Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-3733418

Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEW YORK, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 28 grants totaling $7K.

Financial Overview

From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$7K

+40.0% YoY

Grant Count

28

+55.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$267.393

-10.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $50 for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEW YORK, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 28 grants totaling $7K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+2 more states

Cities

BecketBrant LakeBrooklynCarbondaleDurhamGreenvilleHyde ParkManchester CenterNew YorkPalm DesertPalm SpringsQueensSarasotaShort HillsSt PetersburgTampaWashingtonWilliamstownYonkers

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2K$4K$6K$8K2020202120222023
Metric202320222021
Total Assets$1,499$392
Revenue$6,004$6,501$4,000
Expenses$7,503$5,394$4,385
Qualifying Distributions$7,487$5,346$4,288
Net Investment Income$1
Distributable Amount$50$41$38

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2K$4K$6K$7K22 grants202010 grants202118 grants202228 grants2023

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2023

CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE$2KJACOB'S PILLOW DANCE$1KWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN$1KLINCOLN CENTER THEATRE$406TEMPLE EMANUEL STREICKER…$360CITY CENTER ENCORES$285UNTERMYER GARDENS CONSER…$200MUSEUM OF MODERN ART$198AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGE…$180UNITED HATZALAH$180

Grant Size Distribution

78 grants across all recorded years

78<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Central Synagogue ($2,007), Jacob's Pillow Dance ($1,410), World Central Kitchen ($1,200).

RecipientPurposeAmount
TEMPLE EMANUEL STREICKER CENTER NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$360
PBS CHANNEL THIRTEEN NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$10
NEW YORK CITY BALLET NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$119
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$198
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$175
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL USE$1,200
JACOB'S PILLOW DANCE BECKET, MAGENERAL USE$1,410
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$61
CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$2,007
LINCOLN CENTER THEATRE NEW YORK, NYGENERAL USE$406

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

From 2023 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
GAYLE MILLERDIRECTOR3

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc?

Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEW YORK, NY. It holds — in total assets as of 2023.

Where does Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc operate?

Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Vermont.

What size grants does Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc award?

In 2023, Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc awarded 28 grants totaling $7K — an average of about $267.393 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $50 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's EIN?

Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3733418. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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