The Tiffany and Co. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation whose agenda includes granting money to left-of-center causes including coral and wildlife preservation, urban park support, and environmentally friendly mining.¹ The Foundation is closely tied to the jewelry company of the same name, and most of the top executives at the foundation are employees of the jewelry company.²

Background

The Tiffany and Co Foundation, founded in 2000, primarily serves as a provider of funds to various groups that work for stricter environmental regulations and policies. The Foundation possesses over $16,000,000 in assets, and the grants it gives range from $6,000 to $5,000,000.³

The four types of groups to which it donates fall under the categories of “Responsible Mining”, “Coral Conservation”, “Urban Parks”, and “Excellence in Design.”⁴ Recently, however, the Foundation has slowed down and now ceased its grants to the “Excellence in Design” program, which previously included donations to organizations such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Orlando Museum of Art.⁵ Grants given by the foundation currently focus on left-wing, ideologically driven movements like global warming. Notable groups that Tiffany and Co. Foundation donated to include Skytruth, The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, Earthworks, Trout Unlimited, The Coral Reef Alliance, the National Forest Foundation, and the Native American Rights Fund.⁶

People

The Foundation is tightly linked to the luxury jewelry retailer, and was founded to “focus the company’s philanthropic endeavors.”⁷ Because of this, the top people at the Foundation also have prominent roles at the jewelry company. Anisa Kamadoli Costa, the President of Tiffany and Co. Foundation, is also the Chief Sustainability Officer at Tiffany and Co.⁸ Leigh Harlan, a Director at the Foundation, is also a senior vice president at Tiffany and Co.⁹ Michael Kowalski, also a Director at the Foundation, is currently the Chairman of the Board at Tiffany and Co¹⁰.

The Foundation is funded through private donations, as well as being heavily supported by Tiffany and Co.

Finances

COVID-19

In 2020, Tiffany & Co. Foundation pledged $750,000 to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and $250,000 to the New York City COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund.¹¹

1. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | About the Foundation. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/about/.
2. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | About the Foundation. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/about/.
3. Pardon Our Interruption. Accessed July 25, 2017. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-4096178.
4. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | Grants | 2016. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/grants/.
5. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | Grants | 2016. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/grants/.
6. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | Grants | 2016. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/grants/.
7. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | About the Foundation. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/about/.
8. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | About the Foundation | Anisa Kamadoli Costa, Chairman and President. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/about/bio_akcosta.aspx.
9. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | About the Foundation | Leigh M. Harlan, Director. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/about/bio_lharlan.aspx.
10. The Tiffany & Co. Foundation | About the Foundation | Michael J. Kowalski, Director. Accessed July 25, 2017. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/about/bio_mjkowalski.aspx.
11. The CEO Magazine. “Tiffany & Co. Pledges US$1 Million towards Fight against Coronavirus.” The CEO Magazine. The CEO Magazine Our talented editorial team brings a wealth of experience to the inspiring stories you read in The CEO Magazine., April 28, 2020. https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/philanthropy/tiffany-co-foundation-covid/.