Clein Lemann Esperanza Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,200,247 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $460,000
• Geographic Focus: New York, Louisiana, North Carolina

Contact Details

• Address: Foundation Source, 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809
• Phone: +1 800 839 1754 (Foundation Source administrative line)
• Website: None
• Email: Not available

Overview

The Clein Lemann Esperanza Foundation is a private independent foundation incorporated in Delaware and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in April 2022. With total assets of approximately $12.35 million, the foundation has grown its grantmaking substantially since its inception, from $366,298 in 2021 to $1,200,247 in 2024. Led by novelist Nancy Lemann as President and Mark Clein as Director, the foundation operates through Foundation Source and maintains no public website. Its grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, Louisiana, and North Carolina, reflecting the personal and professional networks of its founders, particularly Nancy Lemann's deep ties to New Orleans and New York literary circles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through discretionary grants without named programs:

• 2024: 9 grants totaling $1,200,247 (average ~$133,000)
• 2023: 5 grants totaling $841,484 (average ~$168,000)
• 2022: 3 grants totaling $419,653 (average ~$140,000)
• 2021: 2 grants totaling $366,298 (average ~$183,000)

Priority Areas

• Education and college access programs
• Arts, culture, and literary organizations
• Philanthropy and voluntarism initiatives

What They Don't Fund

No formal exclusion list published. As a highly selective private foundation making fewer than 10 grants annually, there is no evidence of funding for individuals or international organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Nancy Lemann - Director, President, Secretary, Treasurer: New Orleans-born novelist and essayist with works published by Knopf and Scribner, including Lives of the Saints and forthcoming The Oyster Diaries from NYRB. Active in literary organizations including Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, The Writer's Center, and James River Writers.

Mark Clein - Director: Professional background not publicly detailed beyond foundation role.

Neither officer receives compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a discretionary private foundation with no website, application portal, or published guidelines. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the directors' personal and professional networks.

Getting on Their Radar

• Literary networks: Organizations connected to Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, The Writer's Center, or James River Writers where Nancy Lemann has documented affiliations
• New Orleans cultural sector: Nancy Lemann has been featured at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University
• College access programs: Foundation is a documented donor to College Bound, Inc. at the $5,000-$9,999 level
• NYRB ecosystem: Nancy Lemann's forthcoming book through NYRB indicates connections to that literary community

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Makes 2-9 grants per year. No application volume data available due to lack of public process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation:

• Literary and cultural alignment with Nancy Lemann's career as novelist and essayist
• Educational access programs, as evidenced by College Bound, Inc. support
• Geographic presence in New York, Louisiana, or North Carolina
• Relationship-based approach - all engagement must come through existing networks rather than cold applications
• Scale awareness - with only 2-9 grants annually, foundation is extremely selective

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small, private foundation with no public application process - unsolicited proposals will not be considered
• Annual giving has tripled from 2021 to 2024, indicating increasingly active philanthropy
• Making only 2-9 grants per year means extreme selectivity
• Nancy Lemann's literary networks (CLMP, New Orleans Book Festival, NYRB) are primary pathways to consideration
• Geographic focus on NY, LA, and NC is essential - organizations outside these areas unlikely to be funded
• No website, staff, or guidelines means organizations should not invest time without prior relationship
• Worth tracking for education/literary arts organizations in target geographies as foundation matures

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Clein Lemann Esperanza Foundation (EIN: 85-3976419). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/853976419. Accessed February 2026.
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Clein Lemann Esperanza Foundation. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/clein-lemann-esperanza-foundation. Accessed February 2026.
• Charity Navigator - Clein Lemann Esperanza Foundation Profile. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/853976419. Accessed February 2026.
• College Bound, Inc. Honor Society. https://www.collegebound.org/honor-society.html. Accessed February 2026.
• Nancy Lemann author profiles - Wikipedia, NYRB, New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane. Accessed February 2026.