Brooklyn Benevolent Society
Brooklyn Benevolent Society is an independent private foundation based in Brooklyn, New York. Incorporated in 1845, the organization has a long history of philanthropic work in the region. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is classified as a private foundation under IRS regulations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.9M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$279K
+25.7% YoY
Grant Count
30
+15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+9.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brooklyn Benevolent Society reported a distributable amount of $290K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily focuses on supporting Roman Catholic education and assisting poor and needy persons in Brooklyn, New York. Primary funding areas include:
- Education (75% of giving)
- Religion (112% of giving)
- Social & Human Services (5% of giving)
- Health
- Community Development
Grantmaking
Applicants must submit a letter that includes a detailed description of the project and the amount requested. The application deadline is October 1.
Review Cycle
is October 1.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
74% of grants stay in New York. The foundation also makes grants to organizations in New Jersey, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa, though the primary geographic focus remains Brooklyn and New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,858,047
- Total Revenue: $177,485
- Total Expenses: $406,967
- Net Income: -$229,482
- Total Liabilities: $71,900
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $120,242
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $57,243
Year-over-Year Changes:
- Investment income decreased 0.7% from 2023
- Net gain from asset sales decreased 85.3% from 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,858,047 | $5,450,632 | $5,015,508 |
| Revenue | $177,485 | $511,348 | $225,286 |
| Expenses | $406,967 | $313,458 | $344,419 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $345,149 | $264,584 | $289,646 |
| Net Investment Income | $127,003 | $473,777 | $186,081 |
| Distributable Amount | $289,977 | $254,789 | $274,269 |
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
178 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hour Children ($20,000), Camp Fatima and Bernadette ($15,000), St Ignatius School ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF MOUNT ST URSULA BRONX, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| ALBERTUS MAGNUS HIGH SCHOOL BARDONIA, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,500 |
| BISHOP LOUGHLIN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL BROOKLYN, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| CAMP FATIMA AND BERNADETTE GILMANTON IRON WORKS, NH | SCHOLARSHIPS | $15,000 |
| CORNELIA CONNELLY CENTER NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,500 |
| CRISTO REY BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL BROOKLYN, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| CRISTO REY NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,500 |
| DE LA SALLE ACADEMY NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| DOMINICAN ACADEMY NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,500 |
| FAITH IN THE FUTURE BROOKLYN, NY | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: Cornelius Heeney
- Director/Secretary: Anisa Harka
- Agent/Trustee: Brian C Deane
- Treasurer/Trustee: Colin P Crowley
- Trustee: John G Ingram
- Vice President/Trustee: Patrick G Quin
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER M ALTMAN | TRUSTEE, PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| HON JOHN G INGRAM | TRUSTEE, VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| BRIAN C DEANE | TRUSTEE, TREASURER | 3 | $7,800 |
| WILLIAM B BICE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| THOMAS A CONNIFF | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| COLIN P CROWLEY | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| THOMAS E POWERS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PATRICK G QUINN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ANISA HARKA | SECRETARY/AGENT | 3 | $6,208 |
Contact Information
- Address: 137 Montague Street, Unit 420, Brooklyn, NY 11201-3548
- Phone: 718-624-0176
- Website: www.bksny.org
- EIN: 11-1661344
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since October 1958
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brooklyn Benevolent Society fund?
The foundation primarily focuses on supporting Roman Catholic education and assisting poor and needy persons in Brooklyn, New York. Primary funding areas include: • **Education** (75% of giving) • **Religion** (112% of giving) • **Social & Human Services** (5% of giving) • **Health** • **Community Development**
How do I apply for a grant from Brooklyn Benevolent Society?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $278,500 • Made 40 grants in the most recent year • Typical award range: $1,000–$20,000 **Recent Grant Examples:** • Hour Children: $20,000 (Scholarships) • St Saviour High School: $15,000 (Scholarships) • Camp Bernadette and Camp Fatima: $15,000 (Scholarships) • St. Ignatius School: $15,000 • Notre Dame School of Manhattan: $10,000 • Cristo Rey New York High School: $7,500 • Oratory of St Philip Neri: $10,000 • St. Agnes Roman Catholic Cathedral: $5,…
Where does Brooklyn Benevolent Society make grants?
74% of grants stay in New York. The foundation also makes grants to organizations in New Jersey, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa, though the primary geographic focus remains Brooklyn and New York State.
What size grants does Brooklyn Benevolent Society award?
In 2024, Brooklyn Benevolent Society awarded 30 grants totaling $279K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Brooklyn Benevolent Society required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Brooklyn Benevolent Society reported a distributable amount of $290K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Brooklyn Benevolent Society's EIN?
Brooklyn Benevolent Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-1661344. 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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