Gwen Libstag Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Highly variable ($5,000 to $871,750 in recent years)
• Success Rate: N/A (No public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (Trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $871,750 (based on recent activity)
• Geographic Focus: New York State

Contact Details

• Website: None
• Phone: Not available
• Email: Not available
• Mailing Address: PO Box 73, New York, NY 10274-0073

Overview

The Gwen Libstag Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in August 2015 and based in New York, NY. With total assets of approximately $23.7 million as of 2024, the foundation operates as a vehicle for personal philanthropy under the sole trusteeship of Gwen R. Libstag, a senior executive at Goldman Sachs. The foundation's grant-making is characterized by sporadic activity, typically awarding just one or two grants annually with amounts varying dramatically from $5,000 to over $870,000. As a private family foundation with no public presence, it operates entirely through trustee discretion without any public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs. All grants are made at the sole discretion of the trustee.

Priority Areas

Based on limited available grant history:

• Youth development and empowerment
• Children and family services
• Organizations supporting women and diversity initiatives

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published, but the foundation's extremely limited grant-making (1-2 grants per year) effectively excludes most potential applicants.

Governance and Leadership

Gwen R. Libstag - Sole Trustee

• Senior executive at Goldman Sachs since 1983
• Managing Director (1996), Partner (2000)
• Member of Goldman Sachs Management Committee
• Co-Chair of Global Diversity Committee at Goldman Sachs
• Previously oversaw Launch With GS, Goldman's $500 million commitment to narrow the gender investing gap

The foundation operates with minimal administrative overhead, with the trustee serving without compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. All grants are made at the sole discretion of the trustee through invitation only or pre-existing relationships. The foundation maintains no website, published guidelines, or application procedures.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation does not accept public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that have received funding appear to:

• Have pre-existing relationships with the trustee
• Operate in New York State, particularly New York City
• Focus on youth, children, or diversity initiatives
• Align with the trustee's professional interests in women's empowerment and diversity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications
• With only 1-2 grants made annually, it is not a viable prospect for most organizations
• All funding decisions are made by a single trustee based on personal connections
• The foundation's giving is highly irregular, with amounts varying from $5,000 to over $870,000
• Organizations without a direct connection to Gwen Libstag should not invest time pursuing this funder
• Focus efforts on foundations with public application processes and clear guidelines

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Gwen Libstag Family Foundation (EIN: 47-4412678) - Accessed February 2024
• IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019-2024) via ProPublica
• Goldman Sachs corporate leadership profiles
• Candid Foundation Directory listings
• Various nonprofit recipient websites showing grant acknowledgments (2018-2019)