OVERVIEW: The Rise8 Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to educational, medical, and humanitarian causes.
IP TAKE: This funder prefers a proactive giving approach rather than supporting unsolicited applications. Grants are few, but sizable. For interested grantseekers, high-level networking will be necessary here and a deep alignment with past giving. The foundation lacks a website and transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.
PROFILE: The Rise8 Foundation was established in 2008. It was founded by Erica and Feroz Dewan, a financier who’s worked for Teach For America, as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and later started a family-owned real estate investment company. Feroz ran the Public Equity funds at Tiger Global Management and became CEO of Arena Holdings Management. Feroz Dewan graduated from Princeton University.
The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. According to tax filings, the Rise8 Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to educational, medical and humanitarian causes.
Grants for STEM Higher Education
The Dewans have also directed seven-figure sums to Teach for America, where Erica once worked. Dewan studied engineering and mathematics at Princeton and the family also has an interest in STEM education.
Grants for Community Development and New York City
Dewan serves as chair of the board of Character Lab, a Philadelphia nonprofit that uses “psychological science to help children thrive.” Erica is also a board member of the nonprofit, which recently received a seven-figure gift from the couple via their foundation.
- Other seven-figure sums have gone to Teach for America, where Erica once worked. Dewan studied engineering and mathematics at Princeton and the family has an interest in STEM education, supporting Liberty Science Center, Khan Academy, and Code.org.
- Grantees also include KIPP New York, The Posse Foundation, and Singapore American School Foundation.
Important Grant Details
Grants range widely from $1,000 to $1.11 million with an average grant size of about $50,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $19 million.
- This funder gives very few grants, but when it does give, grants can be sizable.
- The Rise8 Foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Rise8 Foundation
119 Fifth Ave, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10003
