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Elizabeth L Elting Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.1M
Grant Range
$25K - $5.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,149,549 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $62,294,375
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $5,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: New York and Northeast U.S.
  • Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Website: https://www.elizabetheltingfoundation.org/
Email: hello@elizabetheltingfoundation.org
Social Media: LinkedIn (@lizelting), Instagram (@lizelting), Twitter (@LizElting)

The foundation welcomes contact from those "interested in working with us or learning more."

Overview

Founded in 2016, the Elizabeth L Elting Foundation is a private independent foundation based in New York with total assets of $62.3 million and annual giving of approximately $2.1 million. The foundation is committed to promoting progressive and feminist efforts to eradicate systemic barriers, promote public health and education, achieve workplace equality, rise beyond the glass ceiling, and open doors to economic independence. Founded by Liz Elting, co-founder and former CEO of TransPerfect, the foundation takes a highly collaborative approach, working through strategic partnerships with leading institutions and organizations rather than accepting general grant applications. The foundation's work bridges the opportunity gaps for marginalized communities, particularly women, through targeted investments in health equity, women's entrepreneurship, education, and social justice initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

AHA Elizabeth Elting Fund (2022-present)

  • $5,000,000 gift to American Heart Association
  • Supports women-led and BIPOC-led organizations and entrepreneurs from New York's under-resourced communities working toward health equity
  • Individual grants: approximately $125,000 per organization
  • Recipients include Brooklyn Packers, Nourish Spot, She Matters, and Strong Children Wellness

Endless Frontier Labs Partnership

  • $2,000,000 investment to provide funding for women-led ventures
  • Supports early-stage science and technology startups through annual cohorts
  • Provides both capital and mentorship within NYC startup ecosystem
  • Examples: geCKo Materials (bio-inspired adhesive technology), Nest Genomics (genetic testing), MindRight Health (mental health tech)

The Halo Fund (COVID-19 Response)

  • Multi-million dollar pandemic relief initiative
  • Individual grants: $25,000-$50,000
  • Recipients included The Campaign Against Hunger, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, American Heart Association COVID-19 response, and Do Good Auto Coalition

Educational Partnerships

  • $5,000,000 to NYU Stern School of Business
    • Elizabeth Elting Advancing Women's Leadership Fellowship (40 female MBA students over 10 years)
    • Elizabeth Elting Venture Fund (seed capital for 20 women-led businesses)
  • $500,000 to University of Michigan (scholarship funds for Law School and College of LSA)

Priority Areas

  • Women's entrepreneurship and leadership: Seed capital and investment for women-led startups in science and technology
  • Health equity: Supporting cardiovascular health awareness, mental health services, and integrated healthcare for underserved communities
  • Education: Scholarships, fellowships, and programs advancing women in business and STEM
  • Food security: Emergency food programs and meal delivery for vulnerable populations
  • Social justice: Domestic violence prevention, economic resilience, and workplace equality

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not appear to make grants outside of New York and the Northeast region. As a private foundation working through strategic partnerships, they do not fund general operating support through an open application process.

Governance and Leadership

Elizabeth L. Elting - Founder, CEO, and Trustee
Co-founder and former CEO of TransPerfect, one of the world's largest language services companies. Elting serves on numerous boards including NYU Stern School of Business, Trinity College Board of Trustees, American Heart Association's Go Red for Women National Leadership Council, and Girls Learning Advanced Math (GLAM).

Key Quotes from Leadership

On the foundation's mission: "My foundation bridges the opportunity gaps for marginalized communities, especially women."

On philanthropic philosophy: "Effective philanthropic work is all about teaming up with the right partners and collaborators. Everything my foundation does is a group effort."

On what philanthropy requires: "It takes creativity, problem-solving, commitment, energy, and most of all, a desire to build a better future. Philanthropy really requires both funding and engagement; without passion for a cause or the desire to fix what's currently broken, funding won't have a direction and won't have the impact needed to effect real change."

On her vision: "I firmly believe that our world will be a far better place when every single person has the opportunity, support, and tools they need to fulfill their potential."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Elizabeth L Elting Foundation operates through strategic partnerships and collaborations with established institutions and organizations. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than competitive application cycles.

The foundation works with key partner organizations including:

  • American Heart Association
  • NYU Stern School of Business
  • Endless Frontier Labs
  • Columbia University
  • Trinity College
  • Girls Learning Advanced Math (GLAM)
  • The Campaign Against Hunger
  • Everytown for Gun Safety
  • National Organization for Women NYC

Organizations interested in potential partnership may contact the foundation at hello@elizabetheltingfoundation.org to introduce their work, though there is no guarantee of funding consideration.

Getting on Their Radar

Elizabeth Elting's Personal Network: As an active board member and speaker at NYU Stern, Columbia Business School, Trinity College, and various women's leadership councils, organizations connected to these institutions may have pathways to introduction.

American Heart Association Connection: The foundation has a particularly strong partnership with AHA's Go Red for Women initiative. Organizations working on cardiovascular health for women and BIPOC communities in New York may find alignment through this channel.

Women-Led Startup Ecosystem: Through the Endless Frontier Labs partnership, women founders in science and technology who complete or participate in recognized accelerator programs may gain visibility.

Board Connections: Given Elting serves on boards of Girls Learning Advanced Math, Sandy Hook Promise, GlobalMindED, and Trinity College Women's Leadership Council, organizations working in education, gun violence prevention, or women's advancement that intersect with these networks may have relationship-building opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, success factors relate to alignment and relationship-building rather than application strategy:

Strategic Alignment with Core Mission: The foundation has a laser focus on advancing women and marginalized communities. Projects must demonstrate clear impact on "eradicating systemic barriers" and creating pathways to "economic independence."

Women-Led Leadership: The foundation prioritizes women-led and BIPOC-led organizations. As Elting states, she "strongly advocates for women to act forcefully in the workplace and to own and operate their own businesses, arguing that economic power is social power."

Collaborative Approach: Elting emphasizes that "everything my foundation does is a group effort." Organizations that demonstrate partnership capacity and collaborative problem-solving align with this philosophy.

Science and Technology Innovation: Through Endless Frontier Labs, the foundation specifically seeks "women-led startups that advance human welfare through science and technology," including life sciences, digital tech, and deep tech sectors.

New York and Northeast Focus: Grantmaking concentrates on New York and the Northeast region. Past New York grantees include NYU Stern, Columbia University, and GLAM.

Measurable Social Impact: Funded projects show concrete outcomes - 120,000 meals provided, 75 blood pressure monitors distributed, $500,000 to four health equity organizations. The foundation values tangible results over theoretical impact.

Multi-Year Engagement: Major grants like the $5 million NYU Stern gift support programs over 10 years, suggesting preference for sustained partnerships over one-off projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This is an invitation-only funder working through strategic partnerships. Do not submit unsolicited proposals expecting a competitive review process.

  • Multi-million dollar capacity: The foundation makes grants ranging from $25,000 for focused initiatives to $5 million for major institutional partnerships, with total assets exceeding $62 million.

  • Women and BIPOC leadership prioritized: Organizations led by women and people of color, particularly in New York's underserved communities, align with the foundation's core mission.

  • Partnership-focused approach: Rather than one-time grants, the foundation seeks collaborative relationships with established organizations and programs that can leverage their funding for broader impact.

  • Geographic concentration: New York and Northeast focus means organizations outside this region are unlikely to receive consideration.

  • Contact strategically: If your organization has strong alignment, reach out via hello@elizabetheltingfoundation.org with a concise introduction to your work and potential collaboration areas - but understand that funding is discretionary.

  • Network connections matter: As a private foundation led by a highly networked philanthropist, introductions through board connections, partner institutions, or trusted intermediaries may be more effective than cold outreach.

References

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