The Edward S. Moore Family Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking foundation that provides financial contributions to organizations that advocate for taxpayer-funded abortion, organizations that advocate for race-based preferences in social policies, organizations that advance LGBT interests, organizations that promote education, homeless shelters, and women’s shelters. ¹

Background

The Edward S. Moore Family Foundation was founded in in 2004 by Marion Moore Gilbert. ² Before 2004, the organization operated as the Edward S. Moore Foundation at the direction of Edward S. Moore III, Marion Moore Gilbert’s father, and prior to that at the direction of Marion Moore’s grandfather, Edward S. Moore Jr., who founded the original organization in 1957. ²

Edward S. Moore Jr. attended St. Paul’s School, a preparatory school in Concord, New Hampshire, and later received a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. In 1926, Moore Jr.  became a rancher in Big Horn, Wyoming. ³ In 1945 Moore Jr., moved to New York City and worked for the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco), eventually becoming the chairman of the executive committee for the company. Moore Jr. became a director on the boards of First City National Bank of New York, the Biscuit and Manufacturers Association, and Republic Aviation. ³

Moore Jr.’s grandfather was William Henry (Judge) Moore, an attorney and financier who was one of the American “titans of industry” or “robber barons” of the 19^th century. ⁴ William Henry Moore played an important role in the consolidation of various steel companies that led to the founding of United States Steel. Moore was involved in the financing and creation of a number of important businesses including the National Biscuit Company; Diamond Match Company; First National Bank; the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad; the American Can Company; the Lehigh Valley Railroad; the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad; the Continental Fire Insurance Company; the Western Union Telegraph Company; the American Cotton Oil Company; and Bankers Trust. ⁴

Financials

In 2021, Edward S. Moore Family Foundation received $315,103 in dividend income, ⁵ $2,858,089 in income from sale of assets, ⁶ $312,732 in income listed as coming from “other” sources, ⁷ for a total of $3,486,084 in revenue. ⁸ The same year, the organization incurred $1,366,740 in expenses  ⁹ and held $21,959,598 in net assets. ¹⁰

Grantmaking

In 2021, Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to organizations that provide education, organizations that advocate for race- or gender-based preferences in social policies, criminal justice related organizations, organizations that advocate for taxpayer-funded abortion services, homeless shelters, as well as other organizations. ¹

Education

In 2021 the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition ($200,000), Columbia University Global Health Research ($42,000), Community Foundation of The Virgin Islands ($20,000), Brooklyn Academy of Music ($15,000), Carver Foundation Of Norwalk ($15,000), Columbia University Teachers College – Dreams Project ($15,000), Barnard College ($5,000), Sacred Heart School ($5,000), Seattle Preparatory School ($5,000), and Brown University ($2,500). ¹

Race and Gender

In 2021 the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to race and gender-focused organizations, including the Brooklyn Community Foundation (Brooklyn Org), ¹ a grantmaking organization that focuses on providing financial support to left-of-center organizations in Brooklyn, New York. ¹¹

In 2021, the foundation contributed to the Brooklyn Community Foundation (Brooklyn Org) ($75,000), Miami Foundation ($50,000), Red Hook Initiative ($30,000), Catalyst Miami Civic Fund ($25,000), People Acting Community Together (PACT) ($20,000), and the Youth Justice Network ($15,000). ¹

Criminal Justice

In 2021, the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to a number of criminal justice organizations, including the Criminal Justice Initiative (Center for Justice) at Columbia University, which seeks to eliminate the bail system and cut funding for police departments. ¹²

That same year, the foundation also contributed to The Fortune Society ($30,000), Transition Inc. ($25,000), Criminal Justice Initiative (Center for Justice) ($20,000), and ameelio ($15,000).

Abortion

In 2021 the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to organizations that support taxpayer funded abortion, such as Planned Parenthood South Florida as well as other organizations that seek to provide or subsidize abortion services. ¹³

In 2021, foundation contributed to Planned Parenthood South Florida ($50,000), Women’s Fund of Miami Dade ($25,000), Reproductive Health Access Project ($10,000), and the Miscarriage Abortion Hotline ($20,000).

Shelters

In 2021, the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to homeless and women’s shelters, including Sanctuary For Families ($50,000), Women’s Prison Association & Home ($40,000), and Lawrence Hall ($10,000). ¹

Other

In 2021, the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation contributed to a number of additional, miscellaneous organizations including Global Giving ($35,000), Doctors Without Borders Ukraine Relief ($35,000), Student Conservation Association ($20,000), Saint Lukes Church ($15,000), Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest ($10,000), Craig Hospital ($10,000), and the Subayo Foundation ($3,000).

Leadership

Marion Moore Gilbert is the listed president of the Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. ¹⁴ However, Moore Gilbert passed away in 2023, ¹⁵ and it is unclear as of late 2023 which of her children, who all sat on the board of directors of the foundation, will be selected to lead the organization into its fourth generation. ¹⁴

1.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part XIV. 2021.
2. “History.” Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. http://www.esmff.org/m-h.html
3. “Princeton Alumni Weekly.” Princeton University. September 25, 1959. Volume 60. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://books.google.com/books?id=nxJbAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=RA12-PP1&dq=%22Edward+S.+Moore%22+Jr.+attended+%22St.+Paul%E2%80%99s+School%22+%22princeton%22&hl=en#v=onepage&q=%22Edward%20S.%20Moore%22%20Jr.%20attended%20%22St.%20Paul%E2%80%99s%20School%22%20%22princeton%22&f=false
4. “Ada Small Moore, Art Collector.” Glessner House – Chicago. August 21, 2016. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://www.glessnerhouse.org/story-of-a-house/tag/William+H.+Moore
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part I. Line 4. 2021.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part I. Line 6a. 2021.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part I. Line 10c. 2021.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part I. Line 12. 2021.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part I. Line 26. 2021.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part I. Line 29. 2021.
11. “About.” Brooklyn Org. https://brooklyn.org/about/
12. “Projects.” Columbia University Center for Justice. https://centerforjustice.columbia.edu/content/projects
13. “Take Action.” Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-east-north-florida/action-center
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Edward S. Moore Family Foundation. Part VII. 2021.
15. “Marion Moore Gilbert.” The Darien Times – Obituary. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/darientimes/name/marion-gilbert-obituary?id=50138588