Grantees

"People don't want aid. They want a life, they want respect, they want the opportunity to show how good they are."

Francine A. LeFrak
A cohort of the Operation Hope Launch & Grow program in Harlem
grantees

Meet Our Grantees

We build strong connections with our partners. Each grantee is selected based on 
Access to opportunities for those they serve, 
The quality of their programs, 
Their ability to track their impact, and 
Their alignment with the Foundation’s mission.

GRANTEES & programs

Funded Programs With Our Grantees

Program

Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being

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

Wellness
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Barnard College

Program

Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Financial Fluency Program and Certificate

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.

Financial Fluency
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Barnard College

Program

The Ethel S. LeFrak ’41 and Samuel J. LeFrak Theatre

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.

Arts
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Barnard College

Program

LeFrak-Friedberg USA Scholars Program

Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study in the United States. 

Education
LOCATION

Global

Grantee

Bridge2Rwanda

Program

LeFrak-Friedberg Africa Scholars Program

Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study throughout Africa. 

Education
LOCATION

Global

Grantee

Bridge2Rwanda

Program

LeFrak Friedberg Tools of the Trade Fund

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.

Training
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations

Program

The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Creative Entrepreneur Program

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.

Education
LOCATION

New York, Los Angeles, Chicago

Grantee

Entertainment Community Fund

Program

Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Emergency Microgrants

The Foundation provides grants that enable FIT students to continue and complete their education.

Education
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Fashion Institute of Technology

Program

Same Sky Scholars

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. 

Education
LOCATION

Rwanda, Africa

Grantee

FAWE School

Program

Same Sky University Scholars

The Same Sky Foundation provides scholarship support for young women to study S.T.E.M. at university.

Education
LOCATION

Rwanda, Africa

Grantee

FAWE School

Program

Grace Institute Micro-Grant Fund

The Grace Institute empowers low-income women in New York City to become employed and economically secure.

Training
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Grace Institute

Program

Infrastructure

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. 

wellness
LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

Grantee

Harvard Kennedy School

Program

Small Business Incubator for Women Artisans

Indego Africa, our on-the-ground partner, supports women in Rwanda through economic empowerment, training and education.

Training
LOCATION

Rwanda, Africa

Grantee

Indego Africa

Program

Barbie®: A Cultural Icon

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.

Arts
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Museum of Arts and Design

Program

Francine A. LeFrak Wellness Center

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.

wellness
LOCATION

Kearny, NJ

Grantee

New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation

Program

Same Sky Foundation Micro-Grant Fund

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.

Workforce Development
LOCATION

Kearny, NJ

Grantee

New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation

Program

Commercial Driving License (CDL) Training Initiative

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.

Training
LOCATION

Kearny, NJ

Grantee

New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation

Program

Women in Technology

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.

Training
LOCATION

New York, NY

Grantee

Per Scholas

Program

COVID-19 Food Insecurity

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

wellness
LOCATION

Queens, NY

Grantee

The Food Bank for New York City

program

LeFrak-Friedberg Africa Scholars Program

Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study throughout Africa. 

Education
LOCATION

Global

grantee

Bridge2Rwanda

program

Barbie®: A Cultural Icon

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.

Arts
LOCATION

New York, NY

grantee

Museum of Arts and Design

program

Same Sky University Scholars

The Same Sky Foundation provides scholarship support for young women to study S.T.E.M. at university.

Education
LOCATION

Rwanda, Africa

grantee

FAWE School

program

Commercial Driving License (CDL) Training Initiative

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.

Training
LOCATION

Kearny, NJ

grantee

New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation

program

The Ethel S. LeFrak ’41 and Samuel J. LeFrak Theatre

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.

Arts
LOCATION

New York, NY

grantee

Barnard College

program

Same Sky Foundation Micro-Grant Fund

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.

Workforce Development
LOCATION

Kearny, NJ

grantee

New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation

program

The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Creative Entrepreneur Program

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.

Education
LOCATION

New York, Los Angeles, Chicago

grantee

Entertainment Community Fund

program

Francine A. LeFrak Wellness Center

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.

wellness
LOCATION

Kearny, NJ

grantee

New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation

program

COVID-19 Food Insecurity

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

wellness
LOCATION

Queens, NY

grantee

The Food Bank for New York City

program

Same Sky Scholars

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. 

Education
LOCATION

Rwanda, Africa

grantee

FAWE School

program

Small Business Incubator for Women Artisans

Indego Africa, our on-the-ground partner, supports women in Rwanda through economic empowerment, training and education.

Training
LOCATION

Rwanda, Africa

grantee

Indego Africa

program

Women in Technology

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.

Training
LOCATION

New York, NY

grantee

Per Scholas

program

Grace Institute Micro-Grant Fund

The Grace Institute empowers low-income women in New York City to become employed and economically secure.

Training
LOCATION

New York, NY

grantee

Grace Institute

program

Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Emergency Microgrants

The Foundation provides grants that enable FIT students to continue and complete their education.

Education
LOCATION

New York, NY

grantee

Fashion Institute of Technology

program

LeFrak Friedberg Tools of the Trade Fund

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.

Training
LOCATION

New York, NY

grantee

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations

program

LeFrak-Friedberg USA Scholars Program

Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study in the United States. 

Education
LOCATION

Global

grantee

Bridge2Rwanda

program

Infrastructure

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. 

wellness
LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

grantee

Harvard Kennedy School