Herbert Allen Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Herbert Allen Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of educational and health organizations. Newer areas of interest include conservation and animals.
IP TAKE: This foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. Moreover, it tends to support the same grantees year after year, making it difficult to gain its attention. Charter school organizations have received the lion’s share of funding over the years, but this funder appears to have an emerging interest in the environment and animals. A connection to Allen or one of the foundation’s past grantees might be key here.
PROFILE: Founded in 1994, the Herbert Allen Foundation was established by investment banking veteran Herbert Anthony Allen III. Allen III graduated with a B.A. from Yale University in 1989. He worked at T. Rowe Price and Botts & Company in London and later joined Allen & Co., a boutique investment bank his grandfather co-founded. Allen is now President and CEO, and the family is worth over $1 billion. Allen has served on the board of The U.S.-Mexico Foundation, which is "dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of Mexico through effective philanthropy and binational partnerships," as well as the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society.
While this foundation does not maintain a website, tax filings suggest that the Herbert Allen Foundation’s grantmaking includes support for educational and health organizations. Grantmaking prioritizes the greater New York City area.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
The Allen Foundation’s K-12 giving prioritizes charter schools and youth development. Allen serves on the board of Prep for Prep, a charter school network, in New York City. Prep for Prep has received over $750,000 in grant funding since 2004. The foundation has also given to Broome Street Academy Charter High School, charter schools run by the Ventoux Partnership and and The Door, whose mission is to "empower young people to reach their potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment." Higher education represents a smaller portion of this funder’s giving, but in years past, Allen has given to the University of Georgia and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
The Allen Foundation’s health grantmaking mainly stays in the New York City area, supporting hospitals and cancer institutes. Past grantees include Grantees include South Hampton Hospital, Servants for Relief of Incurable Cancer and the Lewin Fund to Fight Women’s Cancer’s, which has received ongoing support.
Grants for the Environment, Animals and Wildlife conservation.
Environmental conservation and animal protection are newer and somewhat smaller areas of giving for this foundation. In recent years, grants have gone to New York City organizations including the City Parks Foundation, the Central Park Conservancy. Grantees involved with animal welfare include Colorado’s Dogs Playing for Life, Global Strays of Long Island and the Animal Medical Center in New York City.
Important Grant Details:
In a recent tax year, the foundation gave away $905,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $225,000. More than half of all grants serve New York City area organizations, and the foundation tends to provide multi-year support to its grantees. For additional information, see this funder’s recent tax filings.
The Herbert Allen Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not provide a direct avenue for getting in touch. Contact information is provided below.
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CONTACT:
The Herbert Allen Foundation
711 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10022
(212)339-2246
