Bernard and Anne Spitzer
Bernard and Anne Spitzer is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports 213 grants totaling $55,583,747 to charitable organizations and institutions, with examples spanning environmental work, democracy, education, health, and the arts.
Bernard and Anne Spitzer at a glance
In short: Bernard and Anne Spitzer gave $55.6M across 213 grants in 2024 (avg $261K), top state District of Columbia. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $55,583,747
- +39.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 213
- +23.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $260,957
- +12.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $326,694,856
- -19.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (62 of 213, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (30% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bernard and Anne Spitzer
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing directs applicants to contact fund managers and provide a description of the charitable organization and its purpose under the specified sections of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are restricted to qualifying exempt organizations organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.
- Contact
Application contact: Fund Managers
Mailing address: 555 Madison Ave 18Th Floor, New York, NY 10022-3300
Phone: (212) 757-5462
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bernard and Anne Spitzer funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jeremy Hannelore Grantham Envir Tru ($10.0M). Together the top 10 received $23.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
893 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 468 grants of 893 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing reports that 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Washington, DC (30%), Massachusetts (27%), and New York (24%), followed by California (10%) and Virginia (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 213 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bernard and Anne Spitzer open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 62 of 213 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $256K; repeat grants $263K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 176% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $39.8M (2023) to $55.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 213 grants totaling $55.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Hannelore Grantham Envir Tru Boston, MA | Environmental Protection | $10,000,000 |
| Clean Air Task Force Boston, MA | General Purposeclean Industrial Technology Campaign State Climate Policy | $2,750,000 |
| JDRF New York, NY | General Purpose | $1,700,000 |
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | Anne & Bernard Spitzer Endowment Fund | $1,650,000 |
| Neo Philanthropy New York, NY | State Infrastructure Fund | $1,500,000 |
| Multiplier San Francisco, CA | Clean Grid Initiative | $1,500,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors New York, NY | Cgre: state courts programthe platform for agriculture and climate | $1,200,000 |
| The Public Theater New York, NY | Free Shakespeare in the Park | $1,100,000 |
| Third Way Institute Washington, DC | Pathways to Accelerating Clean Energyclimate and Energy Program | $1,000,000 |
| Educational Alliance Inc New York, NY | General Purpose | $1,000,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $326,694,856 | $7,549,481 | $73,996,877 | $55,583,747 | 213 | $57,879,658 | — | $32,820,544 |
| 2023 | $403,894,894 | $29,922,110 | $58,528,656 | $39,802,900 | 172 | $42,184,338 | $14,307,996 | $33,275,848 |
| 2022 | $445,765,691 | $11,619,208 | $57,405,401 | $41,825,371 | 164 | $44,011,704 | — | $33,221,276 |
| 2021 | $506,519,468 | $35,284,395 | $55,981,066 | $41,699,423 | 181 | $43,696,351 | $23,013,014 | $32,732,551 |
| 2020 | $543,937,606 | $17,565,686 | $55,890,875 | $42,366,409 | 163 | — | $5,285,259 | $32,115,139 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard and Anne Spitzer reported a distributable amount of $32.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for environmental protection and clean-energy work, election-related organizations, a natural history museum, a health organization, and cultural and educational institutions.
Among its grantees, Clean Air Task Force describes its mission as advancing technology and policy for a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost. The American Museum of Natural History says its mission is to develop and share knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through research and education. NEO Philanthropy describes its work as supporting movements for justice by connecting changemakers and funders and directing resources to groups accelerating change. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 213 grants totaling $55,583,747. Grant amounts ranged from $247 to $10,000,000, with a median of $25,000.
The largest reported grants included $10,000,000 to Jeremy Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust for environmental protection; $2,750,000 to Clean Air Task Force; $1,700,000 to JDRF for general purposes; $1,650,000 to the American Museum of Natural History for the Anne & Bernard Spitzer Endowment Fund; and $1,500,000 each to NEO Philanthropy and Multiplier. Other notable grants included $1,200,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, $1,100,000 to The Public Theater, and $1,000,000 each to Third Way Institute and Educational Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Emily Spitzer, Daniel Evan Spitzer, and Eliot L. Spitzer as trustees. It lists Sara C. Kay as CEO and Maya Yael Jakubowicz as COO.
Bernard and Anne Spitzer is led by Sara C. Kay, CEO on every filing since 2020; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sara C. Kay
CEO
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$636K (2020) → $550K (2024)
Daniel Evan Spitzer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eliot L. Spitzer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Spitzer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maya Yael Jakubowicz
COO
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $226K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Anne Spitzer (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dana C. Newberry (2022–2023) — COO
- Former: Dana C. You (2020–2021) — COO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $550K, to Sara C Kay (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bernard and Anne Spitzer
How much does Bernard and Anne Spitzer give each year?
Bernard and Anne Spitzer gave $55.6M across 213 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $39.8M across 172 grants.
What is Bernard and Anne Spitzer's typical grant size?
Bernard and Anne Spitzer's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $260,957, across 213 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bernard and Anne Spitzer that year got $256K on average.
Where does Bernard and Anne Spitzer give grants?
Bernard and Anne Spitzer's top state is District of Columbia, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (27%) and New York (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (56 grants), New York, NY (42 grants), Brooklyn, NY (15 grants) and Boston, MA (6 grants).
Does Bernard and Anne Spitzer give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of Bernard and Anne Spitzer's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (167 of 213) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bernard and Anne Spitzer's largest grantees?
Bernard and Anne Spitzer's largest 2024 grantees include Jeremy Hannelore Grantham Envir Tru ($10,000,000), Clean Air Task Force ($2,750,000) and JDRF ($1,700,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bernard and Anne Spitzer?
Bernard and Anne Spitzer reported $326.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bernard and Anne Spitzer fund?
The available filing does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for environmental protection and clean-energy work, election-related organizations, a natural history museum, a health organization, and cultural and educational institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bernard and Anne Spitzer?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bernard and Anne Spitzer's EIN?
Bernard and Anne Spitzer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7298842. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bernard and Anne Spitzer funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-and-anne-spitzer-morg_565925063d374b76bc20a2197ddf7902
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_137298842_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bernard and Anne Spitzer funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bernard-and-anne-spitzer-morg_565925063d374b76bc20a2197ddf7902},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bernard and Anne Spitzer's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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