Lipton Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Lipton Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, human services, Jewish causes, the arts, and the environment.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. Moreover, this funder appears to support the same grantees year after year. It will be difficult to break in here; connection to the family or a past grantee might be necessary.
PROFILE: Established in 2001, the Lipton Foundation was founded by lawyer Martin Lipton and his wife, Susan, a lawyer turned investment banker. Martin is a founding partner of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in economics in 1952, and earned his L.L.B. from New York University School of Law in 1955. Susan Lipton graduated with an A.B. and J.D. from the University of Miami and received her L.L.M. from Harvard Law in 1971. She was the first woman to become a partner at Greenberg Traurig, before embarking on a career in investment banking. The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax filings, the Lipton Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, human services, Jewish causes, the arts and the environment.
Grants for Education
Lipton joined Prep for Prep’s board in the late 1980s, and was elected to chairman in 1990 and has served as Chairman Emeritus since 2002. He has also championed professional opportunities for Prep for Prep students at his firm, where dozens of Prep students have interned to date and gone on to launch careers. Via their foundation, the Liptons have also given to the Harlem Children’s Zone, Grace Church School in New York City, Harvard University, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Miami, among others. The couple are also strong backers of New York City’s Children’s Aid Society.
Grants for Community Development and Food Systems
This funder gives broadly for housing, homelessness and hunger in the New York City. Grantees have included the Bowery Resident Committee, the Food Bank for New YOrk City, Fountain House and Sanctuary for Families.
Grants for the Environment
While the foundation does not appear to have a clear giving approach for the environment, they do give for environmental groups with which they’re affiliated. Susan was on the board of Wildlife Conservation Society, which the family have strongly supported.
Grants for Jewish Causes
Susan was president of the Jewish Communal Fund, which the family supports. The Liptons have also supported places like Jewish Museum and the Village Temple, both of which operate in New York City.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The family, through their foundation, has given to arts and culture organizations in New York City, but giving for the arts has tapered off in recent years. Past grantees include Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Important Grant Details:
This funder made about $500,000 in grants according to its most recent annual tax filings. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, with an average grant size of about $15,000. In recent years, education has been this funders largest giving area. More than half of its funding stays in New York City, where the foundation is based. For additional information, see Liptons tax filings.
The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
The Lipton Foundation
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 403-1000
