Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc
The Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1987 and based in New York City. The foundation was created to honor Joseph and Sylvia Slifka, New York philanthropists who instilled strong values around education, coexistence, and giving back in their family. Joseph Slifka, who passed away in 1992, owned textile and real estate businesses and was a developer of apartment buildings in Manhattan.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.6M
-7.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+34.2% YoY
Grant Count
25
+150.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-46.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for higher education, Jewish activities, and philanthropy. Its funding priorities include:
- Arts and cultural institutions
- Education
- Interfaith initiatives
- Jewish causes
- Human services
- Social services
The foundation emphasizes education as a critical priority, with leadership stating that education is "the most important thing in this country."
Grantmaking
The foundation does not have a public application process. It operates on a preselected basis, selecting grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$125,000–$200,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $471,000 (based on historical data)
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, with some activity in Utah and Texas. Its primary geographic focus is New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:
- Total assets: $16,631,032
- Annual charitable disbursements: $1,187,500
- Total revenues: $69,219
- Total expenses: $1,333,384
- Total liabilities: $0
Investment Income (FY 2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $452,526
- Net gain/loss from sale of non-inventory assets: -$383,307
Asset Trends: The foundation has been steadily drawing down its assets to maximize impact. Total assets have decreased from $50.6 million in 2010 to $16.6 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,631,032 | $17,895,197 | $18,158,262 |
| Revenue | $69,219 | $757,186 | $674,497 |
| Expenses | $1,333,384 | $1,020,251 | $2,604,902 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,200,677 | $900,289 | $2,421,093 |
| Net Investment Income | $319,819 | $637,224 | $524,664 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,143,105 | $1,046,778 | $1,120,743 |
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
82 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
The foundation was led by Barbara Slifka, daughter of Joseph and Sylvia Slifka, until her passing in June 2025. Barbara Slifka was a fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar for over 40 years and a prominent arts philanthropist in her own right. The foundation is a member of Philanthropy New York.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT B FAGENSON | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL HECHT | VP, SECRETARY & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| BARBARA SLIFKA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported major cultural and educational institutions, including a $5 million grant to support day school inclusion. The foundation also sponsors the Slifka Foundation Interdisciplinary Fellowship at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Slifka Foundation Gives $5 Million To Support Day School Inclusion\n | Combined\Related Funders
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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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