H. Van Ameringen Foundation

The H. van Ameringen Foundation is a private foundation established by noted social-liberal philanthropist Henry van Ameringen in 1967; it is one of the top supporters of LGBT-interest advocacy in the US. The Foundation also makes grants to organizations focused on HIV/AIDS, the legalization of marijuana, and other progressive and left-of-center policy issues. 1 The Foundation is funded almost exclusively by its founder, Henry van Ameringen. His father, Arnold Louis van Ameringen, was the founder of the International Flavors and Fragrances Company (IFF), for which Henry van Ameringen formerly worked as a vice president. 2

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3), Private Foundation
Formation:

1967

Director:

Henry van Ameringen

Location: New York, NY View on map
Tax ID: 13-6125699
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $73,958,417 Revenue: $6,696,852 Expenses: $10,517,303

Contents

    The Foundation is ranked among the top private foundations who fund LGBT issues, with contributions going to 78 different LGBT organizations in 2018, totaling more that $3.9 million. 3 Organizations that receive grants include left-leaning LGBT advocacy groups like Lambda Legal, the Gill Foundation, and Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), among numerous others. 4 The Foundation makes grants to a number of other broad left-of-center advocacy groups, including the Center for American Progress (CAP), the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Drug Policy Alliance, Planned Parenthood of New York City, and the Urban Justice Center. 4

    The Foundation keeps a low profile, and does not have a website or staff besides van Ameringen. 1

    History

    The H. van Ameringen Foundation was established by Henry van Ameringen in 1967. The Foundation’s primary funder is Henry van Ameringen, the son of Arnold Louis van Ameringen, who founded the International Flavors and Fragrances Company (IFF). Henry van Ameringen formerly served as Vice President of IFF Europe, and as of 1996, held over 7.3 million shares of stock in IFF. 2

    Grantmaking

    According to Funders for LGBTQ Issues’ 2018 Tracking Report, the H. van Ameringen Foundation ranked number four in the top private foundations funding LGBT issues in the US. According to the report, only the Arcus Foundation, the Gill Foundation, and the Laughing Gull Foundation exceeded H. van Ameringen Foundation’s $3,922,000 in donations. 3

    While some of the Foundation’s LGBT grants go to local New York City organizations, the Foundation also makes substantial grants to national left-leaning LGBT advocacy groups like Lambda Legal, which received $155,000 between 2013 and 2015; the Gill Foundation, which received $100,000 between 2013 and 2015; and Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which received $85,000 between 2013 and 2015. 4

    The Foundation also gives grants to multi-issue liberal and left-of-center organizing and policy driven groups like Center for American Progress (CAP), who received $50,000 in 2014, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, who received $30,000 between 2013 and 2015, Drug Policy Alliance, who received $150,000 in 2015, Planned Parenthood of New York City, who received $100,000 between 2013 and 2015, and the Urban Justice Center, who received $150,000 between 2013 and 2015. 4

    Henry van Ameringen is a board member emeritus of the Fountain House,5 an organization that continues to receive funding from the Foundation, having been granted $285,000 between 2013 and 2015. 4

    Henry van Ameringen is the co-founder and serves on the board of the Galvan Initiatives Foundation,6 which is annually awarded large grants from his Foundation. Between 2013 and 2015 alone, the Galvan Initiatives Foundation received over $16 million in funding from the H. van Ameringen Foundation. 4

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $73,958,417 $6,696,852 $10,517,303 View
    2023 $75,596,358 $8,175,516 $9,940,320 View
    2022 $77,188,652 $5,977,954 $14,931,856 View
    2021 $105,671,450 $11,199,164 $15,743,381 View
    2020 $100,593,165 $7,016,341 $6,346,147 View

    Prior year filings: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Marsha CohenEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$299,423

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $651,476
    • Number of Grants: 23
    • Number of Funders: 14

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $50,0002020 The UCLA FoundationGeneral support
    $20,0002023 Kitchings Family FoundationGENERAL OPERATING
    $7,3492020 The Community's FoundationCovid-19 – Food banks, pandemic
    $5,0002023 The Halfway Rock Foundation Co Eunice J PanettaNetherlands Bach Society
    $4,0002020 F & O Shortlidge Charitable TrustGeneral operating
    $2,0002020 Quest for the BestFood fund

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $82,973,996
    • Number of Grants: 1,167
    • Number of Recipients: 489

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $2,000,0002022 Fountain HouseRENEWED GENERAL SUPPORT WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYMENT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
    $1,000,0002024 Fountain House, Inc.RENEWED GENERAL SUPORT WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYEMENT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
    $1,000,0002023 Fountain House, Inc.RENEWED GENERAL SUPORT WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYEMENT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
    $250,0002021 Make the Road New YorkFUND FOR EXLUDED WORKERS
    $250,0002020 Fountain HouseRENEWED GENERAL SUPPORT WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EMPLOYMENT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
    $200,0002024 CHILDREN'S RIGHTS INCRENEWED SUPPORT OF CLASS ACTION LITIGATION CENTER SEEKING TO COMPEL NEW YORK TO PROVIDE MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE CHILDREN WITH THE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE LAW.
    $200,0002024 Disability Advocates IncRENEWED SUPPORT FOR A NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER WORKING TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST JUSTICE-INVOLVED PEOPLE LIVING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS IN NEW YORK CITY.
    $200,0002024 NYC Coalition to End Youth and Family HomelessnessCONTINUING SUPPORT OF A PHILANTHROPIC COALITION TO END YOUTH AND FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN NEW YORK CITY.
    $200,0002023 CHILDREN'S RIGHTS INCRENEWED SUPPORT OF CLASS ACTION LITIGATION CENTER SEEKING TO COMPEL NEW YORK TO PROVIDE MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE CHILDREN WITH THE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE LAW.
    $200,0002023 NYC Coalition to End Youth and Family HomelessnessCONTINUING SUPPORT OF A COALITION TO END YOUTH AND FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN NYC.
    $200,0002022 CHILDREN'S RIGHTS INCRENEWED SUPPORT OF CLASS ACTION LITIGATION CENTER SEEKING TO COMPEL NEW YORK TO PROVIDE MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE CHILDREN WITH THE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE LAW.
    $200,0002022 NYC Coalition to End Youth and Family HomelessnessSUPPORT OF A COALITION TO END YOUTH AND FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN NEW YORK CITY.
    $200,0002021 SAKHI FOR SOUTH ASIAN SURVIVORSTO MOVE A BILINGUAL, LICENSED CLINICAL COUNSELOR POSITION TO FULL-TIME AND EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR SOUTH ASIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN OVERCOMING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
    $150,0002024 International Documentary AssociationFIRST-TIME FUNDING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION TO COMPLETE THE DOCUMENTARY COMMITTED, DEPICTING ONE TOWN'S ATTEMPT TO TREAT JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.
    $150,0002024 New York Civil Liberties Union FoundationFIRST-TIME FUNDING FOR NEW YORK'S ACLU TO ENFORCE STATE LAW PROHIBITING SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN NEW YORK'S PRISONS AND JAILS.
    $150,0002023 American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc.RENEWED SUPPORT OF THE ACLUS NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT (NPP) WHICH INCLUDES LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, AND MONITORING TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
    $150,0002023 Correctional Association of New YorkRENEWED TO SUPPORT TO MONITOR AND STRENGTHEN THE HALT LAW IN NEW YORK PRISONS, INCLUDING THE PROHIBITION ON SOLITARY FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
    $150,0002023 International Documentary AssociationFIRST-TIME FUNDING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION TO COMPLETE THE DOCUMENTARY COMMITTED, DEPICTING ONE TOWN'S ATTEMPT TO TREAT JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.
    $150,0002023 Legal Action CenterRENEWED SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY IN NEW YORK STATE, ALONG WITH ENHANCED COMMUNITY-BASED CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
    $150,0002023 Legal Aid SocietyRENEWED SUPPORT FOR A CAMPAIGN TO DIVERT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND TO END NEW YORK STATE HOLDING MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE IN PRISON PAST THEIR SENTENCES.
    $150,0002022 American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc.RENEWED SUPPORT OF THE ACLUS NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT (NPP) WHICH INCLUDES LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, AND MONITORING TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
    $150,0002022 American Friends Service CommitteeRENEWED SUPPORT FOR CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING AND CLIENT ADVOCACY TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AMONGST IMMIGRANTS.
    $150,0002022 International Center for Clubhouse Development IncRENEWED SUPPORT FOR CERTIFYING AND TRAINING CLUBHOUSES AND SUPPORTING REGIONAL CLUBHOUSE COALITIONS IN 14 U.S. STATES AND ABROAD.
    $150,0002022 LEGAL ACTION CENTERRENEWED SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY IN NEW YORK STATE, ALONG WITH ENHANCED COMMUNITY-BASED CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
    $150,0002022 NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF NEW YORK CITYTO LAUNCH AN ADVOCACY INITIATIVE THAT WILL TRAIN 240 ADVOCATES WHO WILL REACH POLICYMAKERS IN ALL 51 DISTRICTS OF NEW YORK CITY.

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “H. van Ameringen Foundation: Grants for LGBTQ.” Inside Philanthropy. Accessed April 25, 2020. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/fundraising-for-lgbt/h-van-ameringen-foundation-grants-for-lgbt.
    2. “SEC Filing: Definitive Proxy Statement.” International Flavors and Fragrances, March 27, 1997. Accessed April 25, 2020. http://ir.iff.com/node/16256/html.
    3. “2018 Tracking Report.” Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Accessed April 25, 2020. https://lgbtfunders.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2020.04.02_FINAL_2018TrackingReport_08.pdf.
    4. H. van Ameringen Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2013-2015, Schedule “Contributions Paid”.
    5. “Leadership.” Fountain House. Accessed April 25, 2020. https://www.fountainhouse.org/about/leadership.
    6. “Leadership.” Galvan Foundation, Accessed April 25, 2020. http://www.galvanfoundation.org/board.php.