Colton Family Foundation
The Colton Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 and based in Short Hills, New Jersey. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on strategic philanthropic giving across multiple sectors including higher education, Jewish organizations, medical research, and the arts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$75.7M
-15.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.0M
+14.9% YoY
Grant Count
47
+30.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$361K
-12.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Colton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on:
- Autoimmune Disease Research — A primary focus area shaped by personal experience, with significant commitments to advancing scientific understanding and treatment of autoimmune conditions
- Higher Education — Support for educational institutions and scholarship programs
- Jewish Organizations and Causes — Longstanding commitment to Jewish philanthropy
- Medical Research — Broader support for medical and scientific research initiatives
- The Arts — Including arts education and training programs
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public application process. Grants are awarded by invitation only at the discretion of foundation trustees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$21,000 to $60.0 million
Average Grant
$410,456
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus is national (all U.S. states) and international, with particular emphasis on Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $75.7 million
- Total giving: $17.0 million
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total assets: $90 million
- Total liabilities: $0
- Revenue: $1.8 million
- Expenses: $14.9 million
Tax Status:
- EIN: 22-2520918
- Tax-exempt since May 1984
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $75,743,717 | $89,981,416 | $102,598,309 |
| Revenue | $3,368,597 | $1,802,074 | $30,791,518 |
| Expenses | $17,069,841 | $14,851,352 | $6,405,960 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $17,005,526 | $14,796,876 | $5,834,125 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,632,279 | $2,305,075 | $41,297,517 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,489,109 | $5,197,678 | $4,831,579 |
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
225 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Pennsylvania ($12,333,000), Yale University ($1,260,000), American Friends of Tel Aviv Univ ($1,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PETS IN NEED REDWOOD CITY, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $55 |
| CMBC INC CHATTANOOGA, TN | UNRESTRICTED | $100 |
| GOWANUS CANAL CONSERVANCY BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $100 |
| WEILL CORNELL NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $100 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $105 |
| STOCKBRIDGE BOWL ASSOC STOCKBRIDGE, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $122 |
| CHILDREN'S BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $150 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION NORTHERN NJ PARAMUS, NJ | UNRESTRICTED | $185 |
| FEED ISRAEL BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $360 |
| MOUNTAIN RIDGE FOUNDATION WEST CALDWELL, NJ | UNRESTRICTED | $400 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Stewart M. Colton — Co-founder and trustee; entrepreneur and former owner of Alpha Metals Co.; Wharton graduate (class of 1962)
- Judith S. Colton — Co-founder and trustee; psychologist, teacher, and founder of Hartwood Systems computer consulting firm
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEWART M COLTON | FOUNDATION M | 1 | — |
| JUDITH S COLTON | FOUNDATION M | 1.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several significant recent grants and initiatives:
**Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Penn Medicine** — Received a $50 million gift to establish a scientific collaboration hub focused on autoimmune disease research
Colton Center for Autoimmunity Consortium - Main**NJPAC Arts Initiative** — Provided a $10 million donation to support the Colton Institute for Research and Training in the Arts at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, benefiting arts education and training programs in Newark
NJPAC Launches Colton Institute for Research and Training in the ArtsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Colton Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on: • **Autoimmune Disease Research** — A primary focus area shaped by personal experience, with significant commitments to advancing scientific understanding and treatment of autoimmune conditions • **Higher Education** — Support for educational institutions and scholarship programs • **Jewish Organizations and Causes** — Longstanding commitment to Jewish philanthropy • **Medical Research** — Broader support for medical and scientific research initiati…
How do I apply for a grant from Colton Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: Approximately $17.0 million • Grant range: $21,000 to $60.0 million • Average grant size: $410,456 • In 2024, the foundation distributed approximately $17 million across 47 awards **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public application process. Grants are awarded by invitation only at the discretion of foundation trustees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. **Approach:** The foundation's leadership takes a highly …
Where does Colton Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus is national (all U.S. states) and international, with particular emphasis on Israel.
What size grants does Colton Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Colton Family Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $17.0M — an average of about $361K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Colton Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Colton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Colton Family Foundation's EIN?
Colton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2520918. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Colton Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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