William E. Simon Foundation

The William E. Simon Foundation is a 501(c)3 private foundation named in honor of William E. Simon, a former businessman and government official. The grant-making body often gives to educational foundations and schools, Christian missionary groups and churches, and politically conservative groups, such as State Policy Network think tanks, or DonorsTrust. They also make contributions to social issue groups, such as poverty and homeless advocacy groups or shelters, medical foundations, among others.

In 2011, the William E. Simon Foundation reported $7,618,802 in revenue, $14,589,885 in expenses, and $97,321,827 in assets (fair market value).

Causes and Issues
"Named after its principal benefactor, the William E. Simon Foundation supports programs that are intended to strengthen the free enterprise system and the spiritual values on which it rests: individual freedom, initiative, thrift, self-discipline and faith in God."

The foundation is a supporter of the free market system, Christian morals and beliefs, choice in education, strengthening families with proper resources and skills, as demonstrated through a quote by the founder:


 * "The free enterprise system has blessed the United States of America with the greatest prosperity, the highest standards of living, and most important, the greatest individual freedom ever known to man. If we can preserve this system, we can look forward to turning over to our children and our children's children an America that is more productive, prosperous, and stronger economically, financially, morally and spiritually than the one we inherited."

In 2011, the William E. Simon Foundation reported $7,618,802 in revenue.

Grants Given
While the Foundation does give to charitable social organizations, universities and schools, its some of largest contributions to organizations or institutes from 2009 to 2011 have been:


 * 1. Morristown Medical Health Foundation: $9,438,948
 * 2. Philanthropy Roundtable: $2,230,500
 * 3. Witherspoon Institute: $1,800,000
 * 4. University of Rochester: $1,635,000

2009
Total grants payable in 2009 amounted to $7,976,851, which include, but are not limited to:


 * DonorsTrust, $150,000
 * American Enterprise Institute, $100,000
 * Children's Scholarship Fund, $750,000
 * Ethnics and Public Policy Center, $165,000
 * Endowment for Inner-City Education, $47,500
 * Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, $100,000
 * George Mason Law and Economics Center, $75,000
 * Heritage Foundation, $100,000
 * Hoover Institute, $275,000
 * Intercollegiate Studies Institute, $150,000
 * Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, $300,000
 * Pacific Research Institute, $75,000
 * Parents Television Council, $50,000
 * Philanthropy Roundtable, $350,000
 * University of Rochester/Simon School, $800,000
 * Witherspoon Institute, $900,000
 * Acton Institute, $100,000
 * Prison Fellowship Ministries, $83,333
 * Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, $667,000

2010
Their total grants amounted to $9,383,534 in 2010, and include, but are not limited to:


 * DonorsTrust, $150,000
 * Covenant House New Jersey, $247,620
 * Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, $395,000
 * Institute for American Values, $25,000
 * Hoover Institution, $255,000
 * Endowment for Inner-City Education, $222,500
 * Alliance for School Choice, $200,000
 * George Mason Law and Economics Center, $75,000
 * Institute on Religion and Public Life, $75,000
 * National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, $50,000
 * Heritage Foundation, $100,000
 * Hudson Institute, $15,000
 * Intercollegiate Studies Institute, $75,000
 * Parents Television Council, $55,000
 * Witherspoon Institute, $600,000
 * Americans for Tax Reform, $25,000.
 * Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, $100,000
 * Thomas B. Fordham Institute, $25,000
 * Philanthropy Roundtable, $400,500
 * Charter School Growth Fund, $250,000
 * University of Rochester, $400,000
 * Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, $100,000
 * Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, $3,100,000
 * Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy, $75,000

2011
Their total grants given in 2011 amount to $12,220,143, and include but are not limited to:


 * DonorsTrust, $150,000
 * Acton Institute, $2,500
 * Alliance for School Choice, $100,000
 * Archdiocese of Newark, $99,400
 * Association of American Educators Foundation, $125,000
 * Children's Scholarship Fund, $616,666
 * Civic Builders, $100,000
 * Covenant House New Jersey, $178,620
 * Ethics and Public Policy Center, $180,000
 * Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, $100,000
 * First Choice Women's Resource Center, $51,000
 * Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, $2,571,948
 * Good Grief, $110,000
 * Heritage Foundation, $225,000
 * Hoover Institution, $275,000
 * Hudson Institute, $15,000
 * Institute on Religion and Public Life, $75,000
 * Intercollegiate Studies Institute, $181,700
 * Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, $32,500
 * National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, $50,000
 * Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy, $75,000
 * Parents Television Council, $50,000
 * Philanthropy Roundtable, $1,480,000
 * Prison Fellowship Ministries, $83,333
 * Sound Body Sound Mind, $750,000
 * Student Sponsor Partners, $132,875
 * Taproot Foundation, $25,000
 * Thomas B. Fordham Institute, $25,000
 * University of Rochester, $435,000
 * Witherspoon Institute, $300,000
 * Women Rising, Inc., $50,000

Total Grants

 * 2010 Grants: $9,383,534
 * 2009 Grants: $7,976,851
 * 2008 Grants: $8,762,901
 * 2007 Grants: $7,802,039
 * 2006 Grants: $10,936,687
 * 2005 Grants: $7,929,789
 * 2004 Grants: $6,409,784

Education Grants

 * 2010 Grants: $3,641,825
 * 2009 Grants: $3,202,810
 * 2008 Grants: $4,023,655
 * 2007 Grants: $3,983,338
 * 2006 Grants: $6,059,636
 * 2005 Grants: $3,620,726
 * 2004 Grants: $3,090,941

Faith Grants

 * 2010 Grants: $1,558,575
 * 2009 Grants: $1,392,298
 * 2008 Grants: $1,796,834
 * 2007 Grants: $1,174,100
 * 2006 Grants: $1,030,000
 * 2005 Grants: $938,500
 * 2004 Grants: $949,500

Family Grants

 * 2010 Grants: $1,595,369
 * 2009 Grants: $1,761,243
 * 2008 Grants: $1,241,685
 * 2007 Grants: $1,432,601
 * 2006 Grants: $668,178
 * 2005 Grants: $782,686
 * 2004 Grants: $403, 945

There is not a separate grant category for groups with political purposes, but political think tanks such as Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Heritage Foundation, DonorsTrust, and more, are often listed the Form 990s as education, faith, and family grants, or they are simply listed as "other."

Board of Directors
William E. Simon Jr., co-chairman J. Peter Simon, co-chairman James Piereson, President Aimee Bloom, trustee Katie Morris, trustee Daniel L. Mosley, trustee Julie Simon Munro, trustee Leigh Porges, trustee Mary Streep, trustee William Wachenfeld, trustee

Additional Staff
Sara E. Fay Snider, Program Director Janice B. Riddell, Senior Program Officer Amy Tyler Allred, Program Officer Karen Parlock, Office Coordinator

Prizes
"The William E. Simon Prize in Social Entrepreneurship is awarded to an outstanding innovator, entrepreneur, or volunteer who has demonstrated the important role one person can have in improving the lives of others." 

"The William E. Simon Prize in Philanthropic Leadership is awarded to a prominent philanthropist who has taken great care in his or her charitable giving to ensure that his or her philanthropy supports causes and programs that not only have achieved positive results, but also, in the words on Andrew Carnegie, "help people to help themselves.""

Prize Program Advisory Board Source
 * Robert P. Buford - Chairman of the Board, Buford Foundation
 * John J. DiIulio Jr. - Frederick Fox Leadership Professor of Politics, Religion, and Civil Society, University of Pennsylvania
 * Edwin J. Feulner Jr. - President, Heritage Foundation
 * Michael Novak - George Frederick Jewett Chair in Religion and Public Policy, American Enterprise Institute
 * James Piereson - Trustee and Executive Director, John M. Olin Foundation
 * George P. Shultz - Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
 * J. Peter Simon - Co-Chairman, William E. Simon & Sons
 * William E. Simon, Jr. - Co-Chairman, William E. Simon & Sons
 * Mary Simon Streep - Director, William E. Simon Foundation
 * John M. Templeton, Jr. - President, John Templeton Foundation

Contact

 * Web: http://www.wesimonfoundation.org

140 East 45th Street, Suite 14D New York, NY 10017

T: (212) 661-8366 F: (212) 661-9450 E: info@wesimonfoundation.org