The LCU Fund for Women's Education is a private foundation based in New York City that has operated for over 167 years. Established in 1858 as the Ladies' Christian Union, the organization evolved from providing direct housing services to young working women into a grantmaking foundation focused on removing housing barriers to college completion for low-income female students.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.4M
+6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$787K
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
22
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-4.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To clear the path for low-income women to complete college by helping them pay their rent.
Vision: A future in which women are fully empowered to realize their potential through higher education.
The organization's grantmaking focuses on supporting accredited institutions in providing housing assistance to high-performing, low-income women scholars pursuing degrees in:
- Education
- Health services
- Public administration
- Social work
- Visual and performing arts
Grantmaking
The LCU Fund does not award grants directly to individual students. Instead, it provides funding to partner colleges and universities, which then disburse housing grants to selected students based on the organization's eligibility criteria.
Average Grant
amount: $6,000 per student
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
New York City and surrounding region. The organization partners with 35 educational institutions across New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (2024): $22,411,113
Annual Giving (2024): $786,500
Total Revenues (2024): $1,102,282
Total Expenses (2024): $1,105,805
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax-exempt since March 1927
Staffing: 2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,411,113 | $20,979,912 | $18,852,970 |
| Revenue | $1,102,282 | $1,215,999 | $1,227,573 |
| Expenses | $1,105,805 | $1,081,138 | $1,053,477 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,009,663 | $994,726 | $958,342 |
| Net Investment Income | $979,614 | $1,094,902 | $1,104,135 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,071,010 | $966,392 | $973,112 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New York University Silver School of Social Work ($120,000), City College of New York ($107,500), Columbia University School of Nursing ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| BARUCH COLLEGE NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $107,500 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| JUILLIARD SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| LEHMAN COLLEGE BRONX, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $87,500 |
| NEW SCHOOL - MANNES COLLEGE OF MUSIC NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ARTS NEW YORK, NY | HOUSING SUPPORT | $55,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sara Espinosa – Executive Director
The organization is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and a full-time Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDA J WRIGHT | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| LINDSEY COUNTS | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| SOFYA SHUSTER | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| SARA ESPINOSA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $120,876 |
| LESLIE EHRLICH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LIANG HSU | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| NATHANIEL SUNDEL | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| TASIA HAWKINS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINA DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMANDA MWAMUKA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc fund?
**Mission:** To clear the path for low-income women to complete college by helping them pay their rent. **Vision:** A future in which women are fully empowered to realize their potential through higher education. The organization's grantmaking focuses on supporting accredited institutions in providing housing assistance to high-performing, low-income women scholars pursuing degrees in: • Education • Health services • Public administration • Social work • Visual and performing arts
How do I apply for a grant from Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc?
The LCU Fund does not award grants directly to individual students. Instead, it provides funding to partner colleges and universities, which then disburse housing grants to selected students based on the organization's eligibility criteria. **Grant Activity:** • $18 million+ awarded since 2000 • 4,000 students supported across 35 campuses • Approximately 150 students receive grants annually • Average grant amount: $6,000 per student • Recent grants include $107,500 to The City College of New Yo…
Where does Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc make grants?
New York City and surrounding region. The organization partners with 35 educational institutions across New York City.
What size grants does Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc award?
In 2024, Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc awarded 22 grants totaling $787K — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc's EIN?
Lcu Fund for Women's Education Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5562262. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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