Fernholz Foundation
Fernholz Foundation is a private foundation, based in Princeton, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $16.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $923K.
Fernholz Foundation at a glance
In short: Fernholz Foundation gave $1.1M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $151K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,055,000
- -15.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $150,714
- -15.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $16,531,186
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Fernholz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Institute for Advanced Study ($250K). Together the top 7 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 13 grants of 29 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Fernholz Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $795K (2023) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, NJ | School of Mathematics | $250,000 |
| Princeton University Math Department Princeton, NJ | Department of Mathematics | $250,000 |
| Change Maker Trust Inc Boston, MA | Documentary Film About Applied Science | $250,000 |
| Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute Berkeley, CA | School of Mathematics | $200,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | Department of Mathematics | $75,000 |
| Princeton Community Housing Inc Princeton, NJ | General Support - Affordable Housing | $20,000 |
| Princeton Medical Center Palinsboro, NJ | General Support - Mecial Center | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,531,186 | $927,277 | $1,063,819 | $1,055,000 | 7 | $1,059,410 | $922,868 | $1,172,122 |
| 2024 | $16,663,482 | $497,368 | $1,263,503 | $1,255,000 | 7 | $1,259,252 | $493,117 | $1,099,570 |
| 2023 | $17,429,617 | $300,400 | $797,484 | $795,000 | 4 | $796,242 | $426,487 | $955,890 |
| 2022 | $17,926,701 | $345,506 | $997,372 | $995,000 | 5 | $996,185 | $344,319 | $982,863 |
| 2021 | $18,578,567 | $232,795 | $1,177,880 | $1,170,000 | 6 | $1,173,940 | $228,855 | $1,100,290 |
| 2020 | $19,523,652 | $587,946 | $1,157,531 | $1,150,000 | 5 | — | $582,680 | $1,056,340 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fernholz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Fernholz Foundation is led by Luisa T. Fernholz, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Luisa T. Fernholz
Director & President
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel T. Fernholz
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
E. Robert Fernholz
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ricardo T. Fernholz
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ryan Briganti
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Stephen A. Briganti (2020–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Fernholz Foundation
How much does Fernholz Foundation give each year?
Fernholz Foundation gave $1.1M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 7 grants.
What is Fernholz Foundation's typical grant size?
Fernholz Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $200,000, and its average grant was $150,714, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Fernholz Foundation give grants?
Fernholz Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (24%) and California (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Princeton, NJ (3 grants).
Does Fernholz Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Fernholz Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Fernholz Foundation's largest grantees?
Fernholz Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Institute for Advanced Study ($250,000), Princeton University Math Department ($250,000) and Change Maker Trust Inc ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fernholz Foundation?
Fernholz Foundation reported $16.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
Live grants for the work Fernholz Foundation funds
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