SOURCE of WEALTH: Disney
FUNDING AREAS: Health, Education, Los Angeles Community
OVERVIEW: The Eisner Foundation, started by Michael Eisner and his wife Jane in 1996, has made over $100 million in grants, and currently holds more than $133 million in assets. It supports intergenerational groups focused on underserved children and elderly of Los Angeles County. The foundation averages approximately $7 million in annual grantmaking.
BACKGROUND: 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.
ISSUES:
LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY: The Eisner Foundation has been making the bulk of its grants to Los Angeles community organizations for some two decades. Its grantmaking “identifies, advocates for, and invests in high-quality and innovative programs that unite multiple generations for the betterment of our communities.” Organizations and programs that involve children’s health and education receive the majority of the funding, though health, housing, job training and other programs for low income adults and seniors are also supported. Typical grant amounts ranging from $1,000 to $150,000, and many involving multi-year commitments.
Grantees include USC, Project GRAD Los Angeles, Inner-City Arts, Partners for Children South Los Angeles, and 826LA, which supports writing. Cultural organizations such as LACMA and Los Angeles Philharmonic regularly receive grants as well, as do other health clinics, schools, and organizations that focus on youth and community development.
HEALTH: Eisner’s health grants are focused on organizations that support intergenerational programs, which have been shown to increase both youth and seniors’ health. The Eisners support places like Saint Vincent Senior Citizen Nutrition Program. Smaller amounts have gone to Eisner Health, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
EDUCATION: Eisner takes an intergenerational approach to education and supports programs that capitalize on seniors’ skills and lifetime of experience. Additionally, the family have made grants to Eisner's alma mater, Denison, as well as to organizations like Jumpstart for Young Children, Teach for America, DonorsChoose.org, and the Posse Foundation.
LOOKING FORWARD: 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.
CONTACT:
The Eisner Foundation
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