The Overbrook Foundation
The Overbrook Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Established in 1948 by Frank and Helen Altschul, it supports organizations advancing human rights and conserving the natural environment.
The Overbrook Foundation at a glance
In short: The Overbrook Foundation gave $8.3M across 160 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), top state New York. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,273,495
- +14.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 160
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $51,709
- -10.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $47,500
- Total assets
- $217,509,522
- +7.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (47 of 150, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Overbrook Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 622 Third Avenue 35400, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (332) 240-3033
Website: https://overbrook.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Overbrook Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Funds Inc ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
796 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 445 grants of 796 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s programs emphasize the United States and Latin America. Its human-rights work in Latin America has a particular focus on Central America. In 2024, New York recipients accounted for 35% of grant dollars, Washington, DC for 16%, and California for 13%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 160 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Overbrook Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 47 of 150 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.2M (2023) to $9.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 160 grants totaling $8.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Funds Inc New York, NY | Funding of Donor Advised Funds | $1,669,590 |
| Environment America Research and Policy Center Inc Denver, CO | Cleaner, Quieter Lawn Care: Moving America away from gas-powered lawn equipment | $200,000 |
| Mongabay Org Corp Menlo Park, CA | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| NEO Philanthropy New York, NY | State Infrastructure Fund | $150,000 |
| The Lawyering Project Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support | $100,515 |
| Billion Oyster Project New York, NY | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Brennan Center for Justice New York, NY | Democracy Support for Ballot Access, Fair Districting, and Election Security | $100,000 |
| Free Election Fund a project of Hopewell Fund Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| GreenWave Organization Corp New Haven, CT | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Washington, DC | Voting Rights Project | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $217,509,522 | $22,870,198 | $13,212,958 | $8,273,495 | 160 | $10,998,481 | $20,064,382 | $10,165,662 |
| 2023 | $201,495,759 | $3,210,147 | $13,862,002 | $7,226,643 | 125 | $10,077,023 | $777,040 | $9,286,826 |
| 2022 | $181,857,459 | $7,907,361 | $14,542,402 | $8,985,565 | 144 | $11,637,359 | $4,733,929 | $9,289,443 |
| 2021 | $220,249,315 | $33,222,994 | $12,337,763 | $7,737,577 | 168 | $9,780,443 | $31,394,999 | $10,079,909 |
| 2020 | $192,018,982 | $8,819,200 | $12,716,717 | $8,713,076 | 199 | — | $6,286,608 | $8,134,519 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Overbrook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to support organizations advancing human rights and conserving the natural environment. Its Environment Program works on climate and biodiversity, including forest protection, coastal restoration, behavior change, and support for communities affected by climate impacts. Its Human Rights Program focuses on democracy and reproductive rights, health, and justice in the United States, and support for human rights defenders in Latin America, particularly Central America.
Grantees’ work illustrates the range of organizations supported. Billion Oyster Project says its mission is to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education. GreenWave says it trains and supports regenerative ocean farmers. Voter Formation Project describes its work as increasing election participation through digital communication, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing. Mongabay says it raises awareness of social and environmental issues relating to tropical forests, other ecosystems, and wildlife.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 160 grants totaling $8,273,495. Grants ranged from $100 to $1,669,590, with a median of $47,500. The largest listed award was $1,669,590 to Community Funds Inc. for funding of donor-advised funds. Other notable grants included $200,000 to Environment America Research and Policy Center for work moving America away from gas-powered lawn equipment; $150,000 each to Mongabay Org Corp for general operating support and NEO Philanthropy for its State Infrastructure Fund; and $100,515 to The Lawyering Project for general operating support.
Other 2024 grants included $100,000 to Billion Oyster Project, Brennan Center for Justice, Free Election Fund, GreenWave Organization Corp, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Perpetual Use Inc, and Plastic Solutions Fund. The stated purposes included general operating support, democracy and voting-rights work, oyster restoration, and reducing gas-powered lawn equipment use.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joyce Fensterstock as chair; Arthur Altschul Jr. as vice-chair/treasurer; and Julie Graham as vice-chair/secretary. Directors listed were Emily Altschul-Miller, Stephen Altschul, Alla Brocksmit, Carolyn Cole, James Graham, and Kathryn C. Graham. Charles Altschul was listed as a director through February 2024; Alla Brocksmit and James Graham were listed as beginning director service in February 2024.
The Overbrook Foundation is led by Eric Weingartner, President & CEO on every filing since 2022; 2 of 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Eric Weingartner
President & CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$92K (2022) → $527K (2024)
Arthur Altschul Jr.
V-Chair & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Fensterstock
Chair
Director → Chair & Director, 2022
Chair & Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Graham
V-Chair & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Cole
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Lindemann
Director
Director From → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Altschul-Miller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen Lang
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isaiah Orozco
Director
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathyrn C. Graham
Director
Director & Director to → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Labaree
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Altschul
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles Altschul
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Kooyman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alla Brocksmit
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Graham
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Grunwald
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noah Leff
Cfao
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$359K (2023) → $374K (2024)
Robert Graham Jr.
Director Emeritus
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Aaron Labaree (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mary J. Grecco (2020–2022) — CFO, Vice President & Assistant Secretary
- Former: Stephen Foster (2020–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Cooper Cox (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $527K, to Eric Weingartner (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Overbrook Foundation
How much does The Overbrook Foundation give each year?
The Overbrook Foundation gave $8.3M across 160 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.2M across 125 grants.
What is The Overbrook Foundation's typical grant size?
The Overbrook Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $47,500, and its average grant was $51,709, across 160 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Overbrook Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does The Overbrook Foundation give grants?
The Overbrook Foundation's top state is New York, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (16%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (39 grants), Washington, DC (22 grants), San Francisco, CA (11 grants) and Berkeley, CA (4 grants).
Does The Overbrook Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of The Overbrook Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (89 of 160) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Overbrook Foundation's largest grantees?
The Overbrook Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Funds Inc ($1,669,590), Environment America Research and Policy Center Inc ($200,000) and NEO Philanthropy ($155,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Overbrook Foundation?
The Overbrook Foundation reported $217.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Overbrook Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support organizations advancing human rights and conserving the natural environment. Its Environment Program works on climate and biodiversity, including forest protection, coastal restoration, behavior change, and support for communities affected by climate impacts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Overbrook Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Overbrook Foundation's EIN?
The Overbrook Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6088860. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Overbrook Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Overbrook Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Overbrook Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-overbrook-foundation-morg_89d67c59a0e5412799183801ed9ff3de
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136088860_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Overbrook Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-overbrook-foundation-morg_89d67c59a0e5412799183801ed9ff3de},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Overbrook Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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