OVERVIEW: This funder supports well-established New York City organizations in the fields of arts, education, health, and social justice. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts, education, health, social justice
IP TAKE: Although this is a social justice funder, don’t expect it to fund attempts to influence legislation or other types of advocacy. Grants often go to groups that the late attorney was affiliated with during his life.
PROFILE: The Jerome L. Greene Foundation was established in 1978 and focuses a great deal of its grantmaking on New York City. Greene was an attorney and philanthropist who was born in Brooklyn and attended Columbia College. He was a founding member of the Marshall, Bratter, Greene, Allison & Tucker law firm in Manhattan and received numerous honors.
The areas of funding are the arts, education, health, and social justice. Support for the arts in New York City has gone to WNET New York Public Media, the Museum of the City of New York, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Morgan Library & Museum. Education grants in the past have gone to the Central Park Conservatory, New York Public Radio, and to establish the Jerome L. Greene Science Center at Columbia University’s Manhattan campus.
Health grants have gone to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge NYC, Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, and the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Social justice grants have gone to the Montefiore/Greene Foundation’s Teen Pregnancy Initiative, Planned Parenthood of New York City, and ProPublica.
A list of grantees between 2000 and the present can be viewed here. The list really isn’t all that long: it’s important to note that this funder sticks to pretty well-established organizations and continues to support them throughout the years. Over $400 million has been invested in grant partners in New York City and across the nation as well. The foundation gave $10 million to Howard University School of Law in 2021 to support the Greene Public Service Scholars Program.
Unfortunately for grantseekers, unsolicited proposals are not accepted. The foundation is run by a small staff, a board of directors, and a financial advisory committee. Christina McInerney, Jerome L. Greene’s step-daughter, took over as foundation president and CEO in 2010. General questions can be directed to the New York City-based staff at 212-688-1550 or via email at letters@JLGreene.org. Keep up with this funder's interests via its news page.
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