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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation ($200,000), The Interfaith Center of New York ($150,000), Publicolor Inc ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANIMAL RESCUE FUND OF THE HAMPTONS INC WAINSCOTT, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY KANAB, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BRIDGEHAMPTON CHILD CARE & RECREATIONAL BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CONGREGATION EMANU EL OF THE CITY OF NY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| EVELYN ALEXANDER WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTER HAMPTON BAYS, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| HAMPTON LIBRARY IN BRIDGEHAMPTON INC BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLIND WARRINGTON, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| LADIES VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY EAST HAMPTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| MORSE LIFE FOUNDATION WEST PALM BEACH, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
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\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc fund?
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."
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc?
**Grant Structure:** • The foundation provides general support grants to established nonprofit organizations • Recent grant range: $125,000–$200,000 • Typical awards historically: $1,000–$600,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $471,000 (based on historical data) • Median grant amount: $300,000 (based on historical data) **Application Process:** The foundation does not have a public application process. It operates on a preselected basis, selecting grantees rather than accepting unsolicit…
Where does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, with some activity in Utah and Texas. Its primary geographic focus is New York City.
What size grants does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc awarded 25 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's EIN?
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6106433. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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