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Tiger Baron Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.4M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.7M

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 75-2979875
  • Annual Giving: $5.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $650,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City; also New Jersey, North Carolina, Vermont, Massachusetts, and California

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
Tiger Baron Foundation Inc
233 Broadway, Suite 703
New York, NY 10279

Phone: (212) 273-3719

Website: No public website

Note: The foundation accepts unsolicited applications by mail.

Overview

Founded in 2002 by siblings Sharon Lyu Volckhausen and Alex Volckhausen, the Tiger Baron Foundation is a New York-based private foundation with assets exceeding $122 million. Named in honor of their late father, Bill Volckhausen—a banker, lawyer, and law professor who was among the first Princeton in Asia Fellows after World War II—the foundation distributes approximately $5 million annually in grants. The foundation focuses primarily on arts and culture (representing over half of its grantmaking), with additional support for environment, education, and public health initiatives. The foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to New York City, while also supporting organizations in New Jersey, North Carolina, Vermont, Massachusetts, and California. The foundation owns and operates the Oakes Center, a community nonprofit and theater arts space in Summit, New Jersey, which houses multiple nonprofit organizations including theater groups and social service organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on a rolling basis for grant applications, without fixed deadlines. In 2024, the foundation made 162 grants totaling $5.4 million.

Grant Range: $2,000 - $650,000
Typical Grant Size: $10,000 (median)
Application Method: Written proposals accepted by mail

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture (Primary Focus - Over 50% of Giving)

  • Performing arts organizations (theater, dance, orchestra)
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Theater arts spaces and community arts programs

Past Grantees in Performing Arts:

  • New York Philharmonic
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music
  • New York City Ballet
  • Playwrights Horizons
  • Second Stage Theater, Inc.
  • Lincoln Center
  • Little Orchestra Society
  • Williamstown Theatre (Massachusetts)
  • North Carolina Stage Company
  • Center for Music by People with Disabilities (Montana)

Past Grantees in Museums:

  • Museum of Modern Art
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • New York Transit Museum
  • Brooklyn Children's Museum

Environment

  • Environmental sustainability initiatives
  • Conservation projects

Education

  • Children's educational programs
  • Cultural education initiatives

Past Education Grantees:

  • Third Street Music School Settlement (NYC)
  • Brooklyn Public Library
  • Princeton in Asia ($1.2 million pledge)

Public Health (Limited)

  • Community health clinics
  • Reproductive health services

Past Health Grantees:

  • Milan Puskar Health Right (West Virginia)
  • Sunset Park Health Council (Brooklyn)
  • Village Health Foundation (Los Angeles)
  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions, but grantmaking patterns suggest limited focus on public health and education compared to arts and culture.

Governance and Leadership

Alexander Louis Volckhausen - President
Alex co-founded the foundation with his sister in 2002 following their father's legacy. He serves as the primary decision-maker for grant approvals.

Sharon Lyu Volckhausen - Vice President/Treasurer
Sharon serves on multiple boards including the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Trust for Public Land (New York Advisory Board), and Princeton in Asia. She is actively involved in environmental conservation and Asian American legal advocacy.

Philanthropic Philosophy:

Sharon has articulated the family's approach to giving: "Giving to PiA helps us increase the diversity of people who can participate in the program" and "From the beginning, PiA was intended to build understanding across cultures." The family's philanthropic approach emphasizes:

  • Eliminating financial barriers to participation
  • Supporting cross-cultural understanding
  • Preserving community spaces (exemplified by their purchase and operation of the Oakes Center)
  • Honoring their father's commitment to serving diverse communities

Rick Roberts, Oakes Center operations manager, summarized the foundation's mission: "Tiger Baron provides facilities to do good works."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Tiger Baron Foundation accepts unsolicited grant proposals submitted by mail. The foundation does not maintain a public website or online application portal.

Required Application Materials:

  • Copy of organization's 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter
  • Contact information (phone number and contact name)
  • Description of organization's exempt purpose
  • Detailed information about the grant request and specific amount requested
  • Current organizational or project budget

Submission Address:
Tiger Baron Foundation Inc
233 Broadway, Suite 703
New York, NY 10279
Phone: (212) 273-3719

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose its decision timeline or board meeting schedule. Applicants should expect to wait several weeks to months for a response, typical for private family foundations.

Success Rates

With 162 grants awarded in 2024 from assets of $122 million, the foundation maintains active grantmaking, though specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly disclose its reapplication policy. Given the foundation's accessible approach to unsolicited proposals, unsuccessful applicants may likely reapply, though specific timing guidance is not available.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and leadership insights, successful applications likely demonstrate:

Strong Geographic Alignment

  • New York City organizations have the highest success rate, representing the majority of grants
  • Organizations in New Jersey, particularly Summit area (where the Oakes Center is located), may have stronger connections
  • Secondary geographic priorities include North Carolina, Vermont, Massachusetts, and California

Arts and Culture Organizations Stand Out

  • Over 50% of grants support arts and culture, making this the dominant funding priority
  • Performing arts organizations and museums in New York City receive the largest and most frequent grants
  • Theater companies and community arts spaces align with the foundation's operation of the Oakes Center

Alignment with Family Values

  • Cross-cultural understanding and exchange (reflecting father Bill Volckhausen's Princeton in Asia fellowship)
  • Eliminating financial barriers to participation
  • Supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives
  • Environmental sustainability (reflected in William Volckhausen Fund at Princeton in Asia)

Community Benefit Emphasis

  • The foundation's operation of the Oakes Center reveals a commitment to organizations that "demonstrate some benefit to the community"
  • Community-based cultural, educational, and human service programs are prioritized

Institutional Quality and Stability

  • Major grants to established institutions (Museum of Modern Art, New York Philharmonic, American Museum of Natural History) suggest preference for organizations with proven track records
  • Smaller grants to emerging organizations suggest openness to supporting diverse organizational sizes

Personal Connections Matter

  • Sharon Volckhausen serves on boards of several grantee organizations (Brooklyn Children's Museum, Trust for Public Land)
  • The foundation's leadership appears involved in the nonprofit sector, creating opportunities for relationship building

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Arts and culture organizations in New York City have the strongest chance of success, representing over half of all grants and the largest award amounts
  • Don't be discouraged by lack of website—the foundation actively accepts unsolicited proposals and is described as "accessible" to grant seekers
  • Geographic location matters significantly—NYC organizations receive priority, followed by New Jersey, North Carolina, Vermont, Massachusetts, and California
  • Grant amounts vary widely ($2,000-$650,000), allowing both small community organizations and major institutions to apply
  • Personal connections and board involvement appear influential—Sharon Volckhausen's board service correlates with grantee organizations
  • Cross-cultural understanding, diversity, and community benefit align with family values drawn from their father's legacy
  • Environmental sustainability is an emerging interest area, potentially offering opportunities for aligned organizations
  • Complete and detailed proposals are essential—include all required documentation (501(c)(3), budget, detailed request) in initial submission

References

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