The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc
The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund is a private foundation established in 1998 and renamed in 2007. Based in New York City, the foundation works to improve access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and foster healthy and vibrant communities through strategic philanthropic support across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$317.5M
-4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$29.7M
+284.6% YoY
Grant Count
113
+15.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$262K
+233.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $23.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To improve access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and foster healthy and vibrant communities.
The foundation operates through the following primary program areas:
Arts in Health Supports organizations utilizing the arts to address health issues impacting New York communities. The initiative highlights the value of multiple artistic disciplines including visual art, dance, music, theater, and film. Focus areas include mental health stigma, trauma, aging-related diseases, and support for caregivers and frontline healthcare staff.
Civic Engagement Supports organizations that mobilize individuals toward a shared vision of social change to enhance society and strengthen communities.
Additional Focus Areas The foundation also supports initiatives in education and the arts, healthy food and economic development, nutrition education and food literacy, public health and healthy food access, and Jewish life.
Grantmaking
Funding is by invitation only.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
New York City. The foundation's grantmaking is limited to New York City causes and initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $317,481,147 | $332,374,928 | $212,586,709 |
| Revenue | $18,536,164 | $75,752,314 | $28,659,163 |
| Expenses | $33,429,944 | $10,862,936 | $7,667,774 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $31,930,310 | $9,715,206 | $6,687,596 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,397,959 | $5,491,377 | $12,547,137 |
| Distributable Amount | $23,749,421 | $18,131,127 | $14,733,909 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Museum of Manhattan ($21,616,570), Aspen Institute Inc ($235,000), Anti-defamation League ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92ND STREET Y NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $25,000 |
| A CALL TO MEN (ACTM CORP) ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $15,000 |
| ALI FORNEY CENTER NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $2,613 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION (CARINGKIND) CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $55,000 |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR STUTTERING NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $50,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $150,000 |
| ART START NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $50,000 |
| ART THERAPY PROJECT CORPORATION (TATP) NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $50,000 |
| ARTISTIC NOISE NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $40,000 |
| ARTS & MINDS INC NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL, CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Laurie M. Tisch — President and Founder
Ms. Tisch founded the Illumination Fund in 2007, building upon decades of experience serving on boards, creating organizations, and developing partnerships. Her philanthropy stems from her family's legacy of giving in New York City and an engaged civic life.
Board & Institutional Affiliations:
- Board of Directors, The Juilliard School
- Trustee, Aspen Institute
- Co-owner and Board Member, New York Football Giants
- Co-owner, Gotham FC (NY/NJ National Women's Soccer League team)
- Former Co-Chair, Board of Trustees, Whitney Museum of American Art
- Former Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- Chair Emeritus, Center for Arts Education
- Chair Emeritus, Children's Museum of Manhattan
Ms. Tisch has received numerous awards for philanthropy and public service, including an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University, the Key to the City of New York, recognition as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women by Crain's New York Business (twice), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from New York Foundation for the Arts.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD E LUFTGLASS | EXECUTIVE DIR, SECRETARY | 40 | $395,108 |
| LAURIE M TISCH | PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE | 40 | — |
| JENNIFER CAMERON | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| EMILY T SUSSMAN | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN T BLODGETT | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BARRY L BLOOM | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ALAN H HIRSCHFELD | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 212-792-9900
Website: www.lmtilluminationfund.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To improve access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and foster healthy and vibrant communities. The foundation operates through the following primary program areas: **Arts in Health** Supports organizations utilizing the arts to address health issues impacting New York communities. The initiative highlights the value of multiple artistic disciplines including visual art, dance, music, theater, and film. Focus areas include mental health stigma, trauma, aging-related diseases, and…
How do I apply for a grant from The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc?
**Application Process** Funding is by invitation only. **Grantee Engagement** The foundation fosters collaboration between grantees and works through long-term partnerships with well-known organizations and cultural institutions. The foundation periodically hosts meetings to convene grantees and partners to build collective capacity and share learning.
Where does The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc make grants?
New York City. The foundation's grantmaking is limited to New York City causes and initiatives.
What size grants does The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc awarded 113 grants totaling $29.7M — an average of about $262K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $23.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Laurie M Tisch Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3693585. 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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