The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation concentrates its support on cultural heritage and history institutions, demonstrated by a single large grant to the New York Historical Society. Its giving appears oriented toward preserving and promoting historical collections, public history programming, and major museum operations in New York. The foundation gives at a high dollar level to a small number of established cultural institutions rather than distributing many small grants.
Focus Areas
Museum support for historical collections and exhibitions (New York Historical Society)Public history and historical education programmingPreservation and stewardship of cultural heritage in New York State
Who They Fund
young scholars/students (Gardiner Young Scholar recipients)named-award or fellowship recipientsconference attendees/sector professionals
Giving Approach
Highly concentrated: very large single grants to established cultural institutions (one high-value award rather than many smaller or diversified grants).
About Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation
ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC is based in Riverhead, NY. It reported $14,614,055 in annual grants and $115,085,424 in total assets on its latest 990 on file for 2025. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking is concentrated in New York, with 93% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and NY listed as the state where it gives most often. Recent grants show a strong emphasis on cultural heritage, history institutions, and museum-related preservation work. Named grantees include NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, which received $1,500,000 in 2025; COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY, which received $500,000 in 2025; and FIREBOAT FIRE FIGHTER MUSEUM, which received $452,150 in 2024. Other large grants include ROSLYN LANDMARK SOCIETY at $422,276 and COOPER UNION FOR THE ADV OF SCIENCE at $392,000. The foundation’s typical grant size is uneven, with a p25 of $1,600, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $68,500. Its recent awards include institutional support, endowment-related funding, and major grants for preservation and public history work. The overall pattern is a small number of large awards alongside many smaller grants, mostly to established cultural and historical organizations in New York.
What Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funds
Recent grantmaking spans museum support for historical collections and exhibitions, public history and historical education programming, and preservation and stewardship of cultural heritage in New York State. Notable grants include NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY at $1,500,000 for a 2024 grant award, FIREBOAT FIRE FIGHTER MUSEUM at $452,150, and ROSLYN LANDMARK SOCIETY at $422,276. Other recent awards went to COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY at $500,000, COOPER UNION FOR THE ADV OF SCIENCE at $392,000, and LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY at $350,000. The foundation also supports conservation treatment, public humanities programming, and historic preservation through programs tied to museums, historical organizations, and related institutions.
How Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Gives
The ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC gives at widely varying levels. Its typical grant size ranges from $1,600 at the 25th percentile to $10,000 at the median and $68,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards show much larger grants to selected institutions, including $1,500,000, $500,000, and several $250,000 to $392,000 grants. The foundation funds individuals and supports scholarships for Long Island museum professionals, as well as institutional grants for nonprofit cultural and historical work. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including conservation grants, general grant categories, technical assistance grants, and conference scholarships.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.4M
Total Assets
$115.1M
Total Revenue
$9.5M
Total Expenses
$9.6M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $2K and $69K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$69K
Geographic Reach
Local9 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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matching/challenge grantsscholarship/grant awards (Gardiner Young Scholar)endowment supportsponsorship for events/conferencesmulti-year or recurring grant awards
Notable grantees: New York Historical Society
Topics
youth scholarship/young scholars programnamed fellowships/awardsconference or convening supportendowment-building/capital supportchallenge-match fundraising
Where Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Makes Grants
ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC gives most often in NY, which also accounts for 93% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Its geography is local, with activity concentrated in Long Island, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and New York City. Recent grants also include recipients in Brooklyn, Greenport, Roslyn, Cold Spring Harbor, Brookville, Greenvale, Long Island City, Mill Neck, and New York, NY. Outside New York, the recent grant list includes PBS FOUNDATION in Arlington, VA; NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION in Washington, DC; THE HISTORY MAKERS in Chicago, IL; and Mystic Seaport Museum Inc in Mystic, CT. The recipient country distribution shows all grants in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions About Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation
Does ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. Several active programs are listed as accepting unsolicited requests, including the Conservation Grant Program, Museum Professional Scholarships, General Grant Categories, Structural Stabilization & Restoration / Adaptive Reuse Grants, Long Island Public Humanities Opportunity, Sacred Sites Fund support, Conservation Treatment Grants, and Technical Assistance Grants.
What does ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC typically fund?
Its recent and active grantmaking covers museum support for historical collections and exhibitions, public history and historical education programming, conservation treatment, preservation supplies, structural stabilization, adaptive reuse, public humanities programming, and technical assistance for historic resources. It also supports scholarships for Long Island museum professionals.
How much does ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC give per grant?
Typical grant size is $1,600 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $68,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include much larger grants such as $1,500,000 to NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY and $500,000 to COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY.
Where does ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC make grants?
It is based in Riverhead, NY, and gives most often in New York. Ninety-three percent of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent activity is concentrated in Long Island, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and New York City, with additional grants in CT, IL, VA, and DC.
Who has ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC funded recently?
Recent large grants went to NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY for $1,500,000, COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY for $500,000, FIREBOAT FIRE FIGHTER MUSEUM for $452,150, ROSLYN LANDMARK SOCIETY for $422,276, and COOPER UNION FOR THE ADV OF SCIENCE for $392,000. Other recent recipients include LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, PBS FOUNDATION, and MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM INC.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Mar 5, 2027Award: Up to $100K
RDLGF Exhibitions and Education Grants
New York State historyExhibitionsEducation
Who can apply: Applicants must fit the Foundation's published interests and provide the required institutional match based on organizational budget. Up to 20% of matching funds may be in-kind. The Foundation does not fund research, existing staff salaries, indirect costs, property purchase, lobbying, fundraising, prior expenses, insurance, debt, or interest.
Deadline: Spring cycle deadline March 5, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; fall cycle deadline August 6, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.
Historic preservationAdaptive reuseNew construction+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must have raised all funds needed by the deadline, with no reliance on promised or projected funding. All permits and written bids must be available at submission. Applicants must apply to the New York Preservation League or relevant Sacred Sites partner before applying to RDLGF. A full match is required.
Deadline: Spring cycle deadline March 5, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; fall cycle deadline August 6, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.
RDLGF Cataloguing, Digitalization, Conservation of Objects and Collections Care Grants
New York State historyCataloguingDigitalization+2 more
Who can apply: Applicants must fit the Foundation's published interests and provide proof of the required institutional match: 25% for institutional budgets under $250,000; 50% for budgets over $250,000 to $500,000; 75% for budgets over $500,000 to $1 million; and a full match for budgets over $1 million. Up to 20% of matching funds may be in-kind. Requests for research, existing staff salaries, indirect costs, property purchase, lobbying, fundraising, prior expenses, insurance, debt, or interest are not awarded.
Deadline: Spring cycle deadline March 5, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; fall cycle deadline August 6, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.
Structural Stabilization & Restoration / Adaptive Reuse Grants (category within General Grants)
Historic preservationStructural stabilizationRestoration+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must have raised all funds needed by the application deadline; promised or projected funding is not sufficient. Required permits and written bids must be in place. Applicants must first apply to the New York Preservation League or, for houses of worship, the NY Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites program. A full match is required, and construction recipients must allocate approximately $1,500 for periodic inspections.
Deadline: Spring cycle deadline March 5, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; fall cycle deadline August 6, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.
General Grant Categories (RDLGF Institutional Grants)
Cataloguing and digital imagingConservation of objectsCollections care+13 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be nonprofit organizations qualifying as 501(c)(3) organizations for at least three years. Historical societies, historians, anthropologists, academic institutions, museums and similar organizations may apply. Applicants must have submitted final reports for previously completed Gardiner Foundation grants. Organizations must demonstrate organizational and financial capacity, a clear project plan, community and cultural relevance, and project sustainability. Buildings owned by a municipality or other third party require a current stewardship agreement, contract or lease of at least 10 years. No more than two proposals may be submitted by one organization in a year. Structural stabilization/restoration and adaptive reuse applicants must have raised all required funds, apply to the relevant Foundation partners first, and have permits and written bids in place.
Open nowAward: $3K – $10K
Support for Preserve New York (Preservation League / NYSCA)
Historic structure reportsBuilding condition assessmentsCultural landscape reports+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a unit of local government or not-for-profit with tax-exempt status. State agencies and religious institutions are ineligible under Preserve New York. RDLG provides additional support specifically for Nassau and Suffolk projects.
New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Fund (RDLGF-supported)
Sacred sites preservationRoofing, drainage, masonry, structural repairsStained glass repair and professional services (surveys, plans, engineering)
Who can apply: Property must be located on Long Island, owned by a religious institution actively used for worship, and listed on the State or National Register of Historic Places or designated by a certified local landmarks ordinance. Grants not available for work already in contract or completed.
NYSCA / Preservation League – Preserve New York (RDLGF provides supplemental support in Nassau & Suffolk)
Historic structure reportsBuilding condition assessmentsCultural landscape reports+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a unit of local government or a not-for-profit with tax-exempt status; state agencies and religious institutions are not eligible under Preserve New York (note: RDLGF provides additional support for projects in Nassau & Suffolk).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Deadline: Spring cycle deadline: March 5, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Fall cycle deadline: August 6, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Grants are reviewed twice per year.
