Theodore J Forstmann Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $19,155,520 (2023)
Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
Geographic Focus: National (United States)
Total Assets: $41,000,417

Contact Details

Address: c/o Bessemer Trust Company NA, New York, NY

Note: The trust is managed by Bessemer Trust Company NA and does not have a publicly listed phone number, email, or website for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Theodore J Forstmann Charitable Trust was established to honor the philanthropic legacy of Theodore Joseph Forstmann (1940-2011), a billionaire private equity investor and dedicated education philanthropist. The trust operates as a private independent foundation with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and contributed $19,155,520 in grants during 2023, making 41 awards that year. The foundation's primary mission continues Theodore Forstmann's lifelong commitment to education reform and school choice, with the majority of its grantmaking directed toward the Children's Scholarship Fund, which Forstmann co-founded in 1998 with John T. Walton. The trust maintains substantial assets of over $41 million and operates under a selective grantmaking model, supporting preselected organizations that align with Forstmann's vision of providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged children. The foundation is managed by co-trustees Margot McGinness and Kathleen Broderick, along with Bessemer Trust Company NA.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with publicly defined parameters. Instead, it makes grants to organizations that have been preselected by the trustees. The majority of funding is directed to education-focused organizations.

Primary Grant Focus:

Children's Scholarship Fund (receives the majority of annual grants)
Education reform and school choice initiatives
Organizations serving disadvantaged children

Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on Theodore Forstmann's philanthropic legacy and the trust's grantmaking history:

K-12 Education: Particularly private school scholarship programs for low-income families
School Choice Advocacy: Organizations promoting educational choice and reform
Children's Welfare: Programs benefiting disadvantaged youth
Educational Access: Initiatives that remove financial barriers to quality education

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not accept unsolicited funding requests. Organizations not preselected by the trustees cannot apply for funding, regardless of their mission or alignment with the trust's priorities.

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees:

Margot McGinness
Kathleen Broderick
Bessemer Trust Company NA (professional trustee)

Executive Director:

Courtney O'Malley

The trust operates under the guidance of professional trustees at Bessemer Trust Company, which receives compensation for its fiduciary services. The governance structure reflects Theodore Forstmann's commitment to maintaining his philanthropic vision long-term through professional management.

Theodore Forstmann's Philosophy: As Mr. Forstmann stated: "Every child, regardless of their parents' income, should have access to a quality education – an education that will not only prepare them for successful private lives, but help them to build cohesive communities and a strong democracy. We believe if you give parents a choice, you will give their children a chance."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Theodore J Forstmann Charitable Trust explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This means:

Organizations cannot submit grant applications
Funding decisions are made at the trustees' discretion
The trust identifies and selects beneficiary organizations without solicitation
There is no application portal, deadline, or submission process available

Grants are awarded to organizations that the trustees have independently identified as aligned with the foundation's mission and Theodore Forstmann's philanthropic legacy.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, understanding Theodore Forstmann's philanthropic priorities provides insight into the types of organizations the trust supports:

Alignment with Forstmann's Core Values:

Organizations must demonstrate a strong commitment to education reform and school choice
Programs should directly benefit low-income children and families
Focus on removing financial barriers to quality education
Evidence-based approaches to improving educational outcomes

Historical Funding Pattern: The trust's grantmaking heavily favors the Children's Scholarship Fund, which Forstmann co-founded in 1998. This organization has provided scholarships worth more than $1.15 billion to over 217,000 children since its inception. The CSF's model of providing tuition assistance for private school education to low-income families represents the ideal implementation of Forstmann's vision.

Theodore Forstmann's Legacy: Organizations benefiting from the trust typically share Forstmann's philosophy that parental choice in education is fundamental to providing children with opportunities for success. His work extended beyond just funding - he adopted two boys from a South African orphanage and led tours of refugee camps, demonstrating a hands-on commitment to children's welfare.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Application Possible: This trust does not accept unsolicited funding requests, making it unavailable for traditional grant-seeking efforts
Education Focus: The trust's grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated on education, particularly K-12 scholarship programs for low-income students
Children's Scholarship Fund Priority: The majority of grants go to CSF, the organization Forstmann co-founded
Preselected Model: The trustees identify and select beneficiary organizations without public solicitation
Professional Management: Bessemer Trust Company provides institutional oversight, ensuring continuity of Forstmann's philanthropic vision
Substantial Resources: With over $41 million in assets and approximately $19 million in annual grantmaking, the trust has significant capacity
School Choice Advocacy: Organizations must align with Forstmann's belief in educational choice and parental empowerment

References

Research completed December 24, 2025