Four-Four Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• EIN: 39-1867243
• Assets: $20.2 million
• Annual Giving: $4.5 million (2023)
• Number of Grants: 92 grants (2023)
• Average Grant: $49,022
• Geographic Focus: National (major cities including New York, Boston, Denver)
• Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation
• Application Process: Invitation only - preselected organizations

Contact Details

Address: 1271 Avenue of the Americas, Floor 42, New York, NY 10020-1401

Administrative Manager: c/o Bessemer Trust Company NA

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funds.

Overview

The Four-Four Foundation Inc was established in 1994 in Wisconsin and is classified as a private family foundation. Now based in New York City with administrative support from Bessemer Trust Company, the foundation manages approximately $20.2 million in assets and distributed $4.5 million in grants during 2023. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, supporting preselected charitable organizations across multiple sectors including arts and culture, education, environment, health, and public health. With 92 grants awarded in 2023 (96 in 2022, 97 in 2021), the foundation maintains a consistent grantmaking portfolio focused on organizations primarily in major metropolitan areas including New York, Boston, and Denver.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a single discretionary grantmaking program with no formal program divisions. Grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees to preselected organizations.

• Grant Range: Varies by organization and project (average $49,022 in 2023)
• Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process
• Decision Process: Trustee discretion based on foundation priorities

Priority Areas

The Four-Four Foundation supports initiatives in the following subject areas:

• Arts and Culture: Supporting cultural institutions and arts programming
• Education: Educational initiatives and institutions
• Environment: Environmental conservation and protection projects
• Health: Health-related programs and services
• Public Health: Community health and public health initiatives

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's statement that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" effectively means:

• Unsolicited grant proposals are not accepted
• Organizations without existing relationships with trustees are unlikely to receive funding
• First-time applicants without trustee connections face significant barriers

Governance and Leadership

The Four-Four Foundation is led by a volunteer board of directors who receive no compensation for their service:

Board of Directors:

• Robert H. Manegold - President, Treasurer, and Director
• Katherine M. Biersach - Vice President and Director
• Joan M. Dukes - Director
• Lynn M. Rix - Secretary and Director

All directors serve on a voluntary basis without compensation, reflecting the foundation's structure as a family foundation focused on strategic philanthropy through personal trustee engagement.

Administrative Support: Bessemer Trust Company NA provides administrative and wealth management services for the foundation. Bessemer Trust is a private, independent multi-family office that oversees more than $200 billion for over 3,000 families, foundations, and endowments, founded in 1907 with headquarters in New York City.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

This means:

• No application forms are available
• No proposal deadlines exist
• No online portals or submission processes are in place
• Organizations cannot submit cold applications

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation operates on trustee discretion rather than formal application cycles. Grants are determined by the board of trustees based on their strategic priorities and existing relationships with organizations.

Grantmaking Patterns

Based on available data:

• 2023: 92 grants totaling $4.5 million
• 2022: 96 grants
• 2021: 97 grants

The foundation demonstrates consistent annual grantmaking activity with approximately 92-97 grants per year, suggesting a relatively stable portfolio of grantee organizations rather than significant year-to-year variation.

Understanding This Funder

Private Foundation Structure

The Four-Four Foundation operates as a private family foundation, which means:

1. Funding derives from a single source: The foundation was established by a family or individual donor(s) and does not solicit funds from the public

2. Trustee discretion: All grantmaking decisions are made by the board of trustees based on their strategic priorities, personal interests, and knowledge of organizations

3. Relationship-based giving: The foundation funds organizations it already knows or has connections to through the trustees' networks, professional affiliations, or geographic communities

4. 5% payout requirement: Like all private foundations, the Four-Four Foundation must distribute at least 5% of its assets annually in grants and operating charitable activities

What "Preselected Organizations" Means

When a foundation states it funds only "preselected charitable organizations," this typically means:

• Trustees identify grantees proactively: Rather than reviewing applications, trustees select organizations they wish to support based on their own research, networks, and interests

• Existing relationships matter: Organizations that receive funding typically have some connection to the trustees, whether through board service, personal involvement, geographic proximity, or professional networks

• Consistency in grantees: Many private foundations fund the same roster of organizations year after year, with occasional additions based on trustee interests

• No competitive process: There is no application review, scoring, or competitive selection process

Foundation Wealth Management

The foundation's administrative operations are managed by Bessemer Trust Company NA, a prominent multi-family office that provides comprehensive support for family foundations, including:

• Investment management to preserve and grow the corpus while generating income for grantmaking
• Assistance with grantmaking strategy and governance
• Administrative support including tax filing and compliance
• Philanthropic advisory services

This relationship indicates the foundation follows professional standards for governance, investment management, and charitable compliance.

Strategic Insights for Grant Writers

Understanding Your Prospects with Invitation-Only Funders

While the Four-Four Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their giving patterns can still be valuable:

1. Review their 990-PF forms: Form 990-PF filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, GuideStar, or Instrumentl) list all grant recipients, amounts, and purposes for the past several years. This reveals:

   • Specific organizations they support
   • Geographic patterns
   • Grant size ranges
   • Program areas receiving most funding
   • Whether they fund new organizations or the same groups annually

2. Assess your fit: If your organization aligns closely with their documented funding patterns and is located in their geographic focus areas (New York, Boston, Denver, and other major cities), you may be a logical fit should they expand their grantee roster

3. Board connections: Research whether any of your board members, major donors, or organizational leaders have connections to the Four-Four Foundation trustees or to Bessemer Trust client networks

4. Complementary to other funders: If you discover the Four-Four Foundation supports organizations similar to yours, those peer organizations might be good prospects for your own development efforts, as they clearly interest funders in this sector

The Reality of Invitation-Only Foundations

For the vast majority of organizations, foundations like Four-Four that fund only preselected organizations should not be active prospects in your grant pipeline. However, if:

• Your organization appears similar to organizations they currently fund
• You operate in their geographic focus areas
• You have or can develop personal connections to trustees
• You've been mentioned positively by one of their current grantees

Then monitoring their giving patterns and being prepared to respond quickly to any inquiry is worthwhile.

Focus Your Energy Wisely

Private family foundations with invitation-only processes represent a small percentage of available foundation funding. Grant writers should prioritize foundations with open application processes that actively seek new grantees and where your mission and programs align clearly with their stated priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Four-Four Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - they fund only preselected organizations chosen by trustees
• With $4.5 million distributed across 92 grants (average $49,022), they make moderate-sized grants to a consistent portfolio of organizations
• They support multiple sectors: arts, education, environment, health, and public health
• Geographic focus includes major metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, and Denver
• Administrative services by Bessemer Trust indicate professional foundation management and fiduciary standards
• Organizations should only pursue this funder if they have direct trustee connections or strong relationships with current grantees
• Review their Form 990-PF filings to understand their actual giving patterns and assess whether your organization fits their profile
• Most organizations should not invest significant time pursuing this foundation given the invitation-only structure

References

1. Four-Four Foundation Inc Profile, Cause IQ. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/four-four-foundation,391867243/

2. Four-Four Foundation Inc, Nonprofit Explorer, ProPublica. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/391867243

3. Four-Four Foundation Inc Profile, GuideStar. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-1867243

4. Four-Four Foundation Inc, Foundation Directory, Candid. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=FOUR018

5. Four Four Foundation Inc 990 Report, Instrumentl. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/four-four-foundation-inc

6. FOUR-FOUR FOUNDATION INC Profile & Grants, Grantable. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/four-four-foundation-inc-us-foundation-391867243

7. Grantmakers.io Profile - FOUR-FOUR FOUNDATION INC. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/391867243-four-four-foundation-inc/

8. "No unsolicited proposals? How to Get Invited to Apply for Funding," Funding for Good. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://fundingforgood.org/unsolicited-proposals-and-pre-selected-orgs/

9. Bessemer Trust Company Profile. Wikipedia. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessemer_Trust

10. "Family Foundations: Thriving Through Times of Transition," Bessemer Trust. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.bessemertrust.com/insights/a-closer-look/family-foundations-thriving-through-times-of-transition