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The Educational Foundation of America
The Educational Foundation of America was established in 1959 by Richard Prentice Ettinger and Elsie P. Ettinger. The couple built their fortune through...
The Educational Foundation of America
The Educational Foundation of America was established in 1959 by Richard Prentice Ettinger and Elsie P. Ettinger. The couple built their fortune through Prentice-Hall Publishing. Third-generation family members now oversee the foundation's board and operations. The foundation allocates across public equities, venture capital, and private investments with an impact lens. Holdings include commitments to DBL Partners III, DBL Partners IV, Generation IM Global Equity Fund, Illumen Capital II, and Just Climate CAF I. Confirmed positions also include exited holdings in Tesla, Nest, and SolarCity through early DBL funds. Capital deploys primarily in the United States with additional exposure to global sustainable strategies. The foundation employs 11 professionals and maintains an administrative office in Bethesda, Maryland. It participates in networks including Philanthropy New York, Mission Investors Exchange, Confluence Philanthropy, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. In February 2026 the foundation sponsored the virtual event Creative Power, Civic Purpose focused on arts and democracy. The foundation operates as a private family vehicle with direct family governance across three generations. This structure allows coordinated grantmaking and shareholder advocacy through vehicles such as Rhia Ventures without external LP constraints.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1959
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
PO Box 5016, New York, NY 10524, United States
Additional offices
Bethesda, MD, United States
Principals
Heidi Ettinger
President and Director
Wendy Ettinger
Vice President and Director
Bobbi Hapgood
Treasurer and Director
Christian Ettinger
Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at The Educational Foundation of America?
Heidi Ettinger serves as president and director. Wendy Ettinger, Bobbi Hapgood, and Christian Ettinger also sit on the board. External advisors include Godeke Consulting for impact investments and SRI Wealth Management for portfolio management.
How does The Educational Foundation of America source proprietary deal flow?
The foundation participates in impact-focused networks such as Mission Investors Exchange and Confluence Philanthropy. It maintains relationships with funds including DBL Partners and Illumen Capital.
Is The Educational Foundation of America structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
It functions as a private family foundation. The entity combines grantmaking with limited partner commitments to impact and venture funds rather than direct startup investing.
Does The Educational Foundation of America participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation acts primarily as a limited partner in funds such as DBL Partners III, DBL Partners IV, Generation IM Global Equity Fund, and Illumen Capital II.
What investment stages does The Educational Foundation of America typically target?
Commitments span early-stage venture through growth equity via fund vehicles. Public equity holdings provide additional liquidity and shareholder engagement opportunities.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The endowment originated from Richard Prentice Ettinger and Elsie P. Ettinger, co-founders of Prentice-Hall Publishing Company.
Does The Educational Foundation of America maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The foundation itself serves as the primary grantmaking vehicle. It also supports related entities including the Ettinger Foundation Inc. focused on education initiatives.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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