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    The Starr Foundation was established in 1955 by Cornelius Vander Starr, an insurance entrepreneur who founded the American International family of insurance companies, now known as American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG).  Mr. Starr, a pioneer of globalization, set up his first insurance venture in Shanghai in 1919.  He died in 1968 at the age of 76, leaving his estate to the Foundation.

 The Foundation currently has assets of more than $3 billion, making it one of the largest private foundations in the United States.   It makes grants in a number of areas, including education, medicine and healthcare, public policy, human needs and culture.

 Education has traditionally been the largest area of giving for the Foundation, because of Mr. Starr’s personal interest in providing scholarships to deserving students. The Foundation has endowed C.V. Starr Scholarship Funds at more than 60 colleges and universities and selected secondary schools.  Applications for an endowed scholarship fund are accepted from schools on an invitation-only basis.

 In addition, the Foundation funds organizations that provide need-based financial aid to students seeking to attend secondary and post-secondary schools. The Foundation does not award individual scholarships outside of those programs.

 In keeping with Mr. Starr’s international perspective and AIG’s international origins, the Foundation has funded a number of exchange programs over the years to encourage the education of U.S. students abroad and students from many other countries in the U.S.

 The Foundation also operates four scholarship programs that assist defined groups of students in their pursuit of post-secondary education.  Those groups include the children of American International Group employees, students who reside in Brewster, New York, where Mr. Starr lived, and students at a group of high schools in downtown New York City. 

 Medicine and healthcare have been increasingly important areas to the Foundation in recent years.  The Foundation’s grants in these areas are far ranging, including capital grants to hospitals, significant research grants and grants to assist in the provision of healthcare to under-served communities.  The Foundation does not provide funding for individual research projects and prefers to focus its funding of research projects at New York City hospitals and research centers.

 The Foundation’s giving in the area of human needs is increasing.  Over the years, the Foundation has made significant gifts to food programs for the poor, job training, literacy programs, programs for the disabled and programs that provide adequate housing for the underprivileged.  Outside of the tri-state area surrounding New York City, much of this giving has been done through community foundations.  The Foundation rarely funds local charities outside of New York City other than through such foundations or a national umbrella organization.

 In the area of public policy, the Foundation has concentrated its giving in the area of international relations and the promotion of democratic institutions around the world.

 In the area of culture, the Foundation has made significant grants since its inception both to large cultural institutions such as museums and to small, community-based groups providing special services to specific populations, such as the elderly and the disabled.  The Foundation funds cultural exchange organizations that further Mr. Starr’s interest in international relations and understanding.  The Foundation does not fund documentaries or film projects and will not fund individual artists.

 The Foundation does not have guidelines for grant seekers, other than the broad parameters set forth above, nor does it have deadlines.  The Foundation board meets regularly during the year and considers applications on a rolling basis.  Applications for multi-year grants, for general operating support and for capacity-building are accepted.

 There is no formal application, but the Foundation prefers to receive a cover letter setting forth the terms of the grant proposal, a budget for the particular project for which funding is sought, the grant seeker’s latest financial statements, a list of other major financial supporters (current or anticipated) and a list of the grant seeker’s board members (and their affiliations, if any). Grant applicants should include their most recent IRS Determination Letter.  The Foundation rarely funds overseas organizations without U.S. tax-exempt status.  Other information may be sent with the above material, but the Foundation prefers not to receive videotapes.

 Grant proposals may be directed to Florence A. Davis, President (florence.davis@starrfdn.org) or Gladys R. Thomas, Vice President

(gladys.thomas@starrfdn.org).  Administrative matters should be directed to Natasha Smotrov, Administrative Manager (natasha.smotrov@starrfdn.org)

 
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