Tiger Global Management is a New York City investment firm that has propelled the careers of several financial professionals toward major success and into the world of philanthropy. Perhaps most notable among them is Chase Coleman III, the billionaire hedge fund manager who founded the firm. Now in his mid-40s, Coleman was born to a lawyer father and an interior designer mother. He’s also a descendent of the Dutch governor who surrendered New Amsterdam (later New York) to the British, Peter Stuyvesant.
Coleman is a good example of someone who was born into old money and who made a lot of his own new money as well. Nonprofits in New York should be aware that he and his wife, Stephanie, have turned some of those earnings into charitable commitments to benefit NYC residents.
Main topics of interest
Chase and Stephanie Coleman tend to stick to a few specific giving areas. The foundation frequently supports education organizations like the East Harlem School and KIPP NY. Mentoring and scholarships are some of this couple’s other education-related interests. Health is another interest, with most grants going to big-name institutions such as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. To a lesser extent, the Colemans have given for the environment, arts and culture and humanitarian efforts.
A focus on New York City
For a prospective grantee, a connection to New York City won’t go amiss. The foundation is based in NYC, the couple lives there and most grants stay within the city. Chase Coleman was raised on Long Island and has strong connections to the region. This is a good local foundation to know because of its geographic focus and also because it has been awarding between $10 million and $15 million in annual grants lately. Giving is rising and is expected to grow throughout the NYC boroughs and perhaps beyond. Within New York City, children and youth are also big interests of this couple, with recent local grants going to the Boys Club of NY and the Boys & Girls Harbor.
Limited transparency and accessibility
The Coleman Foundation does not have a website and isn’t overly accessible for local grantseekers. It does not publicly share information about its grantmaking guidelines and procedures, instead maintaining a low profile and giving quietly to causes with personal connections to the family. However, the Colemans haven’t even reached middle age yet, so there’s plenty of time for them to ramp up and refine their philanthropy. At this time, they are the foundation’s sole trustees. According to recent tax records, the Coleman Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests.
Read more about this funder and others that give locally in NYC in our New York City and Tri-State funding guide.