The Jerome Levy Foundation is a private foundation established as a trust in 1955 in New York and granted tax-exempt status in 1958. Founded by the late Leon Levy, co-founder of the mutual fund manager Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., the foundation reflects its founder's passion for expanding knowledge and belief in the power of ideas and a just and equitable society. The foundation is based in New York City and administers support across six program areas ranging from the arts and humanities to neuroscience research.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.6M
-4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+11.3% YoY
Grant Count
11
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$240K
+11.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jerome Levy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on broad humanism and the advancement of knowledge. Its primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Museums
- Education and higher education
- Environment and natural resources
- Health and medical care
- International human rights
- Philanthropy and nonprofit support
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation awards project support, endowment support, and general operating support to eligible organizations.
Average Grant
amount: $825
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. locations and states, including:
- New York
- Connecticut
- Texas
- Washington, D.C.
- Dallas
- Washington
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $43,643,825
- Total revenue: $1,166,137
- Total expenses: $3,010,945
- Net income: -$1,844,808
Annual Giving:
- Total awarded in 2024: approximately $2.4 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,643,825 | $45,499,646 | $47,703,767 |
| Revenue | $1,166,137 | $738,847 | $10,364,814 |
| Expenses | $3,010,945 | $2,938,670 | $3,232,408 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,658,947 | $2,375,863 | $2,790,058 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,380,481 | $982,925 | $9,981,953 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,128,376 | $2,218,088 | $2,324,728 |
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
60 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Barnard College ($1,006,280), The Foundation for City College ($880,062), Congregation Shir Shalom ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT NETWORK WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| BARNARD COLLEGE NEW YORK, NY | PROJECT SUPPORT | $1,006,280 |
| CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM RIDGEFIELD, CT | ENDOWMENT SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| ELNOR INC DALLAS, TX | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| NEW VENTURE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC NEW YORK, NY | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE NEW YORK, NY | PROJECT SUPPORT | $880,062 |
| THE JED FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM WHITE PLAINS, NY | OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC BEDFORD HILLS, NY | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Shelby White – Trustee (serves without compensation)
- David Levy – Trustee (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHELBY WHITE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID LEVY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a $300,000 grant to the Authors Guild Foundation to preserve over 100 years of literary advocacy archives, demonstrating its commitment to supporting cultural and historical preservation efforts.
Leon Levy Foundation Awards $300,000 Grant to the Authors Guild FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jerome Levy Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on broad humanism and the advancement of knowledge. Its primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Museums • Education and higher education • Environment and natural resources • Health and medical care • International human rights • Philanthropy and nonprofit support • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Jerome Levy Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $2,636,342 • Average grant amount: $825 • Typical award range: $1,930–$1,006,280 • Recent notable grants include $1,006,280 to Barnard College and $880,062 to The Foundation for City College (both 2024) • The foundation made 16 grants in 2024 **Grant Types:** The foundation awards project support, endowment support, and general operating support to eligible organizations. **Application Process:** The foundation is open to new applicants, wit…
Where does Jerome Levy Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. locations and states, including: • New York • Connecticut • Texas • Washington, D.C. • Dallas • Washington
What size grants does Jerome Levy Foundation award?
In 2024, Jerome Levy Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $240K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jerome Levy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jerome Levy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jerome Levy Foundation's EIN?
Jerome Levy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6159573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jerome Levy 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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