The Overbrook Foundation
The Overbrook Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization established in 1948 by Frank and Helen Altschul. Named after Overbrook Farm, the Altschul family home in Stamford, Connecticut, the foundation operates as a grantmaking institution with a professional staff and board of directors. The foundation is headquartered in New York, New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$217.5M
+7.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.3M
+14.5% YoY
Grant Count
160
+28.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$52K
-10.6% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Overbrook Foundation's mission is to support important causes advancing human rights and conserving the natural environment. The foundation currently operates two primary programs:
- Human Rights: Supporting organizations focused on advancing human rights
- Environment: Supporting organizations focused on environmental conservation
Over its 75-year history, the foundation has supported innovative leaders across the arts, education, health care, media, Jewish causes, human rights, and environmental conservation.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Organizations working in the foundation's areas of interest are encouraged to share news, ideas, and projects with foundation staff through a contact form or by phone.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1,704,883
Average Grant
amount: approximately $50,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in:
- The United States
- Latin America, particularly Central America and Mesoamerica
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Endowment:
- Total assets: $201,495,759 (as of December 2023)
- Endowment: approximately $150 million
Revenue & Expenses (2023):
- Total revenue: $3,210,147
- Total expenses: $13,862,002
- Investment income and dividends: $3,328,525
Historical Impact:
- Over $240 million distributed since inception
- Supported more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $217,509,522 | $201,495,759 | $181,857,459 |
| Revenue | $22,870,198 | $3,210,147 | $7,907,361 |
| Expenses | $13,212,958 | $13,862,002 | $14,542,402 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,998,481 | $10,077,023 | $11,637,359 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,064,382 | $777,040 | $4,733,929 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,165,662 | $9,286,826 | $9,289,443 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Funds Inc ($1,669,590), Environment America Research and Policy Center Inc ($200,000), Billion Oyster Project ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Better Balance New York, NY | General Operating Support | $1,285 |
| Abortion Care Network Washington, DC | Keep Our Clinics Campaign | $75,000 |
| Air Alliance Houston Houston, TX | Improving Air Permits for Fenceline Neighborhoods in Houston, TX | $45,000 |
| Alabama Forward Montgomery, AL | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Amazon Conservation Association Washington, DC | MAAP | $75,000 |
| Amazon Conservation Team Falls Church, VA | Safeguarding Forests of Isolated Tribes and Restoring Ecosystems | $35,000 |
| Amazon Conservation Team Falls Church, VA | To Protect Tropical Forests and Strengthen Traditional Culture | $1,055 |
| American Ballet Theatre New York, NY | General Operating Support | $7,500 |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention New York, NY | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
| American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup Foundation New York, NY | Ocean Program - Great Pacific Garbage Patch | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Joyce Fensterstock (Chair)
- Julie Graham (Vice-Chair/Secretary)
- Arthur Altschul Jr. (Vice-Chair/Treasurer)
- Emily Altschul-Miller (Director)
- Stephen Altschul (Director)
- Alla Brocksmit (Director, beginning February 2024)
- Carolyn Cole (Director)
- James Graham (Director, beginning February 2024)
- Kathryn C. Graham (Director)
- Robert Graham Jr. (Director Emeritus)
- Michael Grunwald (Director)
- Olivia Kooyman (Director)
- Robert Labaree (Director)
- Helen Lang (Director)
Staff:
- Risa Kaufman (Director, Human Rights)
The foundation employs approximately 10 staff members and maintains a professional team of philanthropy and industry experts.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTHUR ALTSCHUL JR | V-CHAIR/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CHARLES ALTSCHUL | DIRECTOR (THRU FEB 2024) | 1 | — |
| EMILY ALTSCHUL-MILLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN ALTSCHUL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALLA BROCKSMIT | DIRECTOR (BEG FEB 2024) | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN COLE | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JOYCE FENSTERSTOCK | CHAIR | 10 | — |
| JAMES GRAHAM | DIRECTOR (BEG FEB 2024) | 1 | — |
| JULIE GRAHAM | V-CHAIR/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KATHYRN C GRAHAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT GRAHAM JR | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL GRUNWALD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| OLIVIA KOOYMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT LABAREE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HELEN LANG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH LINDEMANN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ISAIAH OROZCO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ERIC WEINGARTNER | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $526,500 |
| NOAH LEFF | CFAO | 40 | $373,625 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation played a pivotal role in achieving marriage equality in the United States as one of 12 founding organizations of the Civil Marriage Collaborative, which provided over $150 million for the successful strategy culminating in the 2015 Supreme Court decision.
Overdeck Family Foundation Awards $10.7 Million in Grants in Q1 2026 - OverdeckThe foundation helped organize the first People's Climate March in 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Overbrook Foundation fund?
The Overbrook Foundation's mission is to support important causes advancing human rights and conserving the natural environment. The foundation currently operates two primary programs: • **Human Rights**: Supporting organizations focused on advancing human rights • **Environment**: Supporting organizations focused on environmental conservation Over its 75-year history, the foundation has supported innovative leaders across the arts, education, health care, media, Jewish causes, human rights, an…
How do I apply for a grant from The Overbrook Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 238 grants in 2023 • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $1,704,883 • Median grant amount: $48,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $50,000 • Total giving in 2023: $7,226,643 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Community Funds Inc. (Donor Advised Funds): $1,667,496 • Environment America Research and Policy Center (Moving America Away From Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment): $200,000 • Proteus Fund (Piper Fund): $125,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolic…
Where does The Overbrook Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations in: • The United States • Latin America, particularly Central America and Mesoamerica
What size grants does The Overbrook Foundation award?
In 2024, The Overbrook Foundation awarded 160 grants totaling $8.3M — an average of about $52K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Overbrook Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Overbrook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Overbrook Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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