Eisner Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Eisner Foundation takes an intergenerational approach to grantmaking that is pretty unprecedented around the country.
IP TAKE: This is a transparent and accessible funder, and grants are distributed to connect children and the elderly in truly unique and local ways. Grant decisions are made within weeks rather than months, making it a particularly supportive funder.
The foundation’s deadlines and requirements differ for LA and NYC. Grantseekers will want to pay close attention to the guidelines for each.
Giving here is crowded since this funder offers multi-year support, making it harder for new outfits to receive a grant, but it still funds new grantees each year, so don’t hesitate to apply. Eisner considers requests for general operating support, project support, capacity building, and capital support.
Eisner has one of the most robust foundations of any entertainment executive, and his grantmaking pattern has remained largely consistent over the course of its existence. As Eisner has more time to focus on philanthropy, however, we would not be surprised to see a greater expansion beyond the Los Angeles community. Intergenerational funding will likely continue to remain the priority for both the family and the foundation.
PROFILE: Created in 1996, the Eisner Foundation was established by Michael and Jane Eisner, due in part to the overwhelming success of the Walt Disney Company. Michael Eisner grew up in a Jewish family in New York, and attended Denison University before starting a career in the entertainment industry. He worked briefly at NBC and CBS before being hired as the assistant to the national programming director at ABC, where he eventually became a senior vice president in charge of programming and development. When his boss, Barry Diller, left to become chairman of Paramount Studios, he brought Eisner with him, making Eisner president and CEO. When Diller left Paramount in 1984, Eisner took a position as chairman and CEO of Disney, a position he held until 2005. Today, he remains active with his investment company, the Tornante Company, his studio, Vuguru, and his philanthropy, the Eisner Foundation. It supports organizations in both Los Angeles and New York City.
The Eisner Foundation seeks to support “high-quality and innovative programs that unite multiple generations for the enrichment of our communities.” It primarily founds youth, education and the elderly across it’s geographic areas of interest.
Grants for Los Angeles and New York City
The foundation prioritizes programs that allow youth to assist the elderly and the elderly to assist youth. It is specific to Los Angeles and New York City, in terms of geography and seeks to establish mutual intergenerational benefits.
For children in Los Angeles County and New York City, the Eisner Foundation typically supports after-school programs and programs that support arts, quality healthcare options and abuse prevention. For the aging population in Los Angeles County and New York, the foundation supports organizations that improve the quality of life by alleviating poverty, offering access to healthcare, and promoting cultural enrichment.
Past Eisner grantees include Alliance for Children’s Rights, Children Today, Common Sense Media, Grandparents as Parents, Inside Out Community Arts, and North Valley Caring Services. There are a few special initiatives as well, including California Institute of the Arts, the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, the Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center, and the Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence.
Important Grant Details:
Most Eisner grants are between $100,000 and $300,000 for well-established organizations in the Los Angeles area and around New York City. However, the foundation also makes $10,000 to $25,000 grants to smaller, grassroots organizations.
To apply for an Eisner grant, Los Angeles County organizations must complete a letter of inquiry consisting of no more than two pages. There are no deadlines to apply for a grant, as letters of intent are accepted year-around on a rolling basis. The foundation will notify nonprofits if they are invited to submit a full grant application and the timeline for the review process at that time. It usually only takes a few weeks to hear back about the status of a LOI.
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