Fernholz Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PRINCETON, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $493K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.7M
-4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+57.9% YoY
Grant Count
7
+75.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$179K
-9.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fernholz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Fernholz Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Fernholz Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PRINCETON, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $493K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,663,482 | $17,429,617 | $17,926,701 |
| Revenue | $497,368 | $300,400 | $345,506 |
| Expenses | $1,263,503 | $797,484 | $997,372 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,259,252 | $796,242 | $996,185 |
| Net Investment Income | $493,117 | $426,487 | $344,319 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,099,570 | $955,890 | $982,863 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Institute for Advanced Study ($325,000), Princeton University Math Department ($250,000), Columbia University ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY PRINCETON, NJ | SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS | $325,000 |
| PRINCETON COMMUNITY HOUSING INC PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT - AFFORDABLE HOUSING | $20,000 |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY MATH DEPARTMENT PRINCETON, NJ | DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS | $250,000 |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE NEW YORK, NY | RESEARCH IN NEUROSCIENCE | $200,000 |
| PRINCETON MEDICAL CENTER PALINSBORO, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT - MECIAL CENTER | $10,000 |
| SIMONS LAUFER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE BERKELEY, CA | SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS | $200,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| E ROBERT FERNHOLZ | DIRECTOR, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LUISA T FERNHOLZ | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 6 | — |
| RICARDO T FERNHOLZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STEPHEN A BRIGANTI | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DANIEL T FERNHOLZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fernholz Foundation?
Fernholz Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PRINCETON, NJ. It holds $16.7M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Fernholz Foundation?
As of 2024, Fernholz Foundation holds $16.7M in total assets with $497K in annual revenue. It awarded 7 grants totaling $1.3M in 2024.
Where does Fernholz Foundation operate?
Fernholz Foundation has awarded grants in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York.
What size grants does Fernholz Foundation award?
In 2024, Fernholz Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $179K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Fernholz Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Fernholz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Fernholz Foundation's EIN?
Fernholz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0403980. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fernholz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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