Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation

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OVERVIEW: This funder supports New York City nonprofits working in elderly services, the arts, social services and education.

IP TAKE: This is an accessible funder for organizations of all sizes working in the five boroughs. The number of people reached by the program can be an important factor for Dreyfus. Letters of inquiry are accepted in January and July.

PROFILE: The Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation was established from the estate of music publisher Louis Dreyfus and his wife, Jean, in 1979. This foundation aims to improve the quality of life of New Yorkers, especially the elderly and disadvantaged. Funding is limited to the five boroughs of New York City and supports organizations working in elderly services, the arts, education and social services.

The Dreyfus Foundation prioritizes programs that have the potential to effect systemic change and that can be replicated or expanded to serve larger numbers of people in the city. In elderly, services, the foundation has focused on housing and aging in place programs. Arts grants prioritize but are not limited to music and theater programs and programs aimed at increasing and diversifying audiences. The foundation’s education funding supports organizations working with underserved students in the arts and writing. The social services initiative works broadly and has supported organizations working in the area of hunger, housing, youth services, immigration and job training.

In a recent year, the foundation gave away about $800,000, with an average grant size of about $15,000. The foundation supports organizations of all sizes. Past grantees include the Visiting Nurse Program of New York, the Service Program for Older People, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Theatre for a New Audience, the Writing Revolution, the New York Legal Assistance Group and Planned Parenthood of New York City. For additional information about past grantees, see the foundation’s recent grants page.

This funder accepts letters of inquiry from organizations working in its areas of interest, with due dates of January 15 and July 15 for its spring and fall grant cycles. Guidelines are posted on the foundation’s application procedure page. General inquiries may be directed to Jessica Keuskamp via email or telephone at 212-599-1931.

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