Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020
BLAVATNIK FAMILY FOUNDATION 2020 is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Its website says the Blavatnik Family Foundation supports science, education, arts and culture, and history, including research and cultural institutions and organizations caring for marginalized people. The 2021 filing is marked as the organization’s final return, so the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Key facts about Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020
In short: Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 gave $62.7M across 50 grants in 2022 (avg $1.3M), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 85-1345780
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022
- Annual giving (2022)
- $62,743,235
- Grants made (2022)
- 50
- Average grant
- $1,254,865
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (79% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$62.7M
-44.5% YoY
Grant Count
50
-58.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.3M
+32.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 reported a distributable amount of $437K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 gives
- 40% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says it believes science, education, arts and culture, and history can improve the human condition. Its stated guiding principles include supporting early-stage scientific research with potential to affect human health, building long-term partnerships, and supporting talented people and institutions.
The 2022 grants illustrate support for scientific research, education, performing arts, Jewish community causes, sports, and preservation of historical materials. For example, the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation describes its own mission as providing dance performances, training and education, and community programs; Birthright Israel Foundation says it raises funds for educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults; and Americans for Oxford says it supports educational programs and institutions. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
The foundation’s website describes the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund as investing globally in organizations focused on education, arts and culture, and criminal justice reform, particularly organizations led by and benefiting affected populations.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 18% to New York, and 2% to Illinois; the reported share for Washington, DC was 0%. The foundation’s website says the Social Justice Fund invests in organizations around the globe.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 50 itemized 2022 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $62.7M (2022) to $113.1M (2021). In 2022 it made 50 grants totaling $62.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was National Philantropic Trust ($49.0M). Together the top 10 received $60.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 169 (53%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Philantropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | Support for Various Philanthropic Causes | $48,981,285 |
| The New York Academy of Science New York, NY | Support for SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE | $5,200,917 |
| WMG BFF Social Justice Fund New York, NY | support for organizations around the globe that build more just and equitable communities and create real change in the lives of historically under-served and marginalized people | $1,408,000 |
| American Fdn of the Imperial War Mu Chicago, IL | support for the preservation of art, film, photographic material and personal stories related to war. | $1,404,610 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation New York, NY | Supports Travel to Israel | $1,000,000 |
| Colel Chabad Brooklyn, NY | Support for Jewish Community | $636,250 |
| ALVIN AILEY DANCE FOUNDATION Inc New York, NY | Support for the art of dance | $550,000 |
| American Ballet Theater New York, NY | Support for the Performing Arts | $500,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Support for Education | $500,000 |
| Maccabi World Union Inc New York, NY | Support FOR Sports ACTIVITIES | $330,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $65,220,111 | $178,400,895 | $113,180,784 | $113,132,608 |
| 2022 | Not provided | $14,146 | $65,234,257 | $62,743,235 |
The 2022 filing reports 50 grants.
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $65,220,111 |
| Revenue | $14,146 | $178,400,895 |
| Expenses | $65,234,257 | $113,180,784 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $62,743,235 | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | $178,391,895 |
| Distributable Amount | $437,253 | $6,149,624 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2022
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Sigmund D. Heller and Alexander Blavatnik as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Sir Leonard Blavatnik as founder and Lady Emily Blavatnik as co-chair. It also lists Alex Blavatnik and Sir Michael Pakenham as senior advisors, Peter Thoren as executive vice president and head of family office, and Lisa Shields as executive vice president.
Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's 2022 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Alexander Blavatnik
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Sigmund D Heller
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: C/O Access Inc 40 West 57Th St 28Fl, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 247-6400
Website: https://blavatnikfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020
How much does Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 give each year?
Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 gave $62.7M across 50 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $113.1M across 119 grants.
What is Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's typical grant size?
Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's median grant in 2022 was $50,000, and its average grant was $1,254,865, across 50 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 give grants?
Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (22 grants), Brooklyn, NY (7 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 50 grants with a stated purpose on Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for education" (3 grants) and "Support for the Jewish Community" (3 grants).
Who are Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's largest grantees?
Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's largest 2022 grantees include National Philantropic Trust ($48,981,285), The New York Academy of Science ($5,200,917) and WMG BFF Social Justice Fund ($1,408,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
What does Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 fund?
The foundation’s website says it believes science, education, arts and culture, and history can improve the human condition. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 reported a distributable amount of $437K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's EIN?
Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1345780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2022.
Does Blavatnik Family Foundation 2020 accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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