Edward John Noble Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,645,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only/trustee discretion)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000 (average: $25,000)
• Geographic Focus: Connecticut, New York (with emphasis on Northern NY), and St. Catherines Island, GA
• Total Assets: $120,968,918 (2024)

Contact Details

Edward John Noble Foundation Inc

• Address: New Milford, CT 06776 (Administrative office: Greenwich, CT)
• EIN: 61-1055586
• Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Foundation
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Website: No public website available

Overview

The Edward John Noble Foundation Inc was established as a trust in 1940 and incorporated in 1982. Founded by Edward John Noble (1882-1958), co-founder of the Life Savers Corporation and founder of the American Broadcasting Company, the foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of one of America's notable business pioneers. With total assets of approximately $121 million and annual giving of $3.6 million across 23 grants in 2023, the foundation focuses its support in four principal areas: arts and education, conservation, health, and preservation of natural resources. The foundation is currently led by Noble Smith, grandson of Edward John Noble, who serves as Chairman and President. The foundation takes a selective approach to grantmaking, with a particular emphasis on educational programs, management training internships at cultural organizations, and conservation projects related to St. Catherines Island, Georgia—a 14,640-acre barrier island purchased by Noble in 1943 and now operated for scientific and conservation purposes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Awards typically fall into four strategic areas:

• Arts & Cultural Education: $25,000 - $1,000,000 (grants to major cultural organizations in New York City, especially for educational programs and management training internships)
• Conservation & Environmental Preservation: Variable amounts (supporting St. Catherines Island conservation projects and selected environmental organizations)
• Health Initiatives: Variable amounts (general support in CT and NY with emphasis on Northern NY)
• Educational Opportunities: $25,000 - $1,500,000 (programs for gifted and talented disadvantaged children; recent $1.5 million endowment to St. Lawrence University)

Priority Areas

Arts and Education

• Cultural organizations in Connecticut and New York region
• Educational programs and internships at museums and arts institutions
• Management training internships at major cultural institutions
• Past grantees include Museum of Modern Art, American Museum of Natural History, and WNYC public radio

Conservation

• Conservation projects on St. Catherines Island, Georgia
• Organizations preserving natural environment
• Environmental degradation prevention initiatives
• Natural resource conservation primarily in eastern United States

Health

• General health support in Connecticut and New York
• Particular emphasis on Northern New York region
• Edward John Noble Hospitals system in founder's native New York region

Education

• Programs improving educational opportunities for gifted and talented disadvantaged children in New York
• Scholarship endowments for middle-class students from underserved regions
• Education-focused community organizations

What They Don't Fund

• Buildings or capital equipment (explicitly stated exclusion)
• Grants to individuals
• Organizations outside their geographic focus areas (with exception of St. Catherines Island projects)

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

• E.J. Noble Smith - Chairman and President (grandson of founder Edward John Noble; St. Lawrence University Class of 1971; compensation: $298,483 in 2024)
• Christine Breite - Chief Financial Officer
• E. Mary Heffernan - Officer
• Sarah N. Smith - Officer

The foundation maintains a relatively private governance structure with limited public disclosure of its full board composition. Leadership is family-connected, maintaining the founder's philanthropic vision across generations.

Foundation Legacy: Edward John Noble (1882-1958) was a Yale graduate (Class of 1905) who purchased the rights to Life Savers candy from Clarence Crane in 1912 for $2,900, transforming it into a major success through innovative tin-foil packaging. He later founded the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1943 by purchasing RCA's Blue Network. Noble also served as the first chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Authority and as Under Secretary of Commerce under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for funding. Some sources indicate that introductory letters may be considered, but the foundation primarily makes grants through trustee discretion to organizations already known to the foundation or identified through the board's networks.

According to limited available guidance, if an organization wishes to initiate contact, applications should be made by letter describing the project for which support is requested, with a brief description of the nature and purpose of the organization attached. However, success through this approach is not typical, as the foundation operates primarily on an invitation-only basis.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies grantees primarily through:

• Board connections: The foundation's leadership, particularly Noble Smith and other officers, identify projects through their networks in the arts, conservation, and education sectors
• Geographic ties: Strong preference for organizations in Connecticut and New York, especially those with connections to the founder's legacy areas (Northern New York, St. Catherines Island in Georgia)
• St. Lawrence University connection: Noble Smith is a 1971 graduate; demonstrated commitment to institutions with family ties
• Major cultural institutions in NYC: Historical pattern of supporting established museums and cultural organizations for educational programming

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are made through trustee discretion rather than competitive application cycles, timing varies based on board meeting schedules and individual project consideration.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With 23 grants awarded from a $121 million asset base in 2023, the foundation is highly selective. The invitation-only/trustee-discretion model means traditional success rates do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the lack of public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, the following factors appear critical for organizations that do receive funding:

Geographic Alignment

• Strong preference for Connecticut and New York organizations
• Particular emphasis on Northern New York region for health initiatives
• Exception made for St. Catherines Island, Georgia conservation projects
• Cities historically funded: Greenwich, Litchfield, New York, Charleston, Deerfield, Fairfield, Stamford, Canton, New Haven, Boston, Santa Fe, Ithaca, Dorset, Brooklyn, Mystic, and Washington D.C.

Mission Alignment

• Educational programming at cultural institutions (not just general operations)
• Management training and internship programs
• Conservation and environmental preservation
• Programs serving disadvantaged gifted and talented children
• Middle-class student access to higher education in underserved regions

Institutional Prestige and Track Record

• Past grantees include major established institutions: Museum of Modern Art, American Museum of Natural History, WNYC
• Foundation appears to favor well-established organizations with proven track records
• Recent $1.5 million gift to St. Lawrence University demonstrates willingness to make major gifts to institutions with family connections

Project Focus Over Capital

• Foundation explicitly does not fund buildings or equipment
• Programmatic support strongly preferred
• Educational components of projects particularly valued

Connection to Founder's Legacy

• Organizations or projects connected to Edward John Noble's interests in broadcasting, arts, conservation, and education
• St. Catherines Island remains central to conservation funding strategy
• Northern New York region health initiatives honor founder's roots in Gouverneur, NY

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not an accessible funder for most organizations - with no public application process and trustee-discretion grantmaking, only organizations with existing connections or those directly approached by the foundation are likely to receive funding
• Geographic focus is critical - if you're not in Connecticut, New York (especially Northern NY), or working on St. Catherines Island conservation, your chances are extremely limited
• Educational programming is the sweet spot - particularly internships and management training at cultural institutions, and programs for disadvantaged gifted children
• Grant sizes vary dramatically - from an average of $25,000 to occasional seven-figure gifts like the $1.5 million St. Lawrence University scholarship endowment
• Family legacy matters - institutions with connections to the Noble family or the founder's business interests (broadcasting, candy industry, conservation) may have better access
• Focus on programs, not buildings - capital campaigns for facilities or equipment will not be considered
• Long-term relationships appear key - with only 23 grants annually from significant assets, the foundation appears to support a consistent group of organizations rather than seeking new grantees

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Edward John Noble Foundation Inc (EIN 61-1055586), Form 990 filings 2023-2024. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61055586 (Accessed January 2026)

• Candid Foundation Directory: Edward John Noble Foundation Inc. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=NOBL001 (Accessed January 2026)

• Inside Philanthropy: Edward John Noble Foundation profile. Available at: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/edward-john-noble-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• St. Lawrence University News: "St. Lawrence Receives $1.5 Million Gift to Endow a Full Scholarship for Middle-Class North Country Students" (2023). Available at: https://www.stlawu.edu/news/st-lawrence-receives-15-million-gift-endow-full-scholarship-middle-class-north-country-students (Accessed January 2026)

• Wikipedia: Edward J. Noble biography. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._Noble (Accessed January 2026)

• Liberty County Historical Society: Noble, Edward John (1882-1958). Available at: https://www.libertyhistory.net/noble-edward-john-1882-1958/ (Accessed January 2026)

• GrantStation: Edward John Noble Foundation profile. Available at: https://grantstation.com/grantmakers/edward-john-noble-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• Cause IQ: Edward John Noble Foundation organizational profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/edward-john-noble-foundation,061055586/ (Accessed January 2026)