Gray Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Albany, New York, established in 2014. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, Gray Foundation accomplishes its charitable mission exclusively through grant payments to qualified charitable organizations rather than direct charitable activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$45.5M
+1.2% YoY
Grant Count
146
-18.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$312K
+24.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Gray Foundation operates with a dual mission:
BRCA & Cancer Research: Accelerate research, raise awareness, and improve treatment for individuals and families with inherited BRCA mutations and related cancers.
NYC Youth Access & Opportunity: Expand access to education, healthcare, and opportunity for NYC youth from low-income communities, with particular emphasis on youth mental health and supporting NYC public school students.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Mental Health
- Youth Development
- Arts and Culture
- Community Development
- Health and Well-Being
- Diversity and Inclusion
Grantmaking
No specific application process information is available in verified sources.
Grant Range
$500 to $13.9 million
Average Grant
amount: $312,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Gray Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Gray Foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York (84 grants to New York City; 10 to Bronx; 3 to Brooklyn; 6 to Long Island City)
- Massachusetts (6 grants to Boston; 2 to Cambridge)
- District of Columbia (5 grants)
- Additional funding in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and other states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024
- Total Assets: $83.4 million
- Total Revenue: $82.0 million
- Total Expenses: $49.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Data (2023)
- Total Assets: $81.5 million
- Total Revenue: $64 million
- Total Expenses: $48.4 million
Gray Foundation ranks in the top 1% of U.S. foundations by asset size (Rank #549 of 159,550).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dana-farber Cancer Institute ($2,104,383), Asphalt Green Inc ($800,000), Bard College ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN PARKER, CO | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $25,500 |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BRONX, NY | COLLEGE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM | $125,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF RABIN MEDICAL CENTER INC NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | COUNCIL FOR A CAUSE | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $15,000 |
| AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL FOUNDATION EVANSTON, IL | 2024 YELLOW UMBRELLA CAMPAIGN | $10,000 |
| ARIZOU DBA PROJECT BASTA NEW YORK, NY | DISCOVERY ACCESS | $100,000 |
| ARTHUR MILLER FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $10,000 |
| ASPHALT GREEN INC NEW YORK, NY | MAKING WAVES | $800,000 |
| BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION NEW YORK, NY | TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM | $62,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Gray | President | $0 (1 hour/week) |
| Mindy Gray | Secretary & Treasurer | $0 (1 hour/week) |
| Dana Zucker | Chief Executive Officer | $630,000 (40 hours/week) |
| Charissa Fernandez | President | $400,000 (40 hours/week) |
| Margaret McConville | Office Manager | $200,000 (40 hours/week) |
| Charlotte Baynard | Program Officer | $108,000 (40 hours/week) |
| Chi Van Dang | Chief Science Officer | $125,000 (10 hours/week) |
| Brandon Acevedo | Program Associate | $60,000 (40 hours/week) |
The foundation employs 6-7 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONATHAN GRAY | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MINDY GRAY | SECRETARY & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DANA ZUCKER | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $630,000 |
| CHARISSA FERNANDEZ | PRESIDENT | 40 | $400,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**NYC Kids Rise Program**: The foundation has supported NYC Kids Rise, a scholarship and savings program for public school students. The program has surpassed $57 million invested for students, with over 342,000 participating students citywide.
Stony Brook University announces $1 million grant from The Gray Foundation**Stony Brook University**: Gray Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to Stony Brook University for student scholarships.
Stony Brook University Announces $1M Grant From The Gray Foundation - SBU**Media Coverage**: The foundation has received coverage in major publications including the New York Times, Daily News, and The TODAY Show, with features on topics including genetic testing for breast cancer awareness and college savings initiatives for NYC public school students.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gray Foundation fund?
Gray Foundation operates with a dual mission: 1. **BRCA & Cancer Research**: Accelerate research, raise awareness, and improve treatment for individuals and families with inherited BRCA mutations and related cancers. 2. **NYC Youth Access & Opportunity**: Expand access to education, healthcare, and opportunity for NYC youth from low-income communities, with particular emphasis on youth mental health and supporting NYC public school students. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanth…
How do I apply for a grant from Gray Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total grants awarded: 146 grants • Total giving: $45.5 million • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Grant range: $500 to $13.9 million • Average grant amount: $312,000 **Notable Recent Grants** • Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Retiree Medical and Death Benefits Trust: $13.9 million • NYC Kids Rise: $5.0 million • Harvard University: $2.8 million **Application Process** No specific application process information is available in verified sources.
Where does Gray Foundation make grants?
Gray Foundation primarily funds organizations in: • **New York** (84 grants to New York City; 10 to Bronx; 3 to Brooklyn; 6 to Long Island City) • **Massachusetts** (6 grants to Boston; 2 to Cambridge) • **District of Columbia** (5 grants) • Additional funding in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and other states
What size grants does Gray Foundation award?
In 2024, Gray Foundation awarded 146 grants totaling $45.5M — an average of about $312K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Gray Foundation's EIN?
Gray Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1408100. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gray 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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