TL Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9,811,747 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $37,700,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily NY (Suffern area), NJ, and FL

Contact Details

• Phone: 718-338-2999
• Address: 400 Rella Blvd Ste 174, Suffern, NY 10901-4256
• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

TL Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2013 with tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3). Based in Suffern, New York, the foundation has distributed over $104 million in grants to 44 unique organizations since its inception. With annual giving of approximately $9.8 million in 2023, TL Foundation operates as an invitation-only funder, making grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation is overseen by two trustees, Teddy Lichtschein and Eliezer Scheiner, who serve without compensation. While the foundation states it primarily funds projects within Suffern, NY, their grant distribution extends to organizations in New Jersey and Florida.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

TL Foundation does not operate specific grant programs with public applications. All grants are made through trustee discretion to preselected organizations. Historical grant data shows:

• Median grant size: $159,000
• Largest single grant recorded: $37,700,000
• Typical range based on historical data: $100,000 - $500,000

Priority Areas

The foundation's specific programmatic priorities are not publicly documented. The foundation is broadly categorized under "Philanthropy & Grantmaking Foundations" with a stated focus on projects within the Suffern, NY area, though grants have been made to organizations in New Jersey and Florida.

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented. However, as an invitation-only funder, they do not fund unsolicited applications from organizations without pre-existing relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Teddy Lichtschein (Trustee) - Serves without compensation
• Eliezer Scheiner (Trustee) - Serves without compensation

Both trustees are known for their involvement in nursing home business operations through TL Management, which may provide context for potential funding interests, though specific priorities are not publicly stated.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to their IRS Form 990-PF filing, "The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations." Grants are awarded entirely through trustee discretion to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation only funds preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

As TL Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation's grant-making appears to be based on:

• Pre-existing relationships with trustees
• Geographic proximity to Suffern, NY (though grants extend to NJ and FL)
• Trustee discretion and personal connections
• Alignment with trustees' philanthropic interests

Historical grant patterns show the foundation is capable of both significant one-time gifts (up to $37.7 million) and more modest recurring support (median $159,000).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• TL Foundation is an active grant-maker with substantial giving capacity ($9.8M annually) but operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis • No public application process exists - the foundation only funds preselected organizations chosen by trustees • Grant sizes vary dramatically from $100K to $37.7M, with a median of $159K • Geographic focus includes Suffern, NY area, but extends to New Jersey and Florida • Building relationships with trustees Teddy Lichtschein and Eliezer Scheiner would be essential for any organization seeking support • The foundation maintains minimal public presence with no website or published giving guidelines • With only two trustees serving without compensation, decision-making appears highly centralized

References

• Charity Navigator Foundation Profile. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/461465202
• Cause IQ: TL Foundation Profile. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/tl-foundation,461465202/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: TL Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/461465202
• Instrumentl 990 Report: TL Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/tl-foundation
• Grantmakers.io: TL Foundation Profile. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/461465202-tl-foundation/
• GuideStar/Candid: TL Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-1465202
• Grantable.co: TL Foundation Funder Profile. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/tl-foundation-us-foundation-461465202
• Open990: TL Foundation Forms. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.open990.org/org/461465202/tl-foundation/
• IRS Form 990-PF filings for TL Foundation (2020-2023)