The Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 in New York. The foundation was founded by Paul Milstein and family. Paul Milstein was the President of Milstein Properties, a leading developer of residential and commercial real estate properties whose investments in large-scale developments pioneered the revival of New York City's Upper West Side near Lincoln Center in the 1960s.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.4M
+56.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+16.1% YoY
Grant Count
19
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds IRC Section 170(c) organizations, which are public charities. Its grantmaking focuses on:
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Education
- Religion-Related causes
The foundation has demonstrated particular support for cultural institutions, historical organizations, and educational institutions.
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $1,000 to $494,348.
Grant Range
$21,500
Average Grant
$39,700
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily in New York, with additional activity in Florida and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $14,292,485
- Total Revenue: $1,134,527
- Total Expenses: $919,135
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $22,373,239
- Total Giving: $1,056,350
The foundation has no employees and operates as a family foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,373,239 | $14,292,485 | $14,001,663 |
| Revenue | $9,149,453 | $1,134,527 | $915,836 |
| Expenses | $1,068,699 | $919,135 | $641,644 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,057,100 | $910,598 | $635,383 |
| Net Investment Income | $999,453 | $834,488 | $611,336 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,531,073 | $1,224,129 | $1,208,798 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Whitney Museum of American Art ($275,000), University of Miami ($200,000), Lehrman Community Day School Inc ($140,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $7,000 |
| LEHRMAN COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL INC MIAMI BEACH, FL | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $140,000 |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ARTS INC NEW YORK, NY | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $25,000 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHICA, NY | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $35,000 |
| THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIESIRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $125,000 |
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $12,500 |
| FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER NEW YORK, NY | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $12,650 |
| NEW YORK CITY CENTER INC NEW YORK, NY | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $100,000 |
| BABY2BABY LOS ANGELES, CA | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $10,000 |
| SERPENTINE AMERICAS FOUNDATION DALLAS, TX | IRC SEC. 170(c) ORGANIZATIONS - PUBLIC CHARITIES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Barbara Zalaznick – Trustee
- David Zalaznick – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID ZALAZNICK | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| BARBARA ZALAZNICK | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's name is associated with two significant cultural initiatives:
**Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize in American History** – Awarded annually by the New York Historical Society to recognize outstanding works in American history. Recent recipients include Jonathan Eig for *King: A Life* (2024) and John A. Farrell for *Richard Nixon: The Life* (2018).
John a. Farrell to Be Awarded New-York Historical Society\u2019s 2018 \**Barbara & David Zalaznick Reading Series** – Hosted at Cornell University, featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning authors and literary works across various genres. The series has been held in both fall and spring semesters.
Pulitzer Prize-winning authors featured in Fall 2018 Barbara & David ZalaznickContact Information
Address: 335 Madison Avenue, Floor 15, New York, NY 10017-4631
Phone: 212-708-0296
EIN: 13-3921831
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds IRC Section 170(c) organizations, which are public charities. Its grantmaking focuses on: • Arts, Culture & Humanities • Education • Religion-Related causes The foundation has demonstrated particular support for cultural institutions, historical organizations, and educational institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 16 grants in recent years • Median grant size: $21,500 • Average grant size: $39,700 • Total giving: $634,600–$1,056,350 (varies by reporting year) **Recent Grants (2023):** • New York Historical Society: $125,000 • New York City Center: $100,000 • Cornell University: $33,300 **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $494,348.
Where does Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily in New York, with additional activity in Florida and Texas.
What size grants does Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation award?
In 2024, Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation's EIN?
Barbara and David Zalaznick Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3921831. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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