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Also known as: C/O MARILYN CALISTER ANDERSEN TAX LLC
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Eileen Fisher Foundation is a private corporation based in NEW YORK, NY. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2006. The principal officer is Marilyn Calister Wtas LLC. It holds total assets of $7.9M. Annual income is reported at $2.7M. Total assets have grown from $4.4M in 2010 to $7.9M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 1 officer or trustee. Tax records are available from 2016 to 2024. The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, California and Massachusetts. According to available records, Eileen Fisher Foundation has made 133 grants totaling $1.4M, with a median grant of $5K. The foundation has distributed between $316K and $430K annually from 2020 to 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2021 with $430K distributed across 39 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $150K, with an average award of $11K. The foundation has supported 83 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in New York, Massachusetts, New Mexico, which account for 68% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 19 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Eileen Fisher Foundation (EIN 33-1113151), based in New York, NY and tax-exempt since May 2006, is a private independent 501(c)(3) foundation (NTEE "Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations / Private Independent Foundations"). Its flagship initiative is the Sustainable Fashion Program, which — per its own 990-PF narrative — is focused on research, development, and promotion of regenerative systems and design practices as the means for the development of a sustainable fashion industry. The foundation's public programming in 2025–2026 has pivoted heavily toward convenings and media rather than open grantmaking: its most visible output is "The Future of Clothing: Regenerative by Design," a five-day online summit featuring designers, farmers, and industry stakeholders, hosted by Eileen Fisher herself alongside environmentalist Paul Hawken. The theory of change is upstream and systems-level — it treats garment creation as a lever for positive environmental and community outcomes — which means the foundation prefers funding research, platform-building, and movement infrastructure (e.g., the 2022 Pentatonic grant that launched the Hey Fashion platform for textile waste) over direct-service or place-based nonprofits. Eileen Fisher is the sole listed trustee on recent 990-PFs and takes no compensation.
Per the 2024 Form 990-PF (fiscal year ending December 2024), the Eileen Fisher Foundation reported revenue of $770,161, expenses of $893,358, charitable disbursements of $752,319 (84.2% of total expenses), and total assets of $7,906,900 with zero liabilities. The 2024 payout ratio is approximately 9.5% of assets — well above the 5% IRS minimum — indicating active grantmaking and program spending. Revenue sources are diversified across interest ($106,546, 13.8%), dividends ($107,264, 13.9%), asset sales ($327,649, 42.5%), and other income ($228,702, 29.7%). The foundation has filed 990-PFs continuously from 2011 forward (15-year history). Historical giving has been concentrated among a small number of strategic partners in the sustainable-fashion and regenerative-agriculture space — documented grants include Pentatonic (Hey Fashion platform, 2022). Grant sizes vary widely but, given total charitable disbursements of $752K across what appears to be a small grantee list plus program/convening costs, core grants likely range from $25K–$150K.
| Foundation | Total Assets | Charitable Disbursements | Primary Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen Fisher Foundation | $7.9M | $752K (2024) | Sustainable/regenerative fashion | New York, NY |
| Patagonia Foundation (comparable focus) | Larger | Multi-million | Environmental / textiles | Ventura, CA |
| Laudes Foundation (global peer) | Much larger | $100M+ | Fashion labor + climate | Global |
| Peer private independent FDN (<$10M assets) | $5–10M | $400–700K | Varies | Various |
Within its narrow niche (regenerative fashion systems), the Eileen Fisher Foundation punches well above its asset size because of the founder's industry profile, convening power, and access to designer/supplier networks. In the broader <$10M-asset private independent foundation bracket, a 9.5% payout ratio is aggressive (most peers hover near 5–6%), and the zero-liabilities balance sheet signals a clean, self-funded entity. Against larger sustainable-fashion funders like Laudes or Patagonia's giving arm, Eileen Fisher operates as a focused, high-trust niche funder rather than a broad RFP program.
The most visible 2025–2026 activity is the "The Future of Clothing: Regenerative by Design" online summit, hosted in April and anchored by Eileen Fisher in conversation with Paul Hawken. The summit organizes themed days around regenerative design, supply chain transformation, and community reflection. Extended one-year access to the full video library is now available to purchase (free for students via email verification at info@efli-life.org), signaling a pivot toward media/education as a primary program lever. The 2024 Form 990-PF was filed on October 6, 2025 — the most recent available filing. In 2024 the foundation maintained ~$7.9M in net assets with no debt and continued active grantmaking at a 9.5% payout. No staff changes, board expansions, or new initiatives beyond the summit have been publicly announced as of April 2026. The website is primarily a summit landing page rather than a grant portal.
The Eileen Fisher Foundation does not operate an open RFP process and does not accept unsolicited grant applications via its website. Practical steps: (1) Confirm mission alignment narrowly — if your work is not in regenerative fashion, sustainable textiles, or supply-chain transformation, do not apply. The foundation's track record (Pentatonic/Hey Fashion) shows a preference for platform-building and systems-change work, not direct-service nonprofits. (2) Engage through the summit ecosystem first: attend convenings, contribute content, or propose a speaker/session to become visible to the foundation's network before asking for funding. (3) Warm introductions via Eileen Fisher LIFE (efli-life.org) or through summit speakers are the practical path — the sole listed trustee is Eileen Fisher, so relationship-building with the company's sustainability team is the access route. (4) Size asks in the $25K–$150K range based on historical patterns; larger asks should be structured as multi-year systems investments with clear metrics. (5) Emphasize regenerative (not just "sustainable") framing — the foundation's own language distinguishes regenerative design from harm-reduction, and proposals using the wrong vocabulary will read as off-strategy.
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Smallest Grant
$500
Median Grant
$5K
Average Grant
$11K
Largest Grant
$95K
Based on 39 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
The sustainable fashion program of the eileen fisher foundation is focused on research, development, and promotion of regenerative systems and design practices as the means for the development of a sustainable fashion industry. In 2022, eff funded pentatonic to create the hey fashion platform, which is dedicated to elevating the issue of textile waste in the fashion industry. Textile waste is a monumental problem systemic to the industry and as it is the end point of the traditional linear business models pervasive today, a major shift in the way it is handled is required for the transformation from to holistic, circular systems.
Expenses: $672K
Women together connect is an interactive live-stream experience designed for us to share our voices, draw on one another's strength and compassion, and uplift and encourage each other. Led by antoinette klatzky, women together host and moderator, ongoing connect sessions give us the chance to explore a variety of topics, share stories, connect with ourselves and others, and bring life-changing tools and insights into our daily lives.at each online connect event, we delve into discussions, interact in smaller groups via breakout rooms, and participate in large-group sharing and practices.
Expenses: $236K
Per the 2024 Form 990-PF (fiscal year ending December 2024), the Eileen Fisher Foundation reported revenue of $770,161, expenses of $893,358, charitable disbursements of $752,319 (84.2% of total expenses), and total assets of $7,906,900 with zero liabilities. The 2024 payout ratio is approximately 9.5% of assets — well above the 5% IRS minimum — indicating active grantmaking and program spending. Revenue sources are diversified across interest ($106,546, 13.8%), dividends ($107,264, 13.9%), asse.
Eileen Fisher Foundation has distributed a total of $1.4M across 133 grants. The median grant size is $5K, with an average of $11K. Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $150K.
The Eileen Fisher Foundation (EIN 33-1113151), based in New York, NY and tax-exempt since May 2006, is a private independent 501(c)(3) foundation (NTEE "Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations / Private Independent Foundations"). Its flagship initiative is the Sustainable Fashion Program, which — per its own 990-PF narrative — is focused on research, development, and promotion of regenerative systems and design practices as the means for the development of a sustainable fashion ind.
Eileen Fisher Foundation is headquartered in NEW YORK, NY. While based in NY, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 19 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen Fisher | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$7.9M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$7.9M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
133
Total Giving
$1.4M
Average Grant
$11K
Median Grant
$5K
Unique Recipients
83
Most Common Grant
$3K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Resource CenterHUMAN RIGHTS | Mamaroneck, NY | $3K | 2023 |
| Bold FoundationLOCAL | Chapel Hill, NC | $1K | 2023 |
| Presencing InstituteNEW ECONOMY | Cambridge, MA | $125K | 2023 |
| Omega InstitutePERSONAL DEVELOPMENT | Rhinebeck, NY | $50K | 2023 |
| Storydancer ProjectWOMEN | New Mexico, NM | $25K | 2023 |
| Hawaii Community FoundationENVIRONMENTAL | Honolulu, HI | $20K | 2023 |
| Riverkeeper IncENVIRONMENTAL | Ossining, NY | $20K | 2023 |
| Ramapo For ChildrenYOUTH EMPOWERMENT | Rhinebeck, NY | $20K | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood Hudson PeconicWOMEN | Smithtown, NY | $10K | 2023 |
| Scenic HudsonENVIRONMENTAL | Poughkeepsie, NY | $10K | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation Of AmericaWOMEN | New York, NY | $10K | 2023 |
| Women Moving MillionsWOMEN | New York, NY | $5K | 2023 |
| New York Women'S FoundationWOMEN | New York, NY | $5K | 2023 |
| Tides (Tides Network)HUMAN RIGHTS | San Francisco, CA | $5K | 2023 |
| Westchester Community FoundationLOCAL | Hartsdale, NY | $5K | 2023 |
| Women'S Funding NetworkWOMEN | San Francisco, CA | $5K | 2023 |
| Richard Michael PasserelliDISASTER RELIEF | Harrison, NY | $4K | 2023 |
| My Sister'S PlaceWOMEN | White Plains, NY | $3K | 2023 |
| Irvington PtsaLOCAL | Irvington, NY | $3K | 2023 |
| YwcaWOMEN | White Plains, NY | $3K | 2023 |
| Yes She CanYOUTH EMPOWERMENT | White Plains, NY | $3K | 2023 |
| Irvington Historical SocietyLOCAL | Irvington, NY | $2K | 2023 |
| Impact100 WestchesterWOMEN | Hartsdale, NY | $1K | 2023 |
| Creative Healing For Youth In Pain (Chyp)YOUTH EMPOWERMENT | Encino, CA | $1K | 2023 |
| Feeding WestchesterLOCAL | Elmsford, NY | $1K | 2023 |
| Hope And Resilience Long IslandWOMEN | Riverhead, NY | $1K | 2023 |
| Irvington Volunteer Ambulance CorpsLOCAL | Irvington, NY | $500 | 2023 |
| Irvington Police Benevolent AssociationLOCAL | Irvington, NY | $500 | 2023 |
| Irvington Fire DepartmentLOCAL | Irvington, NY | $500 | 2023 |
| Unitarian Universalist AssociationDONATION TOWARDS COVID RELIEF AND HOLDEEN INDIA PROGRAM | Boston, MA | $25K | 2022 |
| Omega Institute For Holistic StudiesSUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN HOLISTIC STUDIES | Rhinebeck, NY | $25K | 2022 |
| Story Dancer ProjectTO ADDRESS THE LACK OF WELLNESS EDUCATION AND RESOURCES LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY | Santa Fe, NM | $25K | 2022 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy AdvisorsANNUAL CHARITABLE GIVING | New York, NY | $10K | 2022 |
| Pachamama AllianceTO EMPOWER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST TO PRESERVE THEIR LANDS AND CULTURE | San Francisco, CA | $10K | 2022 |
| Kripalu Center For Yoga And HealthSUPPORT FOR THE HEALTH AND YOGA RETREAT | Stockbridge, MA | $10K | 2022 |
| Everyday People For ChangeTO CREATE ACTIONS OF COMPASSION, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE | Mobile, AL | $10K | 2022 |
| New York Abortion Access FundPROVIDE SUPPORT TO WOMEN UNABLE TO AFFORD ABORTIONS | New York, NY | $10K | 2022 |
| North Star FundSUPPORTS GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING LED BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BUILDING POWER IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | New York, NY | $10K | 2022 |
| Tonatierra Community Development InstituteTO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A CULTURAL EMBASSY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THAT WILL SUPPORT LOCAL-GLOBAL AND HOLISTIC INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES | Phoenix, AZ | $5K | 2022 |
| Westchester Community FundTO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS | Hartsdale, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| Tribal Link FoundationBUILDS PATHWAYS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO PROTECT ANCESTRAL WAYS OF LIFE, EVOKE SOLIDARITY AND ALLYSHIP, AND SHARE TRIBAL WISDOM | New York, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| Net ImpactINSPIRE AND EQUIP EMERGING LEADERS TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD | Oakland, CA | $5K | 2022 |
| The Tides FoundationTO SUPPORT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING FOR VITAL CAUSES | San Francisco, CA | $5K | 2022 |
| Maria I ForlinDISASTER RELIEF | Crotononhudson, NY | $4K | 2022 |