Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation
The Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1983 and based in New York City. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has been supporting nonprofit organizations for over 40 years. The foundation was founded by Charles B. Benenson, a prominent real estate developer and philanthropist.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.9M
-6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
-6.4% YoY
Grant Count
146
+14500.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-99.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a broad range of causes including:
- Human services
- Arts and culture, including museums
- Education (elementary, secondary, and higher education)
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Community development, including entrepreneurship, microfinance, and neighborhood revitalization
- Religion, with a focus on Judaism
- Children and youth
A particular emphasis of the foundation is improving education for minority youth in New York City and supporting environmental conservation efforts.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates without formal grant programs or structured application deadlines. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and typically support general operating expenses for nonprofit organizations.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $204,500
Review Cycle
. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and typically support general operating expenses for nonprofit organizations.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves the New York City metropolitan area and the state of New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023-2024):
- Total assets: $28.9 million to $30.9 million
- Total annual giving: $3.6 million
- Total revenues: $4.1 million
- Total expenses: $4.5 million
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,858,338 | $30,850,855 | $31,233,782 |
| Revenue | $2,414,810 | $4,095,986 | $4,278,714 |
| Expenses | $4,376,327 | $4,509,913 | $5,777,764 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,585,752 | $3,927,202 | $5,044,293 |
| Net Investment Income | $689,235 | $2,133,275 | $2,270,237 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,263,906 | $1,994,557 | $2,058,244 |
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
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Grateful Film Fund ($204,500), Amazon Conservation Team ($200,000), Inner-city Scholarship ($160,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92ND STREET Y NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AID STILL REQUIRED SANTA MONICA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AISH GLOBAL CLIFTON, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,613 |
| ALI FORNEY CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ALOIS SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100 |
| ALS UNITED GREATER NEW YORK INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $206 |
| AMAZON CONSERVATION TEAM FALLS CHURCH, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION LICOLN, NE | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,613 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Bruce W. Benenson - Co-President (filmmaker and environmental philanthropist)
- Frederick C. Benenson - Co-President, Treasurer, and Secretary
- Lawrence B. Benenson - Co-President (real estate investor and arts patron serving on the boards of more than 12 charitable organizations)
- Richard Kessler - Vice-President
None of the key personnel receive compensation for their roles.
Contact Information: 155 E 44th Street, 28th Floor New York, NY 10017 Phone: (212) 867-0990 EIN: 13-3267113
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE W BENENSON | CO-PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| FREDERICK C BENENSON | CO-PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| LAWRENCE B BENENSON | CO-PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| RICHARD KESSLER | VICE-PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| FREDERICK C BENENSON | TREASURER & SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a broad range of causes including: • Human services • Arts and culture, including museums • Education (elementary, secondary, and higher education) • Health and diseases/conditions • Community development, including entrepreneurship, microfinance, and neighborhood revitalization • Religion, with a focus on Judaism • Children and youth A particular emphasis of the foundation is improving education for minority youth in New York City and supporting environmental conservati…
How do I apply for a grant from Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $3.6 million • Grant range: $1,000 to $204,500 • Median grant: $10,000 • Total grants awarded: 147 (2023) **Application Process:** The foundation operates without formal grant programs or structured application deadlines. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and typically support general operating expenses for nonprofit organizations.
Where does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily serves the New York City metropolitan area and the state of New York.
What size grants does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation award?
In 2024, Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation awarded 146 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's EIN?
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3267113. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frances & Benjamin Benenson 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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