There are many philanthropic foundations based in New York that have Jewish leanings even if they aren’t religious funders per se. One example is the Irma L. and Abram S. Croll Charitable Trust, a lesser-known local foundation that primarily focuses on charitable causes in New York City. The Crolls created this trust because they supported several local organizations during their lifetimes and wanted to see that legacy continue after their deaths.
Here are a few things to know about the Irma L. and Abram S. Croll Charitable Trust’s approach to grantmaking and how NYC grantseekers can get involved with this funder.
Three program areas
The Croll Charitable Trust supports three specific program areas: arts/culture humanities, education and health. An example of an arts-related grantee is the New York Historical Society; an education grantee is the Ramaz School and a health grantee is the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Yet overall, this funder maintains an emphasis on Jewish life and Jewish community organizations. In recent grant cycles, the Croll Charitable Trust has awarded grants to the pro-LGBTQ synagogue Congregation Beit Simchat Torah and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, for example. It is common for the trust to support the same organizations year after year.
Typical foundation giving
Each year, the Croll Charitable Trust awards around $400,000 in grants, which is typically spread across three to five grantees. Each of these grants tends to be between $25,000 and $200,000 each. However, most recent grants have been in the $25,000 to $50,000 range.
How to apply
The Croll Charitable Trust is administered by Wells Fargo Bank, which serves as the foundation’s trustee. Therefore, grantseekers must go through Wells Fargo’s online application system to apply for a grant. The foundation does not have its own independent website, but the Wells Fargo site includes a link to access the online application.
The annual application deadline is June 1, and applicants receive an automated email reply after submitting their materials online. The foundation lets applicants know if they received a grant by September of each year. Some funded projects require periodic progress reports and final reports back to the trust.
Read more about this funder in IP’s full profile of the Irma L. and Abram S. Croll Charitable Trust, which is part of our New York City and Tri-State Funding Guide.