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Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18.5 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $33.4 million
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $3,000,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Number of Awards: 141 grants (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: United States and international (13+ countries)
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Contact Details

Address: New York, NY
EIN: 81-2590470
Website: https://www.elcompanies.com/en/our-impact/social/social-investments

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation (ELCCF) is a private corporate foundation established by the multinational cosmetics company. Tax-exempt since July 2016, the foundation has distributed over $18 million annually in recent years. The foundation's mission is to improve the well-being of diverse global communities, with an emphasis on women and girls, focusing efforts on three strategic pillars: health, education, and the environment. The foundation operates through both direct grants to preselected organizations and through brand-specific charitable programs including the iconic M·A·C VIVA GLAM fund (which has raised over $534 million since 1994) and Aveda's Earth Month campaign (which has raised over $72 million for clean water projects). The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to long-term partnerships, including over $114 million to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and multi-year support for girls' education globally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund - Launched in 2022 to support women's leadership development

  • Beautiful Forces Grants: $200,000 annually (divided among 4 recipients)
  • Partnership with Vital Voices Global Partnership
  • Focus on emerging women leaders with innovative approaches

Girls' Education Initiative - Ongoing program since 2016

  • Supports education programs in 13+ countries
  • Grants typically range from $50,000 - $500,000
  • Partnership with Global Fund for Children reached over 250,000 children through 24 grassroots organizations in 8 countries

Breast Cancer Research & Services - Flagship health initiative

  • Over $114 million to Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)
  • Multi-million dollar grants for disparities research initiatives
  • Total of $144 million combined with The Breast Cancer Campaign

Racial Justice Initiative - Three-year commitment completed in 2023

  • $10 million pledged (goal surpassed)
  • Recipients included NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Equal Justice Initiative, The Young Women's Leadership Schools

Priority Areas

Health:

  • Breast cancer research and education
  • HIV/AIDS support (through M·A·C VIVA GLAM)
  • Mental health (Jo Malone London partnership with UNICEF)
  • Health equity and addressing disparities

Education:

  • Girls' access to quality education worldwide
  • Women's leadership development
  • STEM education (Kode With Klossy partnership)
  • Entrepreneurship for women (Black Girl Ventures, Center for Asian Pacific American Women)

Environment:

  • Clean water initiatives (Aveda Earth Month partnerships)
  • Ocean conservation (La Mer Blue Heart program)
  • Reforestation (Origins planted 2.3 million trees)
  • Environmental equity (Plastics for Change partnership)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly list specific exclusions. However, their stated focus areas indicate funding is restricted to organizations aligned with their three pillars of health, education, and environment, with strong preference for initiatives benefiting women and girls.

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

  • William P. Lauder - Chairman of the Foundation, Executive Chairman of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
  • Fabrizio Freda - President of the Foundation, former CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies
  • Nancy Mahon - Executive Director of the Foundation, Chief Sustainability Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies

Other Board Members: Jane Lauder, Kathleen Sebelius, Jordan Roth, Pat Fili Krushel

All board members serve without compensation.

Leadership Philosophy:

Nancy Mahon has articulated the foundation's approach: "Being a leader is about making a difference and having a tangible impact; making choices and sticking with them; listening and following; staying humble and never forgetting where you come from."

The company emphasizes "patient capital" in their philanthropic strategy, making investments with a focus on long-term sustainable impact rather than short-term results. Mahon stated she is "inspired by the opportunities ahead to deepen our impact, contribute meaningfully to the communities we serve, and continue to drive long-term, sustainable growth."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Strategic partnerships identified by foundation leadership
  • Brand-specific programs with designated partner organizations
  • Corporate relationships developed through business operations
  • Board member discretion and company priorities

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, these factors reflect what characterizes their successful partnerships based on publicly documented grants:

Long-term Partnership Commitment: The foundation values sustained relationships over one-time grants. Their seven-year partnership with Global Fund for Children and decades-long support of BCRF demonstrate preference for deepening existing relationships rather than spreading resources thinly.

Alignment with Corporate Mission: Organizations working at the intersection of the foundation's three pillars (health, education, environment) with specific focus on women and girls receive priority. The foundation particularly values initiatives that align with "equity at the center" of their mission.

Demonstrated Impact and Scalability: Funded organizations show measurable outcomes. For example, APIC Utopía in Mexico "doubled the number of children and youth impacted by its programs" through foundation support.

Flexibility and Adaptability: The foundation's partnership with Global Fund for Children emphasized "flexible funding that allowed partners to respond to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine war." Organizations that can adapt programming while maintaining mission alignment are valued.

Innovative Approaches: The Beautiful Forces Grants specifically seek recipients "who demonstrate innovative thinking, a desire to challenge the status quo, and the ability to take calculated risks to solve community problems."

Community-Driven Solutions: The foundation supports grassroots organizations and community-led initiatives, particularly through their education programs. Their partnership model includes annual gatherings that "allowed grassroots organizations to connect, network, and collaborate across different regions."

Brand Partnership Opportunities: Organizations that can partner with specific Estée Lauder brands (Estée Lauder, M·A·C, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Jo Malone London, Origins) may access dedicated funding streams separate from the general foundation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted - This foundation operates exclusively through preselected partnerships and strategic relationships
  • Focus on women and girls - Nearly all funding supports organizations advancing opportunities for women and girls globally, with "equity at the center"
  • Long-term partnerships valued - Multi-year commitments (often $300,000-$500,000 annually) are common; the foundation seeks sustained impact over time
  • Three pillars only - Funding strictly limited to health, education, and environment; organizations outside these areas will not be considered
  • Brand-specific opportunities exist - Consider connections to specific Estée Lauder brands (M·A·C, Aveda, etc.) which have dedicated charitable programs
  • Geographic reach is global - While based in New York, the foundation funds organizations in 13+ countries internationally
  • Grant sizes vary dramatically - Awards range from $1,000 to $3 million, with median around $50,000; major initiatives receive multi-million dollar support

References

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