Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to human services, education, youth, health, the arts, the environment, policy and Jewish causes.

IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. It is worth noting, however, that it gives over a broad range of topical areas and types of organizations, especially in New York City and neighboring Westchster County. A connection to the family or a past grantee may open the door here.

PROFILE: Established in 1951, the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation was founded by the late Louis Abrons, a builder prominent during the 1920s and 1930s, and his wife. The foundation is now steered by some one dozen family members. The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax filings, the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, housing, arts and culture, education, democracy, justice and Jewish causes. Grantmaking appears to prioritize organizations in the New York City area.

Grants for Public Health and Mental Health

The Abrons family are longtime patrons of Henry Street Settlement in Manhattan, which provides health, mental health and other services to the neighborhood’s low-income residents. The organization has received millions from the foundation over the years. Other grantees working in the area of public health include the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center of the Bronx and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Grants for Housing, Homelessness and Community Development

Housing appears to be an area of interest for this foundation, although it does not name specific goals for its giving in this area. Recent grantees include the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City, the United Neighborhood Houses of New York and the Broadway Housing Communities.

Grants for Environment and Animals

This funder consistently supports organizations involved in the conservation of land and water, as well as organizations that support animal welfare. Abrons giving in these areas tends to reach beyond the greater New York City area. Conservation grants have gone to the Westchester Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land, the Maine Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail Association. Grants for the protection of animals have gone to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and several of its local chapters.

Grants for Arts and Culture

Arts and culture represent a smaller proportion of this funder’s grantmaking, although the Abrons Foundation has steadily supported a broad range of organizations in and around New York City. Recipients include Arts Westchester, the Jacob Burns Film Center, Poets and Writers Inc. and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Grants for Civic Engagement, Democracy, Criminal Justice Reform, Immigrants and Refugees

This funder provides support to social justice organizations working in the areas of democracy, criminal justice reform and immigrants rights, although it does not name specific goals in these areas. Among its grantees in these areas are Mount Kisco’s Neighbor’s Link, Maine’s Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, the Equal Justice Initiative, the Correctional Association of New York and Democracy Now.

Grants for Education

This funder does not name specific goals for its education giving, but it has supported schools and organizations involved in out-of-school learning that appear to prioritize underserved students. Grants have gone to Code for America, New York Citiy’s Calhoun School, the Bronx Children’s Museum and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program of New York City.

Grants for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

This funder has demonstrated interest in preventing hunger through sustainable agriculture and food systems, although it does not name strategies for its giving in these areas. Grantees include the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Colorado’s Loveland Youth Gardeners, Food Gatherers of Ann Arbor, Michigan and the Food Bank for New York City.

Grants for Jewish Causes

This funder supports a handful of Jewish organizations each year. Grantees include Temple Sharray Tefila in Westchester County, the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan and the UJA Federation of New York.

Important Grant Details

In a recent year, this funder made just over $6 million in grants, with an average grant size of about $10,000. This funder gives broadly over many topical areas and types of organizations, although more than half of its giving remains in New York City and neighboring Westchester County. For additional information about past giving, see this funder’s recent tax filings.

This funder does not maintain a website or accept unsolicited applications for funding. Contact information is provided below.

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CONTACT:

Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation Inc.
Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19809

(800) 839-1754