Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc
The Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York City, established in 1955 and granted tax-exempt status in August 1957. The foundation operates as a non-operating private foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations through grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.1M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$590K
+31.7% YoY
Grant Count
43
+16.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+13.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $733K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking demonstrates a primary focus on:
- Arts and culture, particularly opera and performing arts training
- Education, including scholarships and arts education
- Animal welfare and animal medical services
- Philanthropy and charitable giving
Grantmaking
The foundation made 40 grants in 2024, with total giving of $589,500. Historical grantmaking data shows:
Grant Range
** $3,000
Average Grant
** $16,000
How to Apply
The foundation typically selects grantees from a preselected list of charitable organizations. It does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- New York
- Massachusetts
- North Carolina
- Florida
These four states account for approximately 52% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 17 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $15,144,263
- Total Revenues: $1,741,614
- Total Expenses: $609,222
- Total Liabilities: $16,400
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $147,416
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,247,314
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $11.4 million in 2011 to $15.1 million in 2024.
Annual Giving Trends: Annual giving has grown from $622,000 in 2020 to $1.3 million in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,144,263 | $14,087,927 | $14,925,875 |
| Revenue | $1,741,614 | $-242,475 | $706,873 |
| Expenses | $609,222 | $537,223 | $670,747 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $589,500 | $447,706 | $669,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,394,730 | $192,837 | $239,305 |
| Distributable Amount | $733,337 | $637,625 | $586,322 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Duke University ($100,000), Duke University ($60,000), Robin Hood ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTER AT WEST PARK NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT | $500 |
| NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST NANTUCKET, MA | ASSITANCE W/EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $1,000 |
| NANTUCKET SHELLFISH ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MA | SUPPORT FOR CHARITY | $1,000 |
| LUNGEVITY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| OVANAN CANCER RESEARCH ALLIA WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY KANAB, UT | SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE MONTGOMERY, AL | SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| OBAMA FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| ASPCA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL ASSITANCE TO ANIMALS | $2,500 |
| GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION SMITHTOWN, NY | SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and Trustees:
- Gladys Benenson (President of the Foundation)
- Lisa Quattrocchi (Trustee)
- Albert Fleischman (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA QUATTROCCHI | PRES+SECRETA | — | — |
| ALBERT FLEISCHMAN | VP+TREASURER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Edward H Benenson Foundation renewed a $1 million gift in support of Palm Beach Opera's Benenson Young Artist Program for a five-year period. The program is a rigorous five-month training program for emerging opera singers, providing professional training and mainstage performance opportunities. This commitment secures the program's position as a nationally recognized training initiative for rising opera artists.
\u201CAn Extremely Open-Ended Grant\u201D: Using the Benenson Award to Fund\The Edward H Benenson Scholarship Fund was established in 2009 by Gladys Benenson in memory of her husband. As of 2012, the fund had awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 37 students at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts. Scholarships of $2,500 support students pursuing further arts education at institutions including Juilliard, NYU Tisch School of Arts, Boston Conservatory, and other prestigious arts programs.
\u201CAn Extremely Open-Ended Grant\u201D: Using the Benenson Award to Fund\The foundation supports Duke University through the Benenson Award program, which provides funding for diverse arts opportunities and creative projects for Duke students and alumni.
\u201CAn Extremely Open-Ended Grant\u201D: Using the Benenson Award to Fund\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking demonstrates a primary focus on: • Arts and culture, particularly opera and performing arts training • Education, including scholarships and arts education • Animal welfare and animal medical services • Philanthropy and charitable giving
How do I apply for a grant from Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc?
The foundation made 40 grants in 2024, with total giving of $589,500. Historical grantmaking data shows: • **Total grants made (historical):** 166 grants totaling $2.6 million across available records • **Median grant size:** $3,000 • **Average grant size:** $16,000 • **Grant range:** $100 to $260,000 • **Unique organizations supported:** 66 organizations across 17 states Notable recent grants include: • Palm Beach Opera: $25,000 (assistance with opera productions) • Stephen and Christine Schwa…
Where does Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • New York • Massachusetts • North Carolina • Florida These four states account for approximately 52% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 17 states total.
What size grants does Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc awarded 43 grants totaling $590K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $733K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc's EIN?
Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6162730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc'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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