Janklow Foundation

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-3357111

The Janklow Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in New York City. Founded by literary agent Morton Janklow and his wife Linda Nesbitt Janklow, the foundation maintains a low public profile while supporting a range of philanthropic causes across the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$796K

-19.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$237K

+5.1% YoY

Grant Count

-43.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

+87.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Janklow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides grants primarily in the following areas:

Arts and Culture — A major focus area reflecting the founders' deep involvement in the arts community. The Janklows have been recognized among top art collectors with emphasis on modern and contemporary art.
Higher Education — Supporting educational institutions and programs
Human Services — Funding organizations serving vulnerable populations
Youth Development — Including arts education initiatives
Health
Jewish Causes

Grantmaking

How to Apply

** The foundation does not maintain a public website and keeps a low public profile. Prospective grantees are advised to pursue networking and direct contact approaches.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with particular activity in New York.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $912K (94%)

Virginia $36K (4%)

District of Columbia $8K (1%)

California $7K (1%)

Maryland $6K (1%)

Massachusetts $1K (0%)

Connecticut $500 (0%)

Iowa $500 (0%)

+8 more states

States

Alabama California Connecticut District of Columbia Georgia Iowa Illinois Kansas Massachusetts Maryland Minnesota New Hampshire New York Tennessee Virginia West Virginia

Cities

Albet LeaAndoveerAstoriaAtlantaBeverly HillsBooneBridgehamptonBuffaloBuffalo GroveCentral IslipClarksburgEast HamptonHagerstownHamptonHampton BaysHartsdaleInglewoodLancasterLos AngelesMemphis

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $796,198 (as of most recent filing)

Annual Giving: $237,300 (2025 fiscal year)

EIN: 13-3357111

Address: 285 Madison Avenue, Floor 21, New York City, NY 10017-6427

Contact: 212-421-1700

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2025	2024	2023
Total Assets	$796,198	$989,244	$1,109,657
Revenue	$80,826	$116,129	$49,511
Expenses	$257,054	$236,542	$175,291
Qualifying Distributions	$238,050	$225,705	$165,323
Net Investment Income	$69,940	$105,292	$39,543
Distributable Amount	$87,429	$83,801	$78,262

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 2025

Grant Size Distribution

241 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Lincoln Center Theater ($96,200), Museum of the Moving Image ($35,000), Artsconnection ($35,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA WASHINGTON, DC	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$300
BRIDGEHAMPTON CHAMBER MUSIC NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$350
THE JEWISH MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WASHINGTON, DC	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
THE FRICK COLLECTION NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATON NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
CHILD MIND INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
CARINGKIND THE HEART OF ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVING NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500
SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON, MA	UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Founders:

Morton L. Janklow (May 30, 1930 – May 25, 2022) — Renowned literary agent who founded Janklow & Nesbit Associates in 1977 and expanded it in 1989 through partnership with Lynn Nesbit. He was a prominent figure in publishing, representing bestselling authors and political figures including U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, as well as Pope John Paul II.
Linda Nesbitt Janklow — Co-founder and wife of Morton Janklow. She is a descendant of the Warner Bros. movie dynasty and serves as founding chair of ArtsConnection.

Educational Contributions: Morton Janklow founded and endowed the Morton L. Janklow Chair in Literary and Artistic Property Law at Columbia Law School, his alma mater. He also established the Morton L. Janklow Program for Advocacy in the Arts at Columbia.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

From 2025 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
LINDA LEROY JANKLOW	TRUSTEE	2	—
ANGELA JANKLOW	TRUSTEE	2	—
LUCAS JANKLOW	TRUSTEE	2	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation continues to distribute grants through its established programs, though specific recent grant announcements are limited due to the foundation's low public profile. The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with regular IRS Form 990 filings documenting its philanthropic activities.

Janklow awards 22 grants through Deadwood Fund program - News

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Janklow Foundation fund?

The foundation provides grants primarily in the following areas: • **Arts and Culture** — A major focus area reflecting the founders' deep involvement in the arts community. The Janklows have been recognized among top art collectors with emphasis on modern and contemporary art. • **Higher Education** — Supporting educational institutions and programs • **Human Services** — Funding organizations serving vulnerable populations • **Youth Development** — Including arts education initiatives • **Hea…

How do I apply for a grant from Janklow Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $96,200, with median grant amounts varying by fiscal year. **Recent Activity:** According to the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2025), the foundation distributed $237,300 in total giving. **Notable Grantees:** Tax filings indicate support for organizations including: • ArtsConnection (an organization connecting artists with children, families, and schools in teaching and learning partnerships, for which Linda Janklow serves as founding chai…

Where does Janklow Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with particular activity in New York.

What size grants does Janklow Foundation award?

In 2025, Janklow Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $237K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Janklow Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Janklow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.