Jerome Robbins Foundation
The Jerome Robbins Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Established by Jerome Robbins in 1958 in honor of his mother, it supports dance, theater, and their associated arts.
Jerome Robbins Foundation at a glance
In short: Jerome Robbins Foundation gave $1.3M across 99 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in New York. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,286,500
- +13.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 99
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,995
- +11.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $25,146,958
- +11.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (4 of 99, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jerome Robbins Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists Christopher Pennington as the application contact. Applications should include a complete description of the organization, sources of funding, financial information, and tax-exempt status. The filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and lists no award restrictions or deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher Pennington
Mailing address: 156 West 56Th Street 9Th Floor, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 367-8956
Website: https://jeromerobbins.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jerome Robbins Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jerome Robbins Dance Division Nypl for the Performing Arts ($201K). Together the top 10 received $657K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($4,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
530 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 510 grants of 530 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in New York City, and 80% of its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in New York. Other recipient states listed were Florida (3%), Washington (2%), North Carolina (2%), and Missouri (2%). Its 2024 grants included organizations in several states, including Miami City Ballet in Florida, Pacific Northwest Ballet in Washington, and Carolina Ballet in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 99 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jerome Robbins Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 99 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 168% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2023) to $1.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 99 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jerome Robbins Dance Division Nypl for the Performing Arts New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $201,000 |
| New York City Ballet New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| New York Stage & Film New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| Brooklyn Academy of Music Brooklyn, NY | Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| The Joyce Theater New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $45,000 |
| Baryshnikov Arts Center New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $43,500 |
| Miami City Ballet Miami Beach, FL | Charitable Purposes | $30,000 |
| Orchestra of St Lukes New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $30,000 |
| Pacific Northwest Ballet Seattle, WA | Charitable Purposes | $30,000 |
| Carolina Ballet Raleigh, NC | Charitable Purposes | $27,500 |
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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 | $25,146,958 | $4,778,595 | $2,388,158 | $1,286,500 | 99 | $1,994,858 | $4,420,269 | $1,187,116 |
| 2023 | $22,509,021 | $2,285,679 | $2,297,692 | $1,132,250 | 97 | $1,971,580 | $1,959,248 | $1,182,804 |
| 2022 | $22,565,709 | $1,299,865 | $2,482,592 | $1,495,875 | 111 | $2,148,291 | $922,633 | $1,184,349 |
| 2021 | $23,786,168 | $1,611,092 | $2,331,824 | $1,397,675 | 104 | $2,004,108 | $1,026,108 | $1,377,110 |
| 2020 | $24,579,216 | $2,794,296 | $2,590,159 | $1,450,425 | 119 | — | $2,435,476 | $1,254,112 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jerome Robbins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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 Foundation’s stated purpose is to support dance, theater, and their associated arts. Its grants include support for ballet companies, dance organizations, theaters, performing arts institutions, and arts-related projects.
Examples of grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Brooklyn Academy of Music says it supports artistic experimentation and champions inclusion and accessibility across the arts. Baryshnikov Arts Center says it fosters interest in the arts, encourages the development of artists, and advances collaboration. School of American Ballet says its mission is to train students for professional careers in classical ballet. The Foundation also reported direct charitable activity through the Floria V. Lasky Symposium Project, which convenes nonprofit cultural organizations in New York City to explore transformational change and build connections.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 99 grants totaling $1,286,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $201,000, with a median award of $7,500. The largest listed awards included $201,000 to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; $100,000 each to New York City Ballet and New York Stage & Film; $50,000 to Brooklyn Academy of Music; and $45,000 to The Joyce Theater. The stated purpose for these grants was charitable purposes.
The Foundation’s website says it is not considering new applications for 2026 and hopes to do so the following year. It encourages current grantees to share updates, particularly important new information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The directors listed on the 2024 filing are Allen Greenberg, Christopher Pennington, and Ellen Sorrin. The Foundation’s website also lists Floria V. Lasky and Daniel Stern as directors in memoriam.
Jerome Robbins Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Allen Greenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
28 hrs/week
$274K (2020) → $231K (2024)
Christopher Pennington
Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$187K (2020) → $185K (2024)
Ellen Sorrin
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $75K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $231K, to Allen Greenberg (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Jerome Robbins Foundation
How much does Jerome Robbins Foundation give each year?
Jerome Robbins Foundation gave $1.3M across 99 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 97 grants.
What is Jerome Robbins Foundation's typical grant size?
Jerome Robbins Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $12,995, across 99 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jerome Robbins Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Jerome Robbins Foundation give grants?
Jerome Robbins Foundation gives mostly in New York: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (60 grants), Brooklyn, NY (8 grants) and Princeton, NJ (2 grants).
Who are Jerome Robbins Foundation's largest grantees?
Jerome Robbins Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jerome Robbins Dance Division Nypl for the Performing Arts ($201,000), New York City Ballet ($100,000) and New York Stage & Film ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($4,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jerome Robbins Foundation?
Jerome Robbins Foundation reported $25.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jerome Robbins Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to support dance, theater, and their associated arts. Its grants include support for ballet companies, dance organizations, theaters, performing arts institutions, and arts-related projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jerome Robbins Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists Christopher Pennington as the application contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jerome Robbins Foundation's EIN?
Jerome Robbins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6021425. 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). Jerome Robbins Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jerome-robbins-foundation-morg_f4b16519ad524e6b935f0bd52b14fad1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136021425_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jerome Robbins Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jerome-robbins-foundation-morg_f4b16519ad524e6b935f0bd52b14fad1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Jerome Robbins 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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