The Threshold Foundation is a nonprofit and membership organization funding a variety of left-of-center causes. Based in Katonah, New York, the foundation’s president is Joan Briggs. ¹

History and Causes

Threshold Foundation was founded in 1981 after 21 individuals formed a membership organization for wealthy progressive philanthropists interested in donating their money towards various left-progressive causes. The foundation’s membership is not disclosed but includes activists, left-wing nonprofit leaders, and wealthy donors to progressive causes. The membership gathers on a near monthly basis to administer the grantmaking process through Funding Circles, or groups focusing on specific causes. Prominent members have reportedly included the late Alan Rabinowitz, a writer and left-wing philanthropist, and Bokara Legendre, a television personality and left-wing activist. ^{2 3 4}

Recent efforts, as of 2020, focused on racial reconciliation efforts, election, children’s issues, left-wing documentary films, immigration reform, land and global warming issues, Middle East politics, community organizing, and research into psychedelic drugs. ⁵

Activism

Threshold Foundation lobbied U.S. and international financial institutions to stop providing financial services to projects deemed by “environmentally harmful” activists. Board president Terrence Meck, in a press release, said, “As investors we need to remind banks and investment managers that we are passionate about environmental protection. ⁶

Funding

Threshold Foundation has not released an annual report since 2017. ⁷

According to 2018 tax filings, Threshold Foundation raised $2,550,000 and possessed over $4 million in assets, according to tax filings in 2018. ⁸

In 2017, efforts within the foundation focused on issues related to global warming, agriculture, progressive filmmaking, Middle East politics, and community organizing. Through grantmaking, over $2 million in grants ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 to numerous left-progressive organizations such as Amazon Watch; As You Sow; Center for Health, Environment, and Justice; Earth Rights International; Earthworks; Friends of the Earth; New Energy Economy; San Juan Citizens Alliance; Taxpayers for Common Sense; Center for Food Safety; Sustainable Economies Law Center; Climate Justice Alliance; New Economy Coalition; Public Laboratory for Open Science and Technology; and Emergent Fund. ²

Philanthropy efforts in 2016 focused upon the issues of agriculture, progressive filmmaking, criminal justice reform and racial reconciliation, and community organizing. The foundation distributed over $1.5 million in grants ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 to organizations such as Amazon Watch; Center for Food Safety, Sustainable Economies Law Center, Gathering for Justice, Earthworks, Friends of the Earth, New Energy Economy, Partnership for Policy Integrity, and the New Economy Coalition, among others. ⁹

Efforts in 2015 were focused on agriculture, global warming, progressive filmmaking, community organizing, and criminal justice reform. Over $1.5 million was distributed in grants ranging from $1,000 to $40,000 to organizations such as Center for Food Safety; Friends of the Earth; Sustainable Economies Law Center; Amazon Watch; Carbon Tax Center; Center for Health, Environment, and Justice; Partnership for Public Integrity; Taxpayers for Common Sense; Sightline Institute; Climate Justice Alliance; New Economy Coalition; and the Institute for Policy Studies among others.

People

Joan Briggs is Threshold Foundation’s director. Prior to joining the Threshold Foundation, she was director of the Fink Family Foundation and chief administrator of Marshall Street Management. She holds a graduate degree from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s from SUNY Purchase. ¹⁰

Terrence Meck is the board president of Threshold Foundation. He is also founder and president of the Palette Fund, a nonprofit focused on grantmaking to healthcare organizations serving minorities. He has held public relations roles at Gucci and M. Shanken Communications, which owns Wine Traveler and Cigar Aficionado. He holds a bachelor’s from Princeton University. ¹¹

1. Threshold Foundation. “Contact Us”. Accessed December 12, 2020. https://www.thresholdfoundation.org/contact-us/
2. Threshold Foundation. ”2017 Annual Report”. Accessed December 13, 2020 https://www.thresholdfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2017_Threshold_AnnualReport_20180411_150.pdf
3. NCRP. “Remembering Alan Rabinowitz”. National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. December 01, 2017. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://www.ncrp.org/2017/12/remembering-alan-rabinowitz.html
4. IRS Form 990-F. Threshold Foundation. Accessed December 13, 2020. http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990pf_pdf_archive/576/576151065/576151065_200112_990PF.pdf
5. Threshold Foundation. “Grants”. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://www.thresholdfoundation.org/grants/
6. Threshold Foundation. ”Threshold Foundation Challenges Banks on Dakota Access Pipeline and Other Dirty Energy Projects”. December 27, 2017. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SndOCqKJ8f8q93Lbki31L-h-7fA2Qsb8/view
7. Threshold Foundation. ”Annual Reports”. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://www.thresholdfoundation.org/about-us/annual-reports/
8. IRS Form 990 2018. Threshold Foundation. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/133/028/2018-133028214-17044976-9.pdf?_ga=2.160793533.1806475360.1607963916-1384191206.1607963916
9. Threshold Foundation. “2016 Annual Report”. Accessed December 14, 2020. https://www.thresholdfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2016_Threshold_AnnualReport_20180411.pdf
10. LinkedIn. ”Joan Briggs”. Accessed December 13, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-briggs-b5331a95/
11. LinkedIn. ”Terrence Meck”. Accessed https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrence-meck-2b48426/