Eileen Fisher Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Eileen Fisher Foundation supports women-owned businesses, environmental conservation related to the fashion industry and programs aimed at leadership.
IP TAKE: This funder focuses its grantmaking on grassroots and local organizations and businesses. It’s a new foundation, so expect giving to ramp up and evolve, along with its requirements. It conducts grantmaking at both the national and global levels. Note, however, that this is not a particularly accessible funder, as it prefers to research its own causes and grantees to support. Nor does it back employee-giving, so funding is hard to come by here. This approach may change in the future, but don’t expect it to do so.
PROFILE: The Eileen Fisher Foundation, established in 2004, is the charitable arm of the fashion house and clothing retailer of the same name. Having been around for several years, the foundation has “[r]ecognized the important role grassroots nonprofit organizations play in strengthening” the local communities in which Fisher’s headquarters, retail stores and showrooms are located. The foundation’s grantmaking supports women, business practices with “[a]bsolute regard” for human rights and environmental sustainability.
Grants for Women and Girls
Eileen Fisher’s Women Owned businesses program awards grants to innovative, women-owned businesses that are ready to scale past the start-up phase. Eligible businesses must be majority women-owned (51 percent), have revenues below $1 million, in operation for at least three years, and be “founded on creating environmental and social change.” The minimum grant amount for this program is $10,000. The foundation’s Activating Leadership program seeks organizations that help women and girls “find their voices, build their inner strength and develop the confidence to pursue what really matters.” The minimum grant amount for this program is $5,000. In years past, the foundation has run open application programs for both its business and leadership grants. However, the foundation appears to have paused its application program for these grants.
Similarly, its Supporting Women in Environmental Justice program seeks to increase women’s role in environmental decisions that directly affect them and their families. The foundation awards “$200,000 annually in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.” Applicants’ projects must address increasing women’s participation in environmental decision-making; work to train women and girls in climate change adaptation, mitigation and advocacy; and lastly, engage women in the sustainable economy.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
Eileen Fisher promotes and advocates for environmentally safe and sustainable materials and manufacturing processes in its supply chain. It also makes grants to environmental nonprofits and NGOs “based on the priorities of our Social Consciousness work.” It is particularly concerned with the sustainable agriculture of natural fibers, atmospheric carbon, water usage, and toxic chemicals used in the growing, processing, and manufacturing of textiles. Grantees in this field include the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, 350.org, Climate Ride, Restore the Earth Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Waterkeeper Alliance.
Grants for Human Rights and Economic Opportunity
Eileen Fisher’s human rights grantmaking seeks to “provide people with dignified work that will enhance their livelihood, empowering them socially and economically.” It is primarily concerned with the conditions of textile industry workers around the world, especially in the company’s supply chain, and supports nonprofits and NGOs that address issues such as child labor, human trafficking, and women’s rights. Grantees in this field include Rwanda Women’s Network, Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking, and Global March Against Child Labor.
Important Grant Details:
This foundation gave away about $600,000 in grants in a recent year. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. The Eileen Fisher Foundation funds efforts all over the world, particularly in the United States, South America, Africa and Asia. Grantseekers may review the foundation’s past tax filings for more information on its grantmaking habits.
Eileen Fisher conducts all its grantmaking decisions internally and does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. This funder does not provide a direct avenue for getting in touch, but grantseekers may wish to contact the foundation by telephone at (646) 213-5100.
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