Mission
The Eisner Foundation identifies, advocates for, and invests in high-quality and innovative programs that unite multiple generations for the enrichment of our communities. Our competitive grantmaking is generally confined to organizations with 501(c)3 status in Los Angeles County and New York City with intergenerational efforts.
History
The Eisner Foundation was started in 1996 by Michael D. Eisner, then-Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and his wife Jane in order to focus their family’s philanthropic activities.
The Eisner Foundation continues a long tradition of family philanthropy that dates back to Sigmund Eisner, Michael’s great-grandfather, and Milton Dammann, his maternal grandfather. The Sigmund Eisner Company in Red Bank, New Jersey—at the time, the largest uniform manufacturer in the United States—provided all of the official uniforms for the Boy Scouts of America for decades.
It was this line of work that helped inform and solidify Sigmund’s interests in the needs of children. Milton Dammann was the president of American Safety Razor and founded the Dammann Foundation. Almost a century later, Michael has continued to utilize his professional success to fulfill his family’s desire to help those in society who are at-risk.
The Eisner Foundation gives an estimated $8-10 million per year to nonprofit organizations based in Los Angeles County, and starting in 2022, New York City. The Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence recognizes national organizations with innovative programs that bridge multiple generations in our communities. In 2015, The Eisner Foundation became the only U.S. funder investing exclusively in intergenerational solutions.