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We believe in being true partners with our grant recipients. We are working side by side, removing barriers, tracking progress, and changing lives. Founded in 2009, our work has focused on the marginalized, including those living in extreme poverty, who survived the Rwandan genocide, and those who have been in the justice system. Today, we impact thousands of women on an annual basis. The programs we invest in provide skill building including financial literacy, business, computers and technology, and artisanal skills. We also provide emergency micro-grants to remove barriers to each woman’s success.
The Foundation’s ultimate goal is to ensure that all individuals have access to the basic necessities and are equipped to achieve general economic stability to ensure their personal independence.
The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation prides itself in investing in people, on-the-ground organizations, and physical spaces that will aid in the fulfillment of its objective and will positively influence the enhancement of individuals’ talents.
We partner with like-minded organizations and foundations providing opportunities for training and education that leads to success and broad impact.
Provides workforce development opportunities for women and men throughout the world.
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Equipping women with resources and the confidence to make financially sound decisions.
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Building environments to foster healthy discourse amongst all voices.
Kirsten Sonnenberg, Jill Wierbicki Abrahams, Francine LeFrak, Blair Feldman, Sofia Orbegozo
We are a dedicated group of professionals united by a shared mission and a deep commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact through our foundation programs. Each team member brings specialized expertise and a hands-on approach, enabling us to operate with agility, intention, and care. By working closely with one another and with the communities we serve, we turn focused effort into outsized results.
Grants from the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation go to facilitate direct programs, remove barriers, and provide access to opportunities which will positively impact participants.
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Our approach to grant-making is hands-on and includes a considerable amount of due diligence to ensure that each organization identified is aligned with the Foundation’s mission.
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Located in The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being, this eight-week, peer-led program empowers students to master personal finance, including budgeting, investing, credit, and taxes.
The Francine A. LeFrak Center for Well-Being was established to serve as a centralized hub for all wellness-related initiatives, including programs and workshops
Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study throughout Africa.
In partnership with the Samuel J. and Ethel S. LeFrak Charitable Trust, Barbie®: A Cultural Icon charts the 65-year history of Barbie and the doll’s global impact on fashion and popular culture.
The Same Sky Foundation provides scholarship support for young women to study S.T.E.M. at university.
Providing CDL job training for court-involved individuals and veterans, preparing them for careers in commercial driving. It helps participants gain the skills needed to secure stable employment in the transportation industry.
Opened in 2024, this 240-seat venue is a versatile, accessible space hosting performances, lectures, and academic events, featuring modern technology, specialized lighting, and a sprung dance floor.
Utilizing Same Sky Micro-Grants to support men and women transitioning out of prison. Our program provides emergency support that prevents recidivism and increases longterm financial, community, and workforce success.
Helping arts professionals build second‑act businesses for financial stability. It offers courses, resources, and support to help performing artists explore, launch, and sustain entrepreneurial ventures.
The Francine A. LeFrak Wellness Center of New Jersey provides 1500 formerly incarcerated women in the Re-Entry Program access to medical, dental, and mental health care at no cost.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the FAL Foundation diverted from its typical mission to train, educate, and provide access to the arts by pivoting to address the more urgent issue at hand: wi
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a Pan-African women’s organization whose mission is to support girls and women to acquire education for development.
Indego Africa, our on-the-ground partner, supports women in Rwanda through economic empowerment, training and education.
We provide funding for more than 200 women to enroll annually to attend the Per Scholas as part of the Women in Tech Scholars Program.
The Grace Institute empowers low-income women in New York City to become employed and economically secure.
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The Foundation provides grants that enable FIT students to continue and complete their education.
The "tools of the trade" micro-grant funds are used to remove barriers and provide access to materials and equipment that BWI graduates require to pursue their careers.
Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study in the United States.
Harvard Kennedy School improves public policy and public leadership across the United States and around the world so that people can lead safer, freer, and more prosperous lives.
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A successful social entrepreneur, women’s rights advocate and philanthropist, Francine LeFrak founded a trade initiative, Same Sky, to help women who were invisible become visible through the dignity of work.
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