Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye
The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation is a private foundation established in 1995 and located in Garden City, New York. The foundation was founded by the late Danny Kaye, an actor, singer, and comedian known for films including "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "White Christmas," and "Hans Christian Andersen," and Sylvia Fine Kaye, a lyricist who played a direct role in managing her husband's career and wrote many of his songs for both film and recordings.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
-24.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$885K
-24.2% YoY
Grant Count
10
-28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$88K
+6.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye reported a distributable amount of $122K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for the arts, health, human services, and international affairs. Specific funding interests include dance nonprofit organizations and musical instruments.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity showing 21 grants made in 2023. Recent notable grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. Specific cities where the foundation has supported work include Alexandria, Altadena, Basalt, Bethany, Los Angeles, New York, Ojai, Pasadena, Valley Glen, and Woodbridge.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,400,260
- Total Revenue: $257,109
- Total Expenses: $1,218,656
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $44,594
The foundation has no employees and maintains no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,814,934 | $2,400,260 | $3,361,804 |
| Revenue | $338,761 | $257,109 | $127,576 |
| Expenses | $924,088 | $1,218,656 | $973,513 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $912,428 | $1,214,319 | $957,648 |
| Net Investment Income | $335,172 | $252,855 | $121,849 |
| Distributable Amount | $121,748 | $140,789 | $202,403 |
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
66 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Friends of Les Arts Florissants ($325,000), King Baudouin Foundation ($120,000), World Monument Fund ($112,200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LE KORSA BETHANY, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LES ARTS FLORISSANTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $325,000 |
| ART ARENA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CAF AMERICA ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $77,408 |
| DANCE DOWNTOWN LA INC LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRENCH HERITAGE SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $120,000 |
| VOCES DE LA FRONTERA MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| WORLD MONUMENT FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $112,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of directors including Dena Kaye, Richard Fallin, and Harry Davison. Richard Fallin receives compensation of $20,000, while other directors are not compensated.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENA KAYE | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| RICHARD FALLIN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $20,000 |
| HARRY DAVISON | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Baryshnikov Arts Center announced the naming of The Danny Kaye & Sylvia Fine Kaye Studio in recognition of the foundation's support.
Dance News: Baryshnikov Arts Center Announces Naming Of The Danny Kaye &The foundation has historically supported significant cultural institutions, including a $300,000 contribution toward the construction of the Danny Kaye Theater at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. The foundation has also supported The Arts Arena at The American University of Paris, Aspen Film, the Aspen Writer's Foundation, and the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College in New York.
Dance News: Baryshnikov Arts Center Announces Naming Of The Danny Kaye &Frequently Asked Questions
What does Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye fund?
The foundation gives primarily for the arts, health, human services, and international affairs. Specific funding interests include dance nonprofit organizations and musical instruments.
How do I apply for a grant from Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity showing 21 grants made in 2023. Recent notable grants include: • Charities Aid Foundation of America: $233,993 (General Support, 2023) • Baryshnikov Arts Center: $175,000 (General Support, 2023) • American Friends of Les Arts Florissants: $135,000 (General Support, 2023) Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $345,533. The foundation appears open to new applicants.
Where does Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. Specific cities where the foundation has supported work include Alexandria, Altadena, Basalt, Bethany, Los Angeles, New York, Ojai, Pasadena, Valley Glen, and Woodbridge.
What size grants does Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye award?
In 2024, Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye awarded 10 grants totaling $885K — an average of about $88K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye reported a distributable amount of $122K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye's EIN?
Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1283914. 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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