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Eugene Ewan Mori Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.9M
Grant Range
$220K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $866,960 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $220,000 - $450,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Florida, with emphasis on animal welfare organizations

Contact Details

Website: https://www.eemorifoundation.org/

Contact: info@eemorifoundation.org | (954) 695-3580

Address: 3240 NE 13th St, Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Note: Contact information is provided for charitable organizations seeking partnership assistance, not for grant applications.

Overview

The Eugene Ewan Mori Foundation Inc was established in 2011 by Eugene Ewan Mori Jr. (1928-2020), son of Eugene V. Mori Sr., who built and owned Garden State Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The foundation received IRS tax-exempt status in October 2013 and currently holds net assets of approximately $16.5 million. The foundation's mission is to support and protect endangered animals and preserve the natural environment. Through Eugene's philanthropy, the foundation supports proactive organizations with reasonable administrative costs and lacking mainstream publicity to make a substantial impact to the benefit of the animal kingdom and the surrounding environment. The foundation maintains a focused grantmaking approach, directing substantial grants to carefully selected animal welfare organizations, particularly those involved in horse rescue, senior pet care, and animal rehabilitation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed deadlines or application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected charitable organizations.

Recent grants have ranged from $220,000 to $450,000 per organization, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to making substantial, transformational gifts rather than numerous small grants.

Priority Areas

Animal Welfare and Protection

  • Horse rescue and rehabilitation
  • Senior pet sanctuaries
  • Animal welfare organizations serving vulnerable animal populations
  • Organizations addressing animal abuse and neglect
  • Wildlife and endangered species protection

Environmental Conservation

  • Natural environment preservation initiatives

Organizational Characteristics the Foundation Supports

  • Organizations with reasonable administrative costs
  • Groups lacking mainstream publicity
  • Organizations making substantial impact for animal welfare
  • Florida-based animal welfare organizations (primary geographic focus)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from organizations with which they do not have an existing relationship. Based on their mission focus, the foundation likely does not fund:

  • Organizations outside the animal welfare and environmental conservation sectors
  • General operating support for organizations with high administrative overhead
  • Human services, arts, education, or health care organizations
  • International organizations (focus appears to be Florida-based)

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Eileen Herlihy, President and Director

  • Serves as President with $0 compensation
  • Works approximately 2 hours per week
  • Was Eugene Mori's companion and partner for 40 years, having met him around 1980 when she was 21
  • Listed as president when the foundation was created in 2011

Mark Lees, Vice President and Director

  • Serves as Vice President
  • Compensation: $100,006 (2024)
  • Works approximately 25 hours per week
  • Trustee and key decision-maker for grant awards

Patrick Herlihy, Treasurer/Secretary and Director

  • Brother of Eileen Herlihy
  • Compensation: $30,004 (2024)
  • Works approximately 20 hours per week
  • Involved in day-to-day foundation operations

The foundation's governance structure reflects Eugene Mori's close personal relationships and trust in these individuals to carry forward his philanthropic vision for animal welfare.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Eugene Ewan Mori Foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees.

According to Grantmakers.io, the foundation "makes grants to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

The foundation's website lists contact information (info@eemorifoundation.org and (954) 695-3580) for "charitable organizations in need of assistance looking for a partner to help with fundraising," though it is unclear if this represents an avenue for initial outreach or is intended for existing partners only.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Grants appear to be awarded on a rolling basis as trustees identify organizations aligned with the foundation's mission.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not have a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no traditional application process. However, based on the foundation's recent grantmaking patterns, the following factors appear to be important to the trustees:

Organizations That Have Received Support

  • The Sanctuary at Lakota Farms (2023): $450,000 for general purpose - A Groveland, Florida-based 501(c)(3) committed to providing a second chance to horses and livestock that have suffered neglect, abuse, and mistreatment through rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming.

  • For the Love of Paws Senior Pet Sanctuary (2023): $220,000 for general purpose - A Fellsmere, Florida-based organization that rescues pets owned by senior citizens who have become incapacitated, passed away, or entered nursing homes, and operates pet food pantries serving over 14,000 pounds monthly.

  • South Florida SPCA (2022): $400,000 for capital improvements - Funded rebuilding of training round pen and flooding mitigation infrastructure. The foundation was the organization's first Signature Sponsor for their Inaugural Hearts & Hoofbeats Reception event.

Common Characteristics of Funded Organizations

  • Focus on vulnerable animal populations (particularly horses and senior pets)
  • Based in Florida
  • Address animal neglect and abuse
  • Provide direct care and sanctuary services
  • Rehabilitation and rescue missions
  • Capital needs and infrastructure improvements

Foundation's Stated Values The foundation seeks to support "proactive organizations with reasonable administrative costs and lacking mainstream publicity to make a substantial impact to the benefit of the animal kingdom and the surrounding environment."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and makes awards to preselected organizations only
  • Substantial Grant Size: Recent grants range from $220,000 to $450,000, indicating the foundation prefers to make fewer, larger, transformational gifts
  • Florida Focus: All identified grant recipients are Florida-based organizations
  • Animal Welfare Emphasis: Strong preference for horse rescue, senior pet care, and organizations addressing animal abuse and neglect
  • Low Administrative Costs: The foundation explicitly values organizations with reasonable administrative costs
  • Under-the-Radar Organizations: Preference for supporting organizations "lacking mainstream publicity"
  • Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Grant decisions appear to be made through trustee discretion and existing relationships rather than competitive application processes

References

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