Northlight Foundation Inc
NorthLight Foundation is a private foundation established by Dan and Sheryl Tishman, based in New York City. The foundation invests at the intersection of human and environmental landscapes, working with organizations to deliver high-impact and systemic change. Originally incorporated as the Dan and Sheryl Tishman Family Foundation in 2011, the foundation adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect the trustees' commitment to supporting solutions that create a healthy, just, and sustainable world.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$7.3M
+10.5% YoY
Grant Count
46
-19.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$159K
+36.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: NorthLight Foundation envisions a world where the Earth's environment is healthy, protected, and sustained for future generations.
The foundation approaches environmental grantmaking from a perspective of exploration and creativity, seeking to fill gaps others aren't addressing by deploying risk capital to encourage new and fundamentally different paths to systems change. The foundation funds through a lens of environmental justice.
Current Focus Areas:
- Reimagining Conservation: Investing in innovative organizations and conservation strategies, with a focus on keeping oil and gas development out of the Arctic
- Catalyzing Environmental Leadership: Developing and funding initiatives that foster new leadership on environmental issues
- Building Resilient Rural Communities: Supporting innovative approaches to resilience in targeted rural communities
- Centering Community: Investing in organizations whose mission enriches the communities they serve
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation is preselected only, meaning it makes contributions exclusively to organizations it has selected in advance and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds.
Grant Range
$73,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across 20 states, with documented funding reaching major urban centers including New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filings:
- Total Assets: $84.3 million (2023)
- Total Assets: $90.3 million (2022)
- Annual Expenses: $8.09 million (2023)
- Annual Expenses: $10.6 million (2022)
- Total Liabilities: $1.43 million (2023)
- Revenue: -$338,000 (2023)
- Annual Grants Awarded: $6.6 million (2024)
The foundation has experienced exceptional growth over the past seven years, with an average annual revenue increase of 58.0%.
Organization Details:
- EIN: 45-0612382
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since June 2011
- Classification: 501(c)(3) Private Independent Foundation
- Address: 100 Park Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10017
- Phone: 212-399-3600
- Website: www.northlightfoundation.org
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
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| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
174 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Michigan ($1,225,000), The Conservation Fund ($1,050,000), The New School ($640,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $280,000 |
| AMERCIAN INDIAN COMMUNITY HOUSE NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $75,000 |
| BIODIVERSITY FUNDERS GROUP SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| BLUE CHIP PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ANN ARBOR, MI | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $465,000 |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FORT COLLINS, CO | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| ECOAMERICA WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $25,000 |
| FC HARLEM NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $4,000 |
| FEEDING TAMPA BAY TAMPA, FL | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $1,800 |
| FIDELITY DAF CINCINNATI, OH | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES | $135,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Officers:
- Daniel R. Tishman – Chairman and President, Director (2 hours/week, no compensation)
- Sheryl C. Tishman – Director (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Francis W. Beck – Director (0.25 hours/week, no compensation)
- Cara Weinrich – Officer (2 hours/week, no compensation)
Daniel R. Tishman is Principal and Vice Chairman of the Board of Tishman Hotel & Realty LP and formerly served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tishman Construction Corporation. The foundation builds upon the legacy of John L. Tishman.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL R TISHMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SHERYL C TISHMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| FRANCIS W BECK | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| CARA WEINRICH | OFFICER | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Northlight Foundation Inc fund?
**Vision:** NorthLight Foundation envisions a world where the Earth's environment is healthy, protected, and sustained for future generations. The foundation approaches environmental grantmaking from a perspective of exploration and creativity, seeking to fill gaps others aren't addressing by deploying risk capital to encourage new and fundamentally different paths to systems change. The foundation funds through a lens of environmental justice. **Current Focus Areas:** • **Reimagining Conservat…
How do I apply for a grant from Northlight Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation is preselected only, meaning it makes contributions exclusively to organizations it has selected in advance and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. **Grant Activity:** • Median grant size: $73,000 • Grant range: $200 to $1.2 million • 46 grants reported in recent filings • 57 grants awarded in 2024
Where does Northlight Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds projects across 20 states, with documented funding reaching major urban centers including New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
What size grants does Northlight Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Northlight Foundation Inc awarded 46 grants totaling $7.3M — an average of about $159K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Northlight Foundation Inc's EIN?
Northlight Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0612382. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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