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Essex Avenue Foundation

Annual Giving
$23.4M
Grant Range
$6K - $2.9M

Essex Avenue Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23.4 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $698 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $6,000 - $2,900,000
  • Median Grant: $210,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York (62% of grants), with secondary focus on California, New Jersey, and Washington DC

Contact Details

Registered Address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Road Wilmington, DE 19809

EIN: 85-1891431

Note: The foundation uses Foundation Source for administrative services, which is common for private foundations.

Overview

The Essex Avenue Foundation is a Delaware-based private grantmaking foundation established in 2021. With total assets of approximately $698 million and annual giving of $23.4 million (2023), the foundation represents a significant philanthropic resource. The foundation is led by the Jenkins family, with Ann Jenkins serving as Director and President, alongside fellow directors Greta, Leo, Michael, and Sophia Jenkins. All board members serve without compensation.

The foundation focuses its grantmaking on housing and homelessness, environmental conservation, education, healthcare (particularly cancer research), and food security. With 69 grants awarded in 2023, the foundation demonstrates a concentrated approach to grantmaking, with a strong geographic emphasis on New York State, which received 43 of the 69 grants (62%).

The foundation has shown substantial growth since its founding, with assets increasing from its initial establishment to over $698 million by 2023, reflecting significant contributions and investment returns.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Essex Avenue Foundation operates with a single discretionary grantmaking program rather than multiple formal grant streams. Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope and organizational need:

  • Small Grants: $6,000 - $50,000 (supporting targeted projects)
  • Medium Grants: $50,000 - $500,000 (majority of grants fall within this range)
  • Major Grants: $500,000 - $2,900,000 (awarded to established institutions for significant initiatives)

The median grant amount is $210,000, indicating the foundation's preference for substantial, meaningful contributions that can create significant impact.

Priority Areas

Based on 2023 grantmaking patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Housing and Homelessness

  • Support for housing development and homeless services
  • Notable recipient: Breaking Ground Housing Development Fund Corporation ($2 million)

Environmental Conservation

  • Conservation initiatives and environmental sustainability programs
  • Support for composting and urban environmental programs (e.g., Council on the Environment Inc., $1.3 million)

Education

  • Educational institutions and innovative education models
  • Notable recipients: Escuela Comunitaria del Bronx/Bronx Community School ($2.9 million), City and Country School Inc. ($1 million)
  • Major university support: Cornell University ($2 million)

Healthcare and Medical Research

  • Cancer research and treatment programs
  • Notable recipient: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (multiple grants totaling $1-3 million)

Food Security

  • Programs addressing hunger and food access

Geographic Focus

The foundation demonstrates strong geographic concentration:

  • New York: 62% of grants (43 of 69 grants in 2023)
  • California: Secondary focus
  • New Jersey: Secondary focus
  • Washington DC: Secondary focus
  • Other states: Limited presence in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's grantmaking patterns suggest they focus exclusively on their stated priority areas. As an invitation-only funder, they do not consider unsolicited proposals.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Ann Jenkins - Director and President Ann Jenkins leads the foundation as President and Director, overseeing the foundation's strategic direction and grantmaking activities.

Family Board Members:

  • Greta Jenkins - Director
  • Leo Jenkins - Director
  • Michael Jenkins - Director
  • Sophia Jenkins - Director

Administrative Officers

Valerie Crosswhite - Secretary

Elizabeth Lasorte - Treasurer

All board members and officers serve without compensation, demonstrating the family's commitment to maximizing the foundation's charitable impact. The foundation operates with a lean administrative structure, using Foundation Source for administrative services.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Essex Avenue Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This means:

  • There is no online application portal or form
  • Unsolicited grant proposals will not be reviewed
  • Organizations cannot initiate contact seeking funding
  • All grants are made proactively by the foundation's board to organizations they have identified and selected

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's board of directors, who identify organizations aligned with their philanthropic priorities. The foundation operates on a trustee-discretionary model, where board members select recipients based on their knowledge of the sector and organizational relationships.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish information about decision timelines, as grants are made on a proactive basis rather than in response to applications. Based on IRS filings, the foundation makes grants throughout the year rather than on a fixed schedule.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications. All funded organizations are selected by the board.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications or reapplications. Continued support for previously funded organizations is at the discretion of the board.

Application Success Factors

Since the Essex Avenue Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their grantmaking patterns reveals what types of organizations and initiatives attract their support:

Organizations Funded:

  • Established institutions with strong track records (e.g., Cornell University, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
  • Innovative community-based organizations addressing critical social needs (e.g., Bronx Community School, Breaking Ground)
  • Environmental organizations with direct impact (e.g., Council on the Environment)

Project Characteristics:

  • Alignment with core priority areas (education, housing, environment, healthcare, food security)
  • Geographic focus on New York, particularly New York City
  • Projects addressing urgent social needs in underserved communities
  • Established programs with demonstrated impact
  • Initiatives that can benefit from substantial funding ($200K+ median grant)

Organizational Profile:

  • Mix of large established institutions and smaller community organizations
  • Strong presence in New York nonprofit sector
  • Organizations with clear missions aligned with foundation priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking methods. They proactively identify and select grant recipients.

  • Substantial Grant Amounts: With a median grant of $210,000 and grants ranging up to $2.9 million, the foundation makes significant investments in organizations rather than small symbolic grants.

  • Strong New York Focus: Organizations based in or serving New York communities, particularly New York City, receive the majority of funding (62% of grants).

  • Priority Area Alignment Critical: The foundation focuses on specific areas - housing/homelessness, environmental conservation, education, healthcare, and food security. Organizations outside these areas are unlikely to be considered.

  • Mix of Institution Types: The foundation funds both large established institutions (universities, major hospitals) and smaller community-based organizations, suggesting they value both institutional excellence and grassroots impact.

  • Family Foundation with Long-Term Perspective: As a family foundation with substantial assets and no staff compensation, the Jenkins family appears committed to thoughtful, strategic philanthropy rather than rapid grantmaking.

  • Relationship-Based Funding: Without a public application process, funding likely flows through existing networks, board connections, and relationships within the nonprofit sector. Organizations already connected to the New York philanthropic community may have better visibility.

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Essex Avenue Foundation Profile. (Accessed December 2025). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/851891431

  2. Grantmakers.io - Essex Avenue Foundation Profile. (Accessed December 2025). https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/851891431-essex-avenue-foundation/

  3. Instrumentl - The Essex Avenue Foundation 990 Report. (Accessed December 2025). https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/essex-avenue-foundation

  4. Charity Navigator - Essex Avenue Foundation Profile. (Accessed December 2025). https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/851891431

  5. Cause IQ - The Essex Avenue Foundation Organization Profile. (Accessed December 2025). https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/essex-avenue-foundation,851891431/

  6. GuideStar - Essex Avenue Foundation Profile. (Accessed December 2025). https://www.guidestar.org/profile/85-1891431

  7. IRS Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2021-2023, accessed through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and Cause IQ databases.

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