to unsolicited proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

The Tangs' giving is highly strategic and relationship-driven. Based on their documented giving patterns:

  • Board Connections: Both Oscar and Agnes Tang serve on boards of major institutions (New York Philharmonic, New-York Historical Society, Phillips Academy Andover, Skidmore College). Their board involvement often precedes or accompanies major gifts.

  • Educational Institution Connections: The Tangs have deep ties to institutions where they or family members studied or have longstanding relationships.

  • Cultural Sector Events: Agnes Hsu-Tang is actively involved in New York's cultural community through her UNESCO work and board positions. The Tangs attend major cultural events and are engaged with the arts community.

  • Committee of 100: Oscar Tang co-founded this organization of prominent Chinese-Americans. Organizations aligned with Committee of 100's mission of promoting U.S.-China understanding may gain visibility.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as the foundation does not operate on a standard grant cycle. Major gifts appear to develop over time through relationship-building and strategic discussions with institutional leadership.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the lack of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. The foundation makes grants based on trustee discretion rather than through a competitive application process.

Application Success Factors

While the Tang Fund does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations that have successfully received support share these characteristics:

Alignment with Core Mission: The most successful beneficiaries demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of the Tangs' priorities: education (especially Asian studies), arts and culture (especially institutions displaying art), Chinese-American cultural understanding, or social justice initiatives.

Institutional Excellence: The Tangs support established institutions with strong reputations and track records. Major beneficiaries include Phillips Academy Andover (which has received $66 million total), the Metropolitan Museum of Art ($125 million), and the New York Philharmonic ($40 million).

Educational Access and Diversity: Tang believes "financial aid can do more than remove economic barriers - it can help institutions educate a diverse student body, including students who are not exactly like the school's founders." Institutions demonstrating commitment to diversity and access have been successful.

Cultural Bridge-Building: Organizations that promote understanding between American and Chinese cultures align with the Tangs' stated mission. Agnes Hsu-Tang particularly values initiatives that showcase Chinese-American contributions and combat discrimination.

Transformational Impact: The Tangs make significant, transformational gifts rather than small grants. They focus on establishing endowed positions, creating new facilities (Tang Wings, Tang Centers), and supporting programs with lasting impact.

Personal Connection: Many successful beneficiaries have personal connections to the Tangs through board service, family ties (Frances Young Tang '61 at Skidmore), or longstanding relationships.

Strategic Naming Opportunities: Major gifts often include naming rights (Tang Wing at the Met, Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore, Tang Center for Early China at Columbia), though this appears to be offered by institutions rather than sought by the donors.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is an invitation-only, trustee-discretion foundation. Traditional grant applications will not be accepted or reviewed.

  • Relationship-Driven Giving: All successful grants stem from existing relationships with the Tangs through board service, institutional connections, or strategic partnerships developed over time.

  • Focus on Chinese-American Cultural Understanding: Organizations that can demonstrate how they promote understanding of Chinese culture, support Asian studies, or combat anti-Asian discrimination align with the Tangs' core mission.

  • Preference for Education and Arts: The overwhelming majority of funding supports educational institutions (particularly those with Asian studies programs) and major cultural institutions (museums, performing arts organizations).

  • Transformational Gifts: The Tangs make significant, multi-million dollar gifts to establish lasting programs, endowments, and facilities rather than operating support or small grants.

  • Strategic Philanthropy: As Oscar Tang advises others: "Come up with a concise concept of what you are trying to accomplish." Organizations should understand the Tangs' clearly defined objectives and demonstrate precise alignment.

  • Leading by Example: The Tangs increasingly use their philanthropy to make public statements about Chinese-American generosity and belonging. Organizations that can amplify this message may resonate with their current priorities.

References

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