Robin Hood Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Robin Hood Foundation is solely dedicated to the most pressing needs of New York City. Its four main funding initiatives are early childhood and youth, education, jobs and economic security and survival.
IP TAKE: Since the Robin Hood Foundation awards hundreds of small grants each year. This is a important source of funding for promising startup nonprofits in New York.
PROFILE: Established in 1988, the Robin Hood Foundation makes grants to eliminate poverty in New York City. Its founder is Wall Street veteran Paul Tudor Jones and its board is comprised of financial industry heavy hitters including Steven Cohen, Daniel Och and David Einhorn. The foundation is perhaps best known for its 12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief, a foundation-sponsored, nationally-televised event that featured numerous celebrity musicians. Robin Hood raised more than $70 million to benefit Tri-State families affected by that storm. The foundation currently maintains four funding initiatives: early childhood and youth, education, jobs and economic security and survival. Robin Hood was also one of the first grantmakers to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in New York, and made rapid response grants to organizations working with residents who were most affected.
Grants for Early Childhood and K-12 Education
Robin Hood’s early childhood and youth funding supports early childhood education and services for New York City’s most underserved communities, while its youth grantmaking has recently focused on educational opportunity and leadership. In education, the foundation works broadly to support public, private and charter schools that serve low-income areas.
Grants for Housing and Homelessness, Community Development, and Work and Economic Development
Similarly, the jobs and economic security initiative targets low-income areas and offers support to organizations working to eliminate employment barriers. The survival program funds basic needs, housing and health, win an overarching goal of helping individuals and families become economically secure.
Grants for Diseases
Robin Hood’s COVID-19 funding has provided operating support and emergency cash relief to organizations working across all five boroughs, emphasizing organizations working on the front lines and those working with high-risk populations.
Important Grant Details
The Robin Hood Foundation awards well over $100 million in grants to New York City organizations each year. Its average grant size is about $25,000. The foundation is not endowed, and its board covers all operating expenses so that every dollar they raise goes directly to supporting New Yorkers in need. The money the foundation raises each year determines what it’s able to grant out the following year. Past grantees include the AIDS Center of Queens County, the Grant Street Settlement, Rethink Food NYC, South Asian Youth Action and the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Association. The foundation maintains a database of past grantees.
This funder accepts grant inquiries via a brief form on its website. Genera inquiries may be directed to foundation staff via email or telephone at 212-227-6601.
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