The Hyde and Watson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that funds arts and community organizations in New York City and northern New Jersey. The foundation was formed in 1983 as the result of the consolidation of The Lillia Babbitt Hyde Foundation and The John Jay and Eliza Jane Watson Foundation, which were founded in the 1940s by wealthy New York families.

The Hyde and Watson Foundation controls over $116 million in assets and funds hundreds of organizations annually, providing $6.4 million across 536 grants in 2022 with most grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. The foundation almost exclusively funds organizations headquartered in New York City and three counties in northern New Jersey. ^{1 2 3}

It has funded housing advocacy groups like the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, criminal justice advocacy groups like Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, and LGBT causes like the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.^{4 5}

History

The Hyde and Watson was formed in 1983 as the result of the consolidation of the Lillia Babbitt Hyde Foundation and the John Jay and Eliza Jane Watson Foundation, which conducted similar grantmaking activity in the greater New York City area. The Lillia Babbitt Hyde Foundation was founded in 1924 by Lillia Babbitt Hyde, a New York philanthropist who was the daughter of inventor and businessman Benjamin Talbot Babbitt, who built a large company in the chemicals and consumer products industry and left Lillia half his $5 million estate upon his death in 1889. She was married to New York lawyer Clarence Hyde, whom she outlived. Lillia Hyde Babbitt worked as president of the foundation until her death in 1939, and by 1941, the foundation had $3.2 million in assets. ⁶

The John Jay and Eliza Jane Watson Foundation was founded in 1948 by Eliza Jane Watson as a tribute to her late husband, John Watson, a former executive of several rubber, tire, and mining companies. Early grants from the foundation contributed to the areas of religion, education, and social services. The foundation had over $4.5 million in assets upon the death of Eliza Watson in 1957. ⁷

In 1983 the two foundations were consolidated “in the interest of more efficient management” and due to Lillia Babbitt Hyde and Eliza Jane Watson’s interest in similar charitable endeavors. In 2009, the Charles E. and Joy C. Pettinos Foundation voted to dissolve itself and transfer its assets of close to $1 million to the Hyde and Watson Foundation. That foundation was endowed by the estate of graphite industry executive and so-called “king of graphite” Charles E. Pettinos in 1951 following his death. The Hyde and Watson Foundation makes several grants in honor of Charles E. and Joy C. Pettinos annually. ⁸

Grantmaking Activity

Groups funded by the foundation include left-of-center organizations, performing arts organizations, and community organizations such as the Ackerman Institute for the Family, the African Services Committee, the Children’s Law Center, the Apollo Theater, the Christopher Reeve Foundation, the City Parks Foundation, the Coalition for the Homeless, the Council on Foundations, the Fair Housing Justice Center, and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. ⁹

Dorrance Dance

The Foundation funds Dorrance Dance, a left-of-center tap dance company that has promoted far-left policies including the abolition of prisons and defunding the police. ¹⁰

Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development

In 2023,the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD) received $7,500 from the Hyde and Watson Foundation for the purpose of purchasing computers and furnishings. The ANHD has projects which focus on housing policy like ending displacement. ANHD asserts that low- and middle-income New Yorkers, immigrants, and BIPOC individuals are at the greatest risk of being displaced from their home, and as a result ANHD advocates for stronger tenant protections for those people.¹¹¹²

Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services

In 2023, the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) received $15,000 from the Hyde and Watson Foundation for the purpose of purchasing equipment. CASES is a criminal justice policy organization which looks to help individuals that have been incarcerated, prevent arrests of young people, and prevent recidivism. CASES tries to achieve this through behavioral health services and education and career opportunities for young and previously incarcerated people.^{13 14 15}

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund

In 2023, the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) received $10,000 from the Hyde and Watson Foundation for the purpose of purchasing computer equipment. TLDEF works to push transgender causes through the public education system, public policy, litigation, and legal services. ^{16 17}

1. “2022 Grants.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grants/category/all/
2. “Grant Summary.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grant-summary/
3. “Origins.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/origins/
4. “Grants Made in 2023.” The Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grants/category/all/.
5. The Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/.
6. “Origins.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/origins/
7. “Origins.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/origins/
8. “Origins.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/origins/
9.  “2022 Grants.” Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grants/category/all/
10. Houston Keene. “Dance Company Featured in Jill Biden’s Christmas Video Promotes ‘Prison Abolition,’ Defund the Police’ Groups.” Fox News. December 14, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dance-company-featured-jill-bidens-christmas-video-promotes-prison-abolition-defund-police-groups
11. “Grants Made in 2023.” The Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grants/category/all/.

12. “Ending Displacement.” Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, March 5, 2021. https://anhd.org/issue/ending-displacement.

13. “Grants Made in 2023.” The Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grants/category/all/.

14. “All Programs.” CASES, August 27, 2021. https://www.cases.org/all-programs/.

15. “Mission.” CASES, September 1, 2022. https://www.cases.org/about/mission/#!

16. “Grants Made in 2023.” The Hyde and Watson Foundation. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://hydeandwatson.org/grants/category/all/.

17. “TLDEF – Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund – Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc..” TLDEF – Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund – Transgender Legal Defense And Education Fund, Inc., January 17, 2024. https://transgenderlegal.org/.