Ainslie Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Ainslie Foundation makes grants in a variety of areas but prioritizes support for education, health, and the environment.

IP TAKE: This is not a transparent or approachable funder. It prefers a low profile and proactive approach in it’s giving, so getting on it’s radar will be a challenge. This funder does not maintain a website or provide an easy way for grantseekers to get in contact with requests for funding. It makes grants nationally, but most support tends to cluster in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida. Mid-sized to large organizations see the most support from Ainslie, but that doesn’t mean smaller, local groups do not have a short. Networking is the most likely way for interested grantseekers to get on this funder’s radar, so reach out - and be patient if this funder deeply aligns with your work.

PROFILE: Established in 2017, the Ainslie Foundation is the private family foundation of Lee S. Ainslie, III and his wife, Elizabeth. Ainslie founded the hedge fund Maverick Capital in 1993 and has served on the board of directors of the Robin Hood Foundation, which addresses poverty in New York City. Based in Dallas, Texas, the Ainslie Foundation makes grants in education, health, and the environment. While it supports organizations throughout the U.S., it primarily funds groups in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida.

Grants for K-12 Education and College Readiness

The Ainslie Foundation does not appear to have regular grantmaking programs or clearly defined focus areas; however, tax records reveal that it does prioritize education organizations and college preparatory programs. Past grantees in this space include Waterside School, College Track, Harlem Village Academies, Success Academy Charter Schools, and Teach for America. The foundation has also given to episcopal boarding schools, including Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia and to Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg.

Grants for Public Health and Access, Diseases, and Brain and Cell Research

The foundation does not have a clear funding program for health-related causes, but tax records show that Ainslie does make grants in this area. It supports a wide variety of health organizations, but groups focused on research and treatment for specific conditions see more funding than those dealing with the public health, broadly. Previous grantees in this space include Autism Speaks, New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, Broad Institute, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It also gives significantly to organizations focused on cancer research and related diseases, including Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Bone Marrow Foundation, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Peer Health Exchange has also received funding in the past for projects related to healthcare access.

Grants for the Environment and Animal Welfare and Wildlife

Ainslie’s grantmaking related to environmental causes is not as robust as its other areas, but it has given to groups focused on conservation and wildlife biodiversity, including Nature  Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Everglades Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, and Animal Medical Center.

Important Grant Details:

Grants range from $1,000 to $1 million, but the most common amount is $5,000. The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. It makes grants by invitation only.

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

300 Crescent Ct.
18th Fl.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 880-4000