Falconwood Foundation Inc.

## Approach & Strategy

Falconwood Foundation Inc. is the personal philanthropic vehicle of Dr. Henry G. Jarecki, a prominent New York physician, psychiatrist, and commodities trader known for his wealth built through Mocatta Metals Corporation. Operating from 20 Gramercy Park South in New York City since 1988, this foundation is one of the most active small-to-midsize private foundations in the Granted database — making 142 grants totaling $3.38M in FY2024 alone.

Open to Applications: Unusually for a private foundation of this size and profile, Falconwood Foundation does NOT check the "preselected only" box and explicitly states "NO SET FORM; APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING EACH REQUEST." This is a genuinely accessible funder.

Thematic Identity: The foundation's giving reflects Dr. Jarecki's progressive values and specific personal connections: 1. Civil liberties and democracy — ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Drug Policy Alliance, GoodNation/One for Democracy 2. Reproductive rights — Planned Parenthood consistently 3. Environmental conservation — NRDC, Greenpeace, Wildlife Conservation Society 4. Criminal justice reform — Bard Prison Initiative, The Marshall Project 5. Healthcare and medical research — Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Undue Medical Debt, Yale School of Medicine 6. British Virgin Islands — UNITE BVI, YEP Foundation (Jarecki owns Guana Island BVI) 7. Education — Bard College, Khan Academy, Princeton, Institute of International Education

The Brightwater Fund receives $379K–$495K annually and appears to be a Jarecki-related regranting vehicle. WorkMoney Foundation received the largest single grant in FY2024 ($525K), signaling interest in economic justice/consumer advocacy.

Website: falconwoodfoundation.org is the confirmed correct foundation website.

## Funding Patterns

Annual Giving Volume: - FY2024: $3,378,953 (142 grants) - FY2023: $2,392,571 (130 grants) - FY2022: $3,053,940 (147 grants) - FY2021: $2,815,302 (124 grants) - FY2020: $5,612,663 (119 grants) — peak year

Grant Size Distribution (FY2024): - $500,000+: 1 grant (WorkMoney: $525K) - $100,000–$499,999: 5 grants - $25,000–$99,999: 30 grants - $5,000–$24,999: 57 grants - $500–$4,999: 49 grants - Median: $9,500

Contribution Sources: The foundation receives annual contributions ($3.3M in FY2024, $120K in FY2023) primarily from Dr. Jarecki and potentially related entities.

Asset Range: $0.66M–$5.4M over five years, highly variable due to matching contribution and distribution cycles.

## Peer Comparison

Key Differentiator: Falconwood's giving ratio is remarkable — distributing nearly 100% of its annual assets in grants. Dr. Jarecki appears to make new contributions each year to fund a matching level of grantmaking. This is unusual and reflects high philanthropic activity relative to endowment size.

## Recent Activity

FY2024 Highlights: - WorkMoney Foundation received $525,000 — the largest single grant in the foundation's recent history. WorkMoney is a consumer economic advocacy nonprofit founded by progressive donors. - The Brightwater Fund ($400K) and YEP Foundation BVI ($268K) remain consistent mega-grantees - ACLU ($107.5K), Planned Parenthood ($109K), and NRDC ($45K) continue as reliable core grantees - New additions: Galaxy Gives/Global Impact ($120K), Undue Medical Debt ($40K)

BVI Focus Continues: UNITE BVI ($60K) and YEP Foundation/Tortola ($268K) reflect Dr. Jarecki's personal connection to the British Virgin Islands through his ownership of Guana Island.

Grant Volume Growth: Number of grants grew from 119 (FY2020) to 142 (FY2024), indicating an expanding grantmaking portfolio.

Asset Normalization: After reaching $5.44M in FY2022 (following a $7.9M contribution), assets normalized to $3.9M in FY2024. The foundation operates as a flow-through vehicle: Jarecki contributes, foundation distributes.

IRS Mission Statement: The formal IRS mission still lists "supplying food and other supplies to the British Virgin Islands community" — an outdated description. The actual grantmaking is far broader.

## Application Tips

This foundation accepts applications. Falconwood Foundation explicitly invites inquiries and does not require a standard form.

1. How to apply: Send a detailed letter of inquiry with complete information about your organization, the program, budget, and funding request to:

> The Falconwood Foundation Inc. > 20 Gramercy Park South > New York, NY 10003 > Phone: (212) 984-1444

2. Best-fit thematic areas: - Civil liberties (ACLU-style work, voting rights, free press, democracy) - Reproductive rights (abortion access, reproductive healthcare) - Environmental conservation (climate, marine/ocean, wildlife protection) - Criminal justice reform (prison reform, bail, public defense) - Healthcare (cancer research, medical debt relief, psychiatric/drug policy) - International/BVI (British Virgin Islands humanitarian organizations particularly welcome) - Education (prison education, scholarships, online learning)

3. Grant size to request: The $9,500 median suggests a sweet spot of $10,000–$25,000 for new applicants. Established relationships may support $50,000–$100,000+. Major partners like Brightwater Fund and YEP Foundation receive $200K–$500K but appear to be insider relationships.

4. No deadline pressure: The foundation states no deadlines. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

5. Personal connection matters: Dr. Jarecki's personal interests (BVI, psychiatry, commodities, civil liberties) shape the portfolio. Research his background and connect your work to his known values.

6. Keep the inquiry comprehensive: The instruction to send "detailed information regarding each request" suggests a narrative-heavy approach rather than a form-based one. Include organizational history, program description, budget, and outcomes data.