George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation

OVERVIEW: The George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, environmental, educational causes.

IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. This funder is not very approachable and does not provide a clear way to get in touch, leaving grantseekers with the need to network here.

PROFILE: The George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation was established in 1993. It was founded by the late businessman George Ohrstrom Jr.,  the long-time chairman of G.L. Ohrstrom & Co. The New York firm, founded by his father, is one of the private equity firms that started and grew three companies, Dover Corp., Carlisle Cos. and Roper Industries Inc., which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies.

Grants for Public Health and Access, Environment, and Education

According to tax filings, the George L. Ohrstrom Jr.  primarily funds health, the environment, and education. 

George L. Ohrstrom Jr. was founder of the Piedmont Environmental Council, and an early supporter of the use of conservation easements to preserve open space. The council was a key opponent of the Walt Disney Co.'s attempt in the early 1990s to build a history theme park in Prince William County. Ohrstrom was also chairman of the board of the National Sporting Library in Middleburg, the country's only scholarly repository dedicated exclusively to equine and field sports.

Past grantees include Well Cornell Medical College, North Shore Land Alliance, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, and City Harvest.

Important Grant Details

Grants range from $5,000 to $300,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away $3.5 million. The George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation keeps a low-profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. 

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

George L. Ohrstrom Jr. Foundation Inc.
c/o PKF O’Connor Davies, 665 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022