Design Corps supports the vital role that design can play in addressing critical issues and needs of communities. Through the Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) initiative, Design Corps provides communities, institutions and design professionals with the tools and services they need to integrate community-engaged processes into design activities, leading to projects that reflect a community's values and cultural identities. Public inclusion as a "best practice" in design is...
Homepage - What's New
- Position Vacancy for Assistant Controller
- Pratt Center Report Recognizes Brooklyn Navy Yard As National Model for Economic Development
- Surdna Foundation Announces Appointments of Four New Staff Members
- Leticia Peguero Named Executive Director of Andrus Family Fund and Andrus Family Philanthropy Program
- Let Us Build Cully Park! Eco-District Approach to Community Rebuilding
Our Mission & History
Our Mission
The Surdna Foundation seeks to foster sustainable communities in the United States -- communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies, and thriving cultures.
For over five generations, the Foundation has been governed largely by descendants of John Andrus and has developed a tradition of innovative service for those in need of help or opportunity.
Our History
The Surdna Foundation was founded in 1917 by John Emory Andrus to pursue a range of philanthropic purposes.
John Andrus was born in 1841 in Pleasantville, New York, graduated from Wesleyan University and soon moved from teaching school to pursuing his talents as a an investor and a businessman. His primary business, the Arlington Chemical Company, manufactured and distributed typical medicines of the day, and his business interests included large land holdings as far away as Alaska.
[Learn more about the history of the Andrus family and the start of the Surnda Foundation in this video. Please note, there is no sound with this video.]
The son of a Methodist minister, Mr. Andrus was a lay leader of the Methodist Church. In his 60s, he was elected mayor of Yonkers, New York, and then served four terms in the U.S. Congress. A devoted family man, he founded the Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial in 1923, an orphanage that was a tribute to his beloved wife, an orphan herself, at the site of her adoptive family’s farm in Westchester County New York. The orphanage was later joined in 1953 by an adjacent retirement home, the John E. Andrus Memorial. This completed Andrus’ expressed wish that his legacy provide communities with “opportunity for youth and rest for old age.”
Family stewardship of the Foundation has been informed by Mr. Andrus’ values: thrift, practicality, modesty, loyalty, excellence, and an appreciation for direct service to those in need. In 1989, the third and fourth generations of the Andrus family established Surdna Foundation programs in environment and community revitalization and decided to enlarge the professional staff to broaden the Foundation’s effectiveness, and in 1994, programs in effective citizenry and the arts were added. Today, the foundation seeks to foster sustainable communities in the United States—communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies, and thriving cultures.
Board & Staff
Directors and Officers
- Bruce Abernethy
- Elizabeth H. Andrus
- John E. Andrus III, Chairman Emeritus
- Judy Belk
- Peter B. Benedict II, Vice Chairperson
- Thomas H. Castro
- Carra Cote-Ackah
- Jocelyn Downie
- Lawrence S.C. Griffith, M.D.
- John F. Hawkins
- Kelly D. Nowlin
- Josephine Lowman, Chairperson
- Michael S. Spensley, D.V.M.
- Gwen Walden
Staff
- Sharon L. Alpert, Senior Director, Programs and Strategy
- Grace Bodden, Receptionist
- Helen Chin, Program Officer, Sustainable Environments
- Alison Corwin, Program Officer, Sustainable Environments
- Marc de Venoge, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
- Gabby Dizon, Senior Program Associate, Strong Local Economies
- Shawn Escoffery, Program Director, Strong Local Economies
- Amara Foster, Senior Program Associate, Sustainable Environments
- Jose García, Program Officer, Strong Local Economies
- Jessica Garz, Program Officer, Thriving Cultures
- Jonathan Goldberg, Director of Grants Management and Information Systems
- Phillip Henderson, President
- Beth Herz, Associate Program Officer
- Adriana Jiménez, Grants Manager
- Michelle Knapik, Program Director, Sustainable Environments
- Elizabeth Mendez Berry, Program Officer, Thriving Cultures
- Amy Morris, Program Officer, Strong Local Economies
- Tuere Randall, Executive Assistant to the President
- Judilee Reed, Program Director, Thriving Cultures
- Christina Rupp, Senior Program Associate, Thriving Cultures
- Rosecarmel Sarver, Human Resources and Administrative Manager
Code of Ethics
Board and Staff of the Surdna Foundation are committed to being responsible, transparent and accountable stewards of the public trust. We are committed to fulfilling our mission with personal and professional integrity – working with colleagues in supportive and fair relationships, avoiding conflicts of interest and complying with the spirit and letter of applicable laws. We recognize and act upon our obligations to multiple stakeholders: the donor and the donor's family, grantees and grantseekers, the public and governmental bodies.
The Foundation has established the following to support ethical conduct:
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Our Stated Approach to Grantmaking
We are interested in fostering catalytic, entrepreneurial programs, which offer viable solutions to difficult systemic problems. We seek high-quality, direct-service programs that advance our philanthropic goals.
more >>Responsible Stewardship
The Foundation manages its funds responsibly and prudently...
more >>Whistleblower Policy
As beneficiaries of the public trust and stewards of the legacy of our founder, John E. Andrus, the Surdna Foundation should represent the pinnacle of sound financial, auditing and foundation management standards and practices. As such, the Foundation's Directors, Officers and Staff must comply with the laws and regulations applicable to private foundation and must faithfully implement the Foundation's own policies and procedures. This is particularly true with regard to matters and controls that affect the Foundation's finances, audits, and governance.
more >>Measuring Success
Surdna is committed to measuring its effectiveness, where possible and within reasonable costs, to ensure high quality in the Foundation's grantmaking and other processes and to chart our progress in pursuing our goals.
more >>Conflict of Interest Policy
We acknowledge that due to the privilege of tax exemption, we have an obligation to adhere to the highest ethical standards and must continually earn the "public trust." We also acknowledge allegiance to the heritage of John E. Andrus, a man of high ethical standards.
more >>Inclusiveness and Diversity
In all aspects of its business activities and employment practices, it is the policy of the Foundation to provide equal opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
more >>Contact Us
Surdna Foundation
330 Madison Ave., 30th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 557-0010 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Surdna Foundation is located at the corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street, one block from Grand Central Terminal.
New York, NY 10017
(212) 557-0010 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Surdna Foundation is located at the corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street, one block from Grand Central Terminal.
Related Projects Static
In addition to the Surdna Foundation, the Andrus family has long been involved in other philanthropic endeavors. Here you can find information on those that are closely related to the Surdna Foundation.
Andrus Family Fund
Andrus Family Philanthropy Program
Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation
John E. Andrus Memorial
Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial
Phone 212 557 0010