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The Risc Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
$50K - $6.7M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12,952,722 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $6,724,996
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New Haven, CT and some support in Massachusetts

Contact Details

Address: 140 Ogden St., New Haven, CT 06511-1324
Phone: (203) 430-5013
Website: No longer active (dismantled circa 2021)
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The RISC Foundation (Responsible Investment for Social Change) was established in 2008 as a private foundation in New Haven, Connecticut. With total assets of $279,381,424 and annual giving of approximately $12.95 million in 2024, the foundation has significantly scaled back its operations since 2021. The foundation is led by Louis Linfield Simon, an attorney who serves as president, with other Simon family members serving as foundation officers. The foundation's grantmaking has become highly concentrated, with the vast majority of funds directed to the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, which has received hundreds of millions in funding over recent years. The foundation's website was dismantled around 2021, and its grantmaking has tapered off significantly, making its long-term future uncertain.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The RISC Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no public application process. All grants are designated for "PROGRAM SUPPORT."

Primary Recipients:

  • Community Foundation of Greater New Haven: Multi-million dollar grants (e.g., $6,724,996 in recent years)
  • Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inc: Consistent grants of approximately $50,000 per award

Historic Grant Recipients (prior to 2021):

  • New Haven Reads Community Book Bank
  • All Our Kin (early childhood programs)
  • Calvin Hill Day Care Center (early childhood programs)
  • Friends Center for Children (early childhood programs)

Priority Areas

  • Economic development in New Haven through the New Haven Investment Fund
  • Early childhood education programs
  • Community development initiatives
  • Arts and culture (specifically dance)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. No public guidelines exist for excluded areas, as there is no public application process.

Governance and Leadership

Louis Linfield Simon - President/Director (Compensation: $160,000)
Susan R Simon - Vice President/Clerk/Director (Compensation: $35,000)
Caitlin J Simon - Treasurer/Director (Compensation: $35,000)

The foundation is family-managed, with the Simon family serving as officers and directors.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The RISC Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. According to their IRS filings and public records, the foundation operates on a trustee discretion model where grants are awarded to organizations selected by the board of directors.

The foundation's website was dismantled around 2021, and there is no active portal or application system for prospective grantees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given that the RISC Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the key factor for receiving funding is being identified and selected by the foundation's leadership. Based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns:

Geographic Connection: The foundation has demonstrated a strong preference for New Haven-based organizations, particularly those focused on economic development and early childhood education in the local community.

Relationship to Community Foundation: The vast majority of recent funding has been directed to the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. Organizations seeking support might explore whether establishing a relationship with the Community Foundation could provide an indirect pathway.

Long-term Partnerships: The foundation's repeated grants to organizations like Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival suggest a preference for sustained relationships with select organizations rather than one-time grants to many different groups.

Focus Areas: Historic grantmaking suggests the foundation values:

  • Early childhood education initiatives
  • Community-based economic development
  • Arts and culture programs with established track records
  • New Haven-based community development projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The RISC Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - all grants are made to preselected organizations
  • The foundation's grantmaking has become highly concentrated since 2021, with the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven receiving the majority of funds
  • The foundation's future is uncertain given the dismantling of its website and significant reduction in grantmaking activity
  • Historic grants ranged from $50,000 to multi-million dollar awards, with typical grants around $50,000 for smaller organizations
  • Geographic focus is primarily New Haven, Connecticut, with some support for Massachusetts-based arts organizations
  • Early childhood education and community development were historic priorities before the foundation's scale-back
  • For organizations seeking funding, exploring partnerships with the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven may be a more viable pathway than attempting direct contact with RISC Foundation

References

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