Alexander M. Lewyt And Elisabeth Lewyt Wholly Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5,600,000 (2023)
Total Assets: $86,138,584 (2023)
Number of Grants: 32 grants (2023)
Grant Range: $3,000 - $2,500,000
Median Grant: $23,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily Long Island, NY with select national partners
Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Website: www.lewyt.org
Email: info@lewyt.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box, Locust Valley, NY 11560

Overview

The Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Wholly Charitable Trust was established in 2012 following the death of Elisabeth "Babette" Lewyt, who left the bulk of her and her late husband's fortune to carry on their animal welfare philanthropy in perpetuity. The trust, which has been operating since 2016, continues the pioneering legacy of Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt, who were instrumental in transforming North Shore Animal League into one of the world's largest no-kill animal shelters. Alex Lewyt, an inventor and entrepreneur known for the Lewyt vacuum cleaner, served as president of North Shore Animal League for 30 years until his death, restoring it to solvency. Elisabeth personally drove across Long Island rescuing animals from shelters. With assets exceeding $86 million and annual giving of approximately $5.6 million, the trust focuses on improving the lives of companion animals, reducing animal cruelty and euthanasia rates, and supporting programs for the betterment of all animals. In 2025, Long Island University renamed its College of Veterinary Medicine the "Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine" in recognition of a $20.5 million partnership with the trust.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates through trustee-discretionary grantmaking and does not have formal grant programs with application cycles. Based on 2023 giving patterns:

Major Institutional Partnerships: $500,000 - $2,500,000 (multi-year commitments to veterinary education, large-scale animal welfare initiatives)
Established Animal Welfare Organizations: $100,000 - $700,000 (national organizations like ASPCA, HSUS)
Regional and Local Organizations: $3,000 - $100,000 (Long Island-based shelters, rescue groups, and animal welfare programs)

Notable 2023 Recipients:

LIU College of Veterinary Medicine: $2,500,000
ASPCA: $700,000
North Shore Animal League: $500,000
Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association-Rural Area Veterinary Services (HSVMA-RAVS)
Pet Peeves Inc.

Priority Areas

No-kill shelter operations and advocacy - Organizations following no-kill policies for stray and abandoned pets
Veterinary medicine and education - Including veterinary training, scholarships, and community veterinary services
Companion animal rescue and adoption - Programs that reduce euthanasia and find homes for dogs and cats
Anti-cruelty and disaster response - Emergency animal rescue and anti-cruelty enforcement efforts
Underserved communities - Free veterinary services, pet food distribution, and care for animals in rural or low-income areas
Long Island animal welfare - Strong preference for organizations serving Long Island, NY

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's focus is exclusively on animal welfare, particularly companion animals (dogs and cats). They do not appear to fund:

Non-animal related causes
Wildlife or conservation projects unrelated to companion animals
Farm animal welfare (though they support programs serving farm animals in rescue contexts)
International organizations (focus is primarily U.S.-based, especially Long Island)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Wendy McColgan, Co-Trustee
Ms. McColgan brings over 30 years of experience in animal rescue and welfare, including work with North Shore Animal League. She serves as a full-time trustee with deep expertise in the foundation's mission areas.

Thomas R. Amlicke, Co-Trustee
A trusts and estates attorney with over 50 years of experience, Mr. Amlicke provides legal and fiduciary guidance to the trust as a full-time trustee.

Both trustees receive compensation of $110,475 annually and work full-time managing the trust's operations and grantmaking.

Founding Vision

Alex Lewyt famously stated his motivation for animal welfare work: "my wife adores animals, and I adore my wife." This personal commitment to Elisabeth's passion became the foundation for their transformative work in animal rescue and continues to guide the trust's mission today.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Wholly Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited grant applications. According to their website and grantmaking materials, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations."

Grants are awarded at the trustees' discretion based on organizations and projects they identify as aligned with the Lewyt legacy. The trust proactively identifies and reaches out to potential grantees rather than accepting proposals from organizations seeking funding.

Getting on Their Radar

Long Island Connection: Given the trust's strong focus on Long Island animal welfare organizations, having a physical presence or programs serving Long Island communities significantly increases relevance to the trust's mission.

North Shore Animal League Network: Organizations with connections to North Shore Animal League or that share its no-kill philosophy may have stronger alignment with the trust's values, given the Lewyts' decades-long leadership there.

Partnership Approach: The trust appears to favor established relationships and partnerships. Pet Peeves Inc., a Long Island umbrella organization, works with the trust to distribute grants to smaller shelters and rescue groups, potentially serving as an intermediary for Long Island organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the trust does not operate on an application cycle. Grants are made throughout the year based on trustee discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable - without a public application process, traditional success rates cannot be calculated.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this funder does not accept unsolicited applications, the following insights reflect the trust's documented funding patterns and priorities:

No-Kill Philosophy Is Essential: Elisabeth Lewyt specifically championed organizations following no-kill policies. The trust continues this commitment, making it a fundamental alignment factor.

Long Island Geographic Focus: While the trust supports major national organizations like the ASPCA and HSUS, the majority of their grantees serve Long Island. Local presence matters significantly.

Established Track Record: The trust funds pre-selected organizations with proven impact. Recipients include well-established institutions (ASPCA, North Shore Animal League) and known regional organizations, not startups.

Hands-On Service Delivery: The Lewyts were personally involved in rescue work. The trust favors organizations providing direct services—veterinary care, rescues, adoptions—rather than purely advocacy or research organizations.

Veterinary Medicine and Education: The $20.5 million commitment to LIU's veterinary college demonstrates strong interest in training the next generation of veterinarians and providing community veterinary services, including the establishment of "Lewyt Training Centers" at animal shelters.

Comprehensive Animal Welfare: Recent grants support HSVMA-RAVS (providing $1.5 million in free veterinary services annually to 8,000+ animals in rural communities) and disaster response efforts, showing interest in addressing animal welfare systemically.

Alignment with Lewyt Values: Organizations should demonstrate commitment to the same values the Lewyts embodied: reducing euthanasia, providing excellent animal care, serving underserved communities, and creating lasting systemic change.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - This is an invitation-only funder that pre-selects grantees; traditional grant applications are not accepted
No-kill philosophy is non-negotiable - Elisabeth Lewyt's core value of championing no-kill policies remains central to the trust's mission
Long Island organizations have significant advantage - Geographic focus on Long Island is clear from both the mission statement and funding patterns
Think big and long-term - Grant range from $3,000 to $2.5 million shows willingness to make both small and transformational investments
Direct service delivery matters - Hands-on programs providing veterinary care, rescue operations, and community outreach align best with the Lewyt legacy
Established organizations favored - The trust works with pre-selected, proven organizations rather than emerging groups
Consider indirect pathways - For smaller Long Island organizations, connecting with intermediaries like Pet Peeves Inc. may be more viable than seeking direct funding
Veterinary education and training is a growing priority - The major investment in LIU's veterinary college signals expanding interest in training future animal welfare professionals

References

Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust official website - www.lewyt.org - Accessed January 2026
Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust "About" page - www.lewyt.org/about.html - Accessed January 2026
Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust "Recent Grant Recipients" page - www.lewyt.org/grantees.html - Accessed January 2026
Grantmakers.io Profile - Alexander M Lewyt and Elisabeth Lewyt Wholly Charitable Tr - https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/477038614-alexander-m-lewyt-and-elisabeth-lewyt-wholly-charitable-tr/ - Accessed January 2026
Cause IQ - Alexander M Lewyt and Elisabeth Lewyt Wholly Charitable Trust - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/alexander-m-lewyt-and-elisabeth-lewyt-wholly-chari,477038614/ - Accessed January 2026
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Alexander M Lewyt And Elisabeth Lewyt Wholly Charitable Tr (Form 990 filings) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/477038614 - Accessed January 2026
ASPCA Press Release - "The Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust Donates $500,000 to the ASPCA COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Initiative" - https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/alex-elisabeth-lewyt-charitable-trust-donates-500000-aspca-covid-19-relief - Accessed January 2026
ASPCA Press Release - "The Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust Pledges $500,000 to ASPCA and The HSUS for Animal Rescue" - https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/alex-elisabeth-lewyt-charitable-trust-pledges-500000-aspca-and-hsus-animal - Accessed January 2026
ASPCA Press Release - "The Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust Donates $1.5 Million to the ASPCA Community Veterinary Center in Brooklyn" - https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/alex-and-elisabeth-lewyt-charitable-trust-donates-15-million-aspca-community - Accessed January 2026
Long Island University Press Release - "Long Island University's Veterinary College to be Named Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine" - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/long-island-universitys-veterinary-college-to-be-named-lewyt-college-of-veterinary-medicine-in-honor-of-renowned-li-philanthropists-302369017.html - February 2025
Animal People News - "Babette Lewyt, rescuer who rescued the North Shore Animal League" - https://newspaper.animalpeopleforum.org/2013/01/01/babette-lewyt-rescuer-who-rescued-the-north-shore-animal-league/ - January 2013
Animal League - "The history of Animal League | Our Story" - https://www.animalleague.org/who-we-are/our-story/ - Accessed January 2026