David & Janet Polak Foundation
The David & Janet Polak Foundation is a private foundation established in 2014 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded by David and Janet Polak, the foundation leverages their success in the financial sector to support high-impact, sustainable change locally, nationally, and internationally. The foundation operates with no employees and maintains a strategic approach to philanthropic giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$70.4M
+0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-12.0% YoY
Grant Count
82
+2.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
-14.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David & Janet Polak Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
David and Janet Polak have dedicated much of their lives to charitable giving. The foundation focuses on identifying opportunities ripe for development and investing strategically to achieve desired outcomes. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Health and medical research
- Jewish community and values
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in supporting research institutions and medical advancement, with emphasis on recognizing crucial investment opportunities in emerging fields.
Grantmaking
The foundation has engaged in program-related investments, including:
Average Grant
amount varies by year
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- California
- New York
- District of Columbia
The foundation also supports institutions internationally, including in Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $70,259,797
- Total revenues: $4,905,865
- Total expenses: $5,496,971
- Number of employees: 0
Assets (2024):
- Total assets: $70,414,478
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $70,414,478 | $70,259,797 | $70,845,903 |
| Revenue | $4,815,059 | $4,905,865 | $5,241,349 |
| Expenses | $4,660,378 | $5,496,971 | $4,859,232 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,684,299 | $3,686,660 | $4,082,308 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,483,701 | $3,222,051 | $4,119,686 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,766,542 | $3,695,822 | $3,825,691 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Americans for Ben-gurion University Inc ($250,000), Friends of Elnet ($150,000), Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMCHA INITIATIVE SANTA CRUZ, CA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAELI NAVY SEALS INC NEW YORK, NY | in support of the education of nine qualified and deserving candidates | $35,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NATAL INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER INC LOS ANGELES, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHES NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $9,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TECHNION- ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $56,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY INC NEW YORK, NY | Israel's National Artificial Intelligence Resilien Laboratory | $250,000 |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT SANTA ANA, CA | Free Books to Teachers | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Directors:
- David Polak — Founder and Director; former chairman and chief investment officer of NWQ Investment Management Company
- Janet Polak — Founder and Director; community leader and former schoolteacher
Other Leadership:
- Jeff Polak — Director, President, Executive Director
- Jonathan Seltzer — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Polak | Dir | 1 | — |
| Janet Polak | Dir | 1 | — |
| Jeff Polak | Dir, Pres | 40 | $278,167 |
| Robert Polak | Dir | 1 | — |
| Jonathan Seltzer | Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Polaks' philanthropic legacy includes several major named initiatives:
**David and Janet Polak Foundation Stem Cell Core Laboratory** at Cedars-Sinai's Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute
Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors to Honor Janet and David Polak at 2014 Annual**Polak Family Memory Care Building** at the Los Angeles Jewish Home
**David and Janet Polak Center for Cancer Research and Vascular Biology** at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, led by Nobel laureate Aaron Ciechanover
Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors to Honor Janet and David Polak at 2014 AnnualThe foundation's support of Dr. Ciechanover's research exemplifies their strategic approach: they established the Janet and David Polak Professor of Life Sciences endowed chair in 1996, and eight years later, Dr. Ciechanover was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors to Honor Janet and David Polak at 2014 AnnualThe Polaks were honored at Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors' 2014 Annual Gala for their philanthropic contributions.
Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors to Honor Janet and David Polak at 2014 AnnualSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does David & Janet Polak Foundation fund?
David and Janet Polak have dedicated much of their lives to charitable giving. The foundation focuses on identifying opportunities ripe for development and investing strategically to achieve desired outcomes. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Health and medical research • Jewish community and values • Arts and culture • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in supporting research institutions and…
How do I apply for a grant from David & Janet Polak Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $2,334,600 (most recent filing) • Grants made in 2023: $2,139,000 • Typical award range: $500,000–$800,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Recent Grants:** • Barak Ballet Corporation: $200,000 (2023) — To develop and produce a live dance performance entitled "Memoryhouse" **Program-Related Investments:** The foundation has engaged in program-related investments, including: • BBI Medical: Loss from program-related investment to promote health and reduc…
Where does David & Janet Polak Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • California • New York • District of Columbia The foundation also supports institutions internationally, including in Israel.
What size grants does David & Janet Polak Foundation award?
In 2024, David & Janet Polak Foundation awarded 82 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is David & Janet Polak Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, David & Janet Polak Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is David & Janet Polak Foundation's EIN?
David & Janet Polak Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4797578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in David & Janet Polak 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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