Edward H Benenson Foundation Inc

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-6162730

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

+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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

North Carolina $1.0M (34%)

Florida $828K (28%)

New York $612K (20%)

Connecticut $149K (5%)

Massachusetts $113K (4%)

Rhode Island $100K (3%)

Colorado $48K (2%)

Utah $43K (1%)

+9 more states

States

Alabama California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Illinois Massachusetts North Carolina New Jersey New York Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Utah Virginia

Cities

AlexandriaBedford HillsBostonBoulderBrewsterBronxBrooklynChicagoDurhamFairfieldGlen CoveKanabKanasLake GroveLong Island CityLos AngelesMemphisMontgomeryMorristonMystic

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.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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\

2009

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.