JVZ Foundation is a private independent foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2007. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking and voluntarism.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.2M
+284.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+48.1% YoY
Grant Count
28
-31.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$115K
+116.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jvz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $540K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education & Youth: Support for educational institutions and youth-focused programs
- New York City Community: Community development and civic engagement in New York
- Arts & Culture: Including support for cultural institutions
- Human Services: Various human services initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$10,000
Average Grant
award: $52,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in New York, with secondary focus areas in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. These three states account for approximately 83% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $25.2 million
- Annual Revenue: $20.1 million
- Annual Expenses: $3.23 million
- Net Income: $16.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $83,000 in 2011 to $25.2 million in 2024.
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since June 2007. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,161,286 | $6,538,079 | $8,065,411 |
| Revenue | $20,109,012 | $188,565 | $199,574 |
| Expenses | $3,233,402 | $2,184,529 | $1,271,100 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,230,397 | $2,183,322 | $1,262,413 |
| Net Investment Income | $147,868 | $187,358 | $198,387 |
| Distributable Amount | $539,714 | $413,266 | $383,219 |
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
128 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Duke University ($1,070,478), The Metropolitan Museum of Art ($622,630), Weill Cornell Medical College ($500,042).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92ND ST Y - POETRY CENTER NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $1,070,478 |
| FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $53,513 |
| FLEISHMAN HOUSE CHABAD AT DUKE UNDERGRADS DURHAM, NC | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $18,094 |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $60,100 |
| HIT THE BOOKS INC NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| JEWISH BOARD OF FAMILY AND CHILDRENS SERVICES NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $21,146 |
| MELANOMA RESEARCH ALLIANCE WASHINGTON, DC | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $25,035 |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO MEET THE TAX EXEMPT PURPOSES OF THE ORGANIZATION | $5,074 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: James C. Zelter
James Zelter holds an economics degree from Duke University. He began his career as a high yield trader at Goldman Sachs, later joined Citicorp in 1994, and joined Apollo Global Management in 2006, where he serves as managing director of Apollo's credit business and CEO and director of Apollo Investment Corporation.
Co-Founder: Vivian Zelter
James and Vivian Zelter direct the foundation's philanthropic activities together.
Contact Information: The JVZ Foundation c/o James C. Zelter 990 Fifth Avenue Ste. 10 New York, NY 10075 Phone: (561) 368-6860
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES C ZELTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| VIVIAN ZELTER | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jvz Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • **Education & Youth**: Support for educational institutions and youth-focused programs • **New York City Community**: Community development and civic engagement in New York • **Arts & Culture**: Including support for cultural institutions • **Human Services**: Various human services initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Jvz Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • According to available records, the foundation has made 103 grants totaling $4.7 million • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant award: $52,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $1,000 to $1.1 million • Annual distribution: Between $2.2 million and $2.5 million (2022-2023) • Most recent annual giving (2024): $3,228,142 **Application Process:** The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions only to prese…
Where does Jvz Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in New York, with secondary focus areas in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. These three states account for approximately 83% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
What size grants does Jvz Foundation award?
In 2024, Jvz Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $115K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jvz Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jvz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $540K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jvz Foundation's EIN?
Jvz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8042292. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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