Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc
The Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In its 2025 filing, it reported grants to organizations including cultural institutions, youth-development and education organizations, an animal-rescue organization, and an interfaith organization.
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc gave $3.6M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $212K), mostly in New York. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,611,000
- +204.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -32.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $212,412
- +347.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $14,526,693
- -12.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Hecht 211 Central Park West 11J, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 697-1000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Interfaith Center of New York ($650K). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 77 (32%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 3% to Texas, and less than 1% to Utah, as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $294K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $300K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 322% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $885K (2023) to $10.3M (2021). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Interfaith Center of New York New York, NY | General Support | $650,000 |
| Publicolor Inc New York, NY | General Support | $600,000 |
| Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons Inc Wainscott, NY | General Support | $530,000 |
| Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center Bridgehampton, NY | General Support | $502,500 |
| New York City Ballet Inc New York, NY | General Support | $500,000 |
| Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $500,000 |
| The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TX | To support glassell school of art core artist residency program | $100,000 |
| Julliard School New York, NY | General Support | $50,000 |
| Scan-Harbor Inc New York, NY | General Support | $50,000 |
| The Animal Medical Center DBA Stephen & Christine Schwarzman Animal Medical New York, NY | General Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,526,693 | $1,704,999 | $3,809,338 | $3,611,000 | 17 | $3,663,422 | $1,559,083 | $1,137,116 |
| 2024 | $16,631,032 | $69,219 | $1,333,384 | $1,187,500 | 25 | $1,200,677 | $319,819 | $1,143,105 |
| 2023 | $17,895,197 | $757,186 | $1,020,251 | $885,000 | 10 | $900,289 | $637,224 | $1,046,778 |
| 2022 | $18,158,262 | $674,497 | $2,604,902 | $2,400,000 | 7 | $2,421,093 | $524,664 | $1,120,743 |
| 2021 | $20,088,667 | $2,770,132 | $10,429,668 | $10,260,000 | 18 | — | $2,637,672 | $1,416,068 |
| 2020 | $27,748,203 | $28,224,625 | $8,126,658 | $7,970,000 | 22 | — | $1,084,715 | $1,567,799 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included general support for the Interfaith Center of New York, Publicolor, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, New York City Ballet, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and other organizations. The foundation also designated $100,000 to support the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Glassell School of Art Core Artist Residency Program.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Publicolor says it supports students facing significant challenges through a multi-year educational and youth-development program continuum. The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons says it rescues cats and dogs, provides care, and offers sanctuary while they await homes. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation describes itself as committed to innovation, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents art across times and cultures.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $3,611,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $650,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest reported grants included $650,000 to the Interfaith Center of New York, $600,000 to Publicolor, $530,000 to the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, $502,500 to the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, and $500,000 each to New York City Ballet and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert B. Fagenson as president; Michael Hecht as vice president, secretary, and treasurer; William P. Kelly as trustee; and Barbara Slifka as trustee until June 22, 2025.
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc is led by Robert B. Fagenson, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert B. Fagenson
President
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Slifka
Trustee Till
President → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Trustee Till, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William P. Kelly
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Hecht
Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Vice President & Treasurer → Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John J. O'Neil (2020–2021) — Secretary · Filing note: Until 6/2021
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc
How much does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc give each year?
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc gave $3.6M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 25 grants.
What is Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $212,412, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc give grants?
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants) and Bridgehampton, NY (2 grants).
Does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Interfaith Center of New York ($650,000), Publicolor Inc ($600,000) and Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons Inc ($530,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc?
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc reported $14.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included general support for the Interfaith Center of New York, Publicolor, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, New York City Ballet, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and other organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-and-sylvia-slifka-foundation-inc-morg_b6893cdbf4844f14a8eb4516528589b5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136106433_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joseph \& Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-and-sylvia-slifka-foundation-inc-morg_b6893cdbf4844f14a8eb4516528589b5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation Inc'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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