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Kate W Cassidy Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.8M

Kate W Cassidy Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,306,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $800,000
  • Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on New York
  • Median Grant: $20,000

Contact Details

Address: Co Cng 3 Manhattanville Road 301, Purchase, NY 10577
Phone: 914-696-9000
EIN: 61-1715303

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Kate W Cassidy Foundation was established in September 2013 as a private independent foundation based in Purchase, New York. With total assets of approximately $85.1 million and annual giving of $4.3 million, the foundation supports a carefully selected portfolio of nonprofit organizations. The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public documents, but grant-making patterns reveal strong support for major cultural institutions (particularly museums and public broadcasting), environmental organizations, community services, and educational programs. All three officers serve on a voluntary basis without compensation. The foundation operates as a traditional private foundation, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting open applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal named grant programs. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Grant Range: $1,000 - $800,000
Median Grant: $20,000
Annual Distribution: Approximately $4.3 million across 61+ grants

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant-making patterns, the foundation supports:

  • Arts and Culture: Major support for museums (Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History) and cultural institutions
  • Public Media: Support for educational broadcasting (WNET/Thirteen)
  • Community Services: Including food security programs (Springs Food Pantry)
  • Environmental Conservation: Support for environmental organizations (Surfrider Foundation)
  • Education: Scholarship programs for students pursuing helping careers (social work, psychology, nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, teaching, dietetics)
  • Jewish Philanthropy: Support through the Jewish Communal Fund

Geographic Focus: While the foundation operates nationally across states including California, Connecticut, Florida, and New York, there is notable emphasis on New York cultural institutions and East Hampton/Long Island community organizations.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's public filings do not specify exclusions, but it is clear they:

  • Do not accept unsolicited applications
  • Do not fund organizations outside their preselected network

Governance and Leadership

Officers (all serving without compensation):

  • Kate W Cassidy - President
  • Steven M Eigen - Treasurer
  • Howard R Herman - Secretary

Kate W Cassidy also serves as a Board Member of the Miriam G & Ira D Wallach Foundation, indicating broader involvement in New York philanthropy.

No public statements or quotes from foundation leadership regarding funding priorities were found in available sources.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation has explicitly indicated it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and selected.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. In 2024, the foundation made 61 grants totaling $4.3 million to organizations within its preselected portfolio.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the public.

Application Success Factors

For organizations already receiving funding: Given the foundation's closed application process, maintaining relationships with current funders is essential. The foundation demonstrates:

  • Consistent multi-year support: Evidence of ongoing relationships with major cultural institutions receiving substantial annual grants
  • Preference for general operating support: Most large grants are designated for "general support" rather than specific projects
  • Range of grant sizes: While major cultural institutions receive $350,000-$800,000, the foundation also makes smaller grants ($1,000-$75,000) to community organizations
  • Geographic connections: Support for both major New York City institutions and local East Hampton/Long Island organizations suggests personal or trustee connections to these communities

For organizations not currently funded: Given the foundation's policy of only funding preselected organizations, there is no formal pathway for new organizations to apply.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests
  • Major cultural supporter: Significant, sustained funding to prominent New York museums and cultural institutions (MoMA, Met, Guggenheim, AMNH) with grants ranging from $183,000 to $800,000
  • Diverse portfolio within constraints: While cultural institutions receive the largest grants, the foundation also supports community services, environmental causes, and educational programs
  • General operating support preferred: Large institutional grants are typically for general support rather than specific projects
  • Strong New York focus: Despite national reach, clear emphasis on New York-based institutions and East Hampton/Long Island community organizations
  • Scholarship component: The Kate Cassidy Scholarship provides $5,000 over two years to students pursuing helping careers
  • Private family foundation model: Operates with unpaid volunteer officers and makes grants based on trustee discretion rather than competitive processes

References

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