Audrey Cappell, daughter of hedge-fund manager and left-of-center mega-donor James Simons, ¹ founded Foundation for a Just Society in New York City in 2011; her trust, Audrey Simons Delaware Trust, funds much, if not all, of the Foundation for a Just Society. The foundation makes grants to LGBT organizations and interests in areas around the globe, with a focus on West Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, and the southeast United States. Nicky McIntyre joined Foundation for a Just Society as chief executive officer in 2017.

History

In 2011, Audrey Cappell founded Foundation for a Just Society in New York City. Foundation for a Just Society is a private foundation that provides grants to left-of-center organizations to advance “LGBTQI” (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex) interests internationally. ² The organization provides grants worldwide, including in Central America, West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and the southeast United States. ³

In 2017, Nicky McIntyre, a career operative in left-of-center philanthropy in the United States and Europe, was hired as Chief Executive Officer to run day-to-day operations. ⁴ Cappell is now the President of the Felicity House. ⁵

Grants

Foundation for a Just Society makes 1, 2, and 3-year general operating grants in annual amounts from $25,000 to $500,000 to local, national, regional, and global organizations. Applications are accepted by invitation only. ⁶ Since its formation, the Organization has gifted $95,000,000 to over 75 organizations, purporting to focus on the advancement of women’s rights, specifically charities who focus on advancing the safety, security and acceptance of organizations globally which support LGBT interests. ^7 8

Foundation for a Just Society gives grants to organizations including 9to5 Georgia which seeks to turn out voters in historically underprivileged inner-city precincts, including the African Women’s Development Fund, and the Asia Catalyst, the latter of which claims to advance the right to healthcare for marginalized groups in Asia, and a variety of other charities with left-leaning agendas. ⁹

Foundation for a Just Society remains involved with the organizations to which it provides grants. In addition to direct grantmaking, the Organization is active in assisting its grantees by strengthening the organizations through infrastructure development, leadership training and resource exchange. Further, the Foundation for a Just Society assists in structuring and directing communications for its grantees to facilitate greater exposure and publicity for their organizations.

Financials

The Foundation for a Just Society is entirely endowed by The Audrey Simons Delaware Trust with contributions of $30,110,000¹⁰ in 2011, $39,362,000¹¹ in 2012, $55,306,584¹² in 2013, $11,744,749¹³ in 2014, $39,470,650¹⁴ in 2015, $44,272,653¹⁵ in 2016, and $53,470,070 in 2017. ¹⁶ These contributions were the sum of contributions made to Foundation for a Just Society since its formation in 2011.

In 2018, the foundation donated $37,483,079, as per its Form 990. ¹⁷

The Audrey Simons Delaware Trust

Audrey Simons is the daughter of James Simons, the hedge fund manager worth over $20 billion dollars. Audrey received her bachelor’s degree in English from Marymount Manhattan College, despite being autistic. She uses The Audrey Simons Delaware Trust, of which she is the Trustee, to fund left-of-center advocacy philanthropy through Foundation for a Just Society. ¹⁸

1. Celeb Family. “James Simons Family Tree,” Accessed on March 16, 2019, https://www.celebfamily.com/entrepreneur/james-simons-family.html
2. Foundation for a Just Society. “Mission,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
3. Foundation for a Just Society. “Grantmaking Strategies,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
4. Philanthropy New York. “Nicky McIntyre Begins Tenure as CEO of Foundation for a Just Society,” July 3, 2017, Accessed March 9, 2018, https://philanthropynewyork.org/news/nicky-mcintyre-begins-tenure-ceo-foundation-just-society
5. Felicity House.” Our Mission,” Accessed March 10, 2019, https://felicity-house.org/our-mission/
6. Global Philanthropy Party. ”Foundation for a Just Society,” Accessed March 19, 2019, https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/2016/03/14/international-lgbt-inclusive-funders-list/
7. Foundation for a Just Society. “History,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
8. Foundation for a Just Society. “History,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
9. Asia Catalyst. “About Us,” Accessed March 14, 2019, http://asiacatalyst.org/
10. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2011, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
11. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2012, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
12. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2013, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
13. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2014, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
14. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2015, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
15. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2016, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
16. Foundation for a Just Society, Return of Private Foundation (990-PF), 2017, Schedule B, Part 1(a,b)
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Foundation for a Just Society. 2018-2019. Part I, Line 25.
18. Celeb Family. “James Simons Family Tree,” Accessed on March 16, 2019, https://www.celebfamily.com/entrepreneur/james-simons-family.html