Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation
The Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In 2024, it awarded 146 grants totaling $3,608,578 to organizations including conservation, education, arts, and research groups.
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation at a glance
In short: Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation gave $3.6M across 146 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), top state New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,608,578
- -6.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 146
- +14500.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,716
- -99.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $28,858,338
- -6.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no formal application requirements; applicants must state the amount and purposes. It reports no restrictions on awards. Contact Bruce W. Benenson.
- Contact
Application contact: Bruce W Benenson
Mailing address: 155 E 44Th St 28Th Fl, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 867-0990
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Grateful Film Fund ($205K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 150 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 46% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 24% to California, 7% each to Virginia and Washington, DC, and 4% to Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 146 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 158% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2024) to $5.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 146 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grateful Film Fund Studio City, CA | General Support | $204,500 |
| Amazon Conservation Team Falls Church, VA | General Support | $200,000 |
| Inner-City Scholarship New York, NY | General Support | $160,000 |
| Reed College Portland, OR | General Support | $150,000 |
| Broad Stage Santa Monica, CA | General Support | $110,000 |
| UJA Federation of NY New York, NY | General Support | $102,500 |
| New York Presbyterian Fund Inc New York, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Tree People Beverly Hills, CA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Violence Policy Center Washington, DC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Lacma Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $95,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $28,858,338 | $2,414,810 | $4,376,327 | $3,608,578 | 146 | $3,585,752 | $689,235 | $2,263,906 |
| 2023 | $30,850,855 | $4,095,986 | $4,509,913 | $3,856,350 | 1 | $3,927,202 | $2,133,275 | $1,994,557 |
| 2022 | $31,233,782 | $4,278,714 | $5,777,764 | $4,972,669 | 1 | $5,044,293 | $2,270,237 | $2,058,244 |
| 2021 | $32,757,831 | $6,714,802 | $4,612,582 | $3,911,236 | 1 | — | $4,544,846 | $2,185,242 |
| 2020 | $30,690,431 | $3,187,869 | $4,438,475 | $3,708,569 | 1 | — | $1,117,711 | $1,874,283 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. The Amazon Conservation Team describes its mission as partnering with Indigenous and other local communities to protect tropical forests and strengthen traditional culture. Inner-City Scholarship says it grants scholarships for children to attend private schools, while the Violence Policy Center describes its work as educational and research activity on firearms violence. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts says it works to sustain, encourage, and promote the performing arts and educate the public. Other 2024 recipients included voter-access, environmental-law, and Jewish education organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 146 grants totaling $3,608,578. Grants ranged from $50 to $204,500, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards included $204,500 to Grateful Film Fund, $200,000 to Amazon Conservation Team, $160,000 to Inner-City Scholarship, $150,000 to Reed College, and $110,000 to Broad Stage. These grants were listed for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bruce W. Benenson, Frederick C. Benenson, and Lawrence B. Benenson as co-presidents; Richard Kessler as vice-president; and Frederick C. Benenson as treasurer and secretary.
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation is led by Bruce W. Benenson, Co-President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bruce W. Benenson
Co-President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frederick C. Benenson
Co-President, Treasurer & Secretary
Co-President → Co-President, Treasurer & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence B. Benenson
Co-President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Kessler
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: David Thomas (2021) — Treasurer & Secretary
- Former: Lawrence A. Sipkin (2020) — Treasurer & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation
How much does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation give each year?
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation gave $3.6M across 146 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.9M across 1 grant.
What is Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's typical grant size?
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $24,716, across 146 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation give grants?
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's top state is New York, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (24%) and Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (57 grants), Santa Monica, CA (7 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (7 grants).
Does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (146 of 146) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's largest grantees?
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Grateful Film Fund ($204,500), Amazon Conservation Team ($200,000) and Inner-City Scholarship ($160,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation?
Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation reported $28.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. The Amazon Conservation Team describes its mission as partnering with Indigenous and other local communities to protect tropical forests and strengthen traditional culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/frances-and-benjamin-benenson-foundation-morg_440a4b6027474decb2364335d5ffc044
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133267113_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Frances \& Benjamin Benenson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/frances-and-benjamin-benenson-foundation-morg_440a4b6027474decb2364335d5ffc044},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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