Goldman-sonnenfeldt Foundation Inc
The Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 1999 by investor and entrepreneur Michael W. Sonnenfeldt and his wife Katja Goldman. The foundation represents the combined philanthropy of Katja Goldman, Michael Sonnenfeldt, and their four children. It operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.4M
-10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
+54.4% YoY
Grant Count
83
-3.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
+60.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's philanthropic priorities center on three primary areas:
- Fighting Climate Change — including environmental sustainability initiatives
- Protecting and Strengthening Democracy
- Building Jewish Community & Combatting Antisemitism
Additional funding areas include:
- Education, particularly higher education institutions
- Arts and culture, including museums
- Health and human services
- Agriculture and environmental protection
- Jewish organizations and causes
The foundation seeks partners that are disrupting norms, taking risks to solve problems, and working to scale proven solutions.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $85 to $940,000
Review Cycle
. The foundation operates without formal named grant programs.
How to Apply
** Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no specified deadlines. The foundation operates without formal named grant programs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is deeply invested in the New York City and Long Island communities and has given extensively to support local organizations. While emphasis is placed on the New York City metro area and New York State, the foundation supports a wide range of cities across the United States, including major urban centers like Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities. Geographic reach extends across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and others. The foundation also makes international grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $24.4 million to $27.2 million (varying by reporting year)
Annual Giving: $3.1 million to $6.1 million (varying by year)
Foundation Expenses: $4.1 million
Foundation Revenue: $3.7 million
Contact Address: c/o Ganer Ganer, 1995 Broadway, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 873-1472
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,415,176 | $27,195,536 | $27,631,412 |
| Revenue | $3,414,169 | $3,691,291 | $6,587,136 |
| Expenses | $6,249,273 | $4,141,060 | $3,183,824 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,105,071 | $3,961,209 | $3,078,008 |
| Net Investment Income | $718,059 | $3,664,468 | $6,574,685 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,266,615 | $1,336,558 | $1,294,415 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael Sonnenfeldt — President and founder of the Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation. He is the founder of TIGER 21, a premier peer membership organization for high-net-worth individuals. Current board positions include Board Member at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Co-Chair of the Jewish Climate Trust, Advisory Board Member of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, and Board of Governors member at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Katja B. Goldman — Trustee
Peter Joseph — Vice President
Robert (contact person) — Email: robert@ganer.com
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN DUNLEAVY | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | — | — |
| RUTH BENDER | SECRETARY | — | — |
| KATJA B GOLDMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| PETER JOSEPH | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MICHAEL SONNENFELDT | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| WENDY GARTENBERG | CFO | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2022, the foundation made a transformative $20 million commitment to establish the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, signaling the foundation's increasing focus on environmental and climate change issues.
Goldman Sonnenfeldt Foundation to Donate $20 Million Naming Gift to the SchoolMichael Sonnenfeldt has spent more than four decades in various leadership positions in organizations the foundation supports, amplifying impact with decades of expertise and an extensive network.
Goldman Sonnenfeldt Foundation to Donate $20 Million Naming Gift to the SchoolSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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