MK Reichert Sternlicht Foundation

OVERVIEW: The MK Reichert Sternlicht Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to social change and global causes, education, youth, health and historic preservation.

IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. A connection to Mimi Sternlicht or past grantees will be key to gaining this funder’s attention. New York and Connecticut organizations stand a better chance here.

PROFILE: Established in 2015, the MK Reichert Sternlicht Foundation was launched by businesswoman Miriam “Mimi” Reichert Sternlicht. Former wife of real estate mogul Barry Sternlicht, Mimi is co-founder of Bread Ventures, a marketing, branding, investment, and business development firm. According to tax filings, the MK Reichert Sternlicht Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to social change and global causes, education, youth, health, and historic preservation.

Grants for Work, Opportunity, Racial Justice, Women and Girls

According to its tax filings, this funder appears to have a strong interest in creating opportunities for historically marginalized and vulnerable people, although it does not state specific priorities for its grantmaking in the overlapping areas of economic development, racial justice and women and girls. In a recent year, the foundation made a grant to ImpactAssets, a Marlyand-based impact investing organization that names poverty alleviation and racial and gender equity as focus areas. Another recent grantee, the Boston-based New Profit, supports “breakthrough social entrepreneurs” in the areas of education, health and economic mobility. Other grant recipients in these areas include Enterprise Community Partners and the Capital Institute, an organization that provides free online financial education.

Grants for Education

Mimi is a graduate of Brown University, which as received steady support from her foundation. Other education grantees include Boston University, the Boys Club of New York and the Harlem Village Academy Charter School.

Grants for Global Development

Mimi sits on the board of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), “a grassroots movement that catalyzes large-scale transformation in urban slums by providing critical services for all, community advocacy platforms, and education and leadership development for women and girls.” The organization, which Sternlicht steadily supports, helps build schools and healthcare centers in Kenyan slums. Other grantees involved in global development include the Acumen Fund, which works to alleviate global poverty using sustainable measures, and the World Childhood Foundation, which aims to protect vulnerable children around the world from violence and abuse.

Grants for Public Health, Mental Health and Diseases

This funder regularly supports organizations involved in health and mental health, although it does not name goals for its giving in these area. Recently, it has given to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, the Child Mind Institute and Shatterprooof, which works to improve the accessibility of addiction services and treatment across the U.S.

Grants for the Environment, Marine and Freshwater Conservation

Conservation is a smaller area of giving at the Sternlicht Foundation. Recent grantees include the Connecticut Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Oceanic Global Foundation and

Grants for Arts and Culture

The foundation’s arts and culture giving appears to prioritize historic preservation in the New York City area and Connecticut. Past recipients include New York City’s Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Round Hill Association of Greenwich, Connecticut. The foundation has also supported the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Grants range from $500 to about $600,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $2.8 million. Grantmaking prioritizes New York and Connecticut, but several organizations that work broadly for social change across the U.S. and around the world have also received funding. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings.

The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Contact information is provided below.

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CONTACT:

MK Reichert Sternlicht Foundation
Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19809

(800) 839-1754