Continental Grain Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Continental Grain Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, Jewish, and community causes.
IP TAKE: The foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines. This is not a transparent or accessible funder nor does it accept contact; however, you can write them by snail-mail to learn more.
PROFILE: Incorporated in 1961, the Continental Grain Foundation is steered by businessman Paul J. Fribourg who graduated with his B.A from Amherst College and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is chairman and CEO of Continental Grain Company, an international agribusiness and investment company in the family since the 1800s.
The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Continental Grain Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, Jewish, and community causes.
Grants for Higher Education
Fribourg typically supports schools with which he has a personal connection. For instance, past support includes his alma mater Harvard Business School, the largest recipient of funds via the foundation of late. He’s also supported NYU Stern. Other grantees have included Sesame Workshop, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and University of Pennsylvania. Fribourg once served as chairman of the board of governors of The Lauder Institute, a graduate program at University of Pennsylvania.
Grants for Health and Brain Research
Health grantees address everything from diseases to brain science to cancer research; however, health granting appears to prioritize large, established organizations. Past health grantees include Alzheimers Drug Discovery Foundation, Partners in Health, Cancer Research Institute, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Grants for Jewish Causes
Fribourg’s funding for Jewish causes remain broad. He is the son of Belgian-born Jewish-American billionaire businessman. He supports the Jewish community through his foundation, supporting places like Jewish Agency for Israel, Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale Foundation, World Jewish Congress American Section, and The Jewish Theological Seminary.
Grants for Global Security
Fribourg’s security spending addresses policy work at the international level. He’s been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 1985, and steadily supports the institution.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The family also supports the arts, with an eye towards the performing arts. However, awards tend to prioritize established, large organizations. Grantees have included Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, and MoMA.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $300 to $100,000. In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $570,000. Grantmaking focuses primarily on New York. The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited applications.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Continental Grain Foundation
277 Park Ave., 50th Fl.
New York, NY 10172
