General Info

The Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, Inc was incorporated in 1943 as a private, family foundation. The Foundation's donors had wide ranging philanthropic interests and the Foundation's original giving guidelines were defined broadly: grants were to be used for charitable, scientific or educational purposes. The Foundation's areas of interest have evolved over the years and are now more narrowly defined. Current areas of funding include economic development, education, civil legal services, criminal justice, reproductive rights, and the environment. In most program areas, the Foundation seeks to fund both direct services programs and advocacy efforts. The Foundation's support for direct services programs is limited to those operating in New York City.