Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2023 IRS filing is marked as a final return, and the foundation stated that it decided to terminate because it was unable to raise charitable contributions to fund future giving. It therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc gave $7K across 28 grants in 2023 (avg $267.393), mostly in New York. 61% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $7,487
- +40.0% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 28
- +55.6% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $267
- -10.0% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $100
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (17 of 28, 2023)
- Primary geography
- New York (59% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The final filing stated that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations and listed any written application as the application material, with no restrictions on awards. These are filing instructions, not current application guidance, because the filing is marked final.
- Review Cycle
- None was listed on the final filing.
- Deadline
- None was listed on the final filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Ben Estelle Sommers Foundation
Mailing address: 150 West 56Th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 714-1710
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Central Synagogue ($2K). Together the top 10 received $6K.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 78 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 20% to Massachusetts, and 16% to Washington, DC. Smaller shares went to recipients in North Carolina (1%) and an unidentified state listed as “?” (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 17 of 28 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $88; repeat grants $545. How we count
Medians: $52 first-time, $198 repeat.
- 32% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 57% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2021) to $7K (2023). In 2023 it made 28 grants totaling $7K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Synagogue New York, NY | General Use | $2,007 |
| Jacob's Pillow Dance Becket, MA | General Use | $1,410 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Use | $1,200 |
| Lincoln Center Theatre New York, NY | General Use | $406 |
| Temple Emanuel Streicker Center New York, NY | General Use | $360 |
| City Center Encores New York, NY | General Use | $285 |
| Untermyer Gardens Conservancy Yonkers, NY | General Use | $200 |
| Museum of Modern Art New York, NY | General Use | $198 |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom New York, NY | General Use | $180 |
| United Hatzalah | General Use | $180 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $6,004 | $7,503 | $7,487 | 28 | $7,487 | — | $50 |
| 2022 | $1,499 | $6,501 | $5,394 | $5,346 | 18 | $5,346 | $1 | $41 |
| 2021 | $392 | $4,000 | $4,385 | $4,288 | 10 | $4,288 | — | $38 |
| 2020 | $777 | $6,000 | $5,652 | $4,758 | 22 | — | — | $67 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. The Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents art across times and cultures. American Friends of Magen David Adom describes itself as the U.S. fundraising and advocacy organization supporting Magen David Adom’s lifesaving work in Israel.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $7,487. Grant amounts ranged from $10 to $2,007, with a median of $100. The largest grants included Central Synagogue ($2,007), Jacob’s Pillow Dance ($1,410), World Central Kitchen ($1,200), Lincoln Center Theatre ($406), and Temple Emanuel Streicker Center ($360). The filing listed the purposes of these grants as “general use.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing listed Gayle Miller as director.
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc is led by Gayle Miller, Director on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Gayle Miller
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc
How much does Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc give each year?
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc gave $7K across 28 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $5K across 18 grants.
What is Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $100, and its average grant was $267, across 28 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc that year got $88 on average.
Where does Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc give grants?
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (20%) and District of Columbia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (19 grants).
Does Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Central Synagogue ($2,007), Jacob's Pillow Dance ($1,410) and World Central Kitchen ($1,200), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc?
The final filing stated that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations and listed any written application as the application material, with no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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Ben & Estelle Sommers Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?