Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation
Keren Keshet - The Rainbow Foundation is a private foundation established in 1999, located at 1015 Park Avenue in New York City. The foundation was created following the death of billionaire financier Zalman Chaim Bernstein and was founded by his wife, Mem Dryan Bernstein, and longtime friend Arthur Fried, who serve as trustees. The foundation primarily supports Jewish educational and cultural programs, with a strategic, high-impact approach to grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$174.2M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.4M
+81.7% YoY
Grant Count
34
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$393K
+71.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for Jewish educational and cultural programs, backing strong Jewish leaders and organizations. Its funding priorities include:
Jewish Education
- Leadership development for educators
- Hebrew language and Judaics instruction
- Educational innovation and 21st-century learning
- Jewish day schools and high schools
Jewish Culture and Literature
- Digital media promoting Jewish culture
- Public intellectual engagement with Jewish ideas
- Cultural programming in Israel
- Jewish publishing and literary initiatives
Additional Focus Areas
- General philanthropy and voluntarism
- Health care
The foundation has launched transformative enterprises including Tablet Magazine (through Nextbook), the Jewish Community High School of the Bay, and major cultural initiatives in Israel including Hebrew Book Week.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant opportunities are by invitation only.
Grant Range
$50,000 - $20,000,000
Average Grant
$229,689
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus includes:
- New York City metropolitan area
- Israel
- San Francisco
- California
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024)
- Total assets: $174,232,036
- Total revenues: $16,004,657
- Total expenses: $25,229,036
- Annual grants: $6,263,203
The foundation has distributed nearly $300 million in grants over its first two decades of operation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $174,232,036 | $174,917,778 | $174,719,382 |
| Revenue | $16,004,657 | $22,530,667 | $7,958,320 |
| Expenses | $25,229,036 | $16,683,960 | $18,362,402 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $15,379,803 | $9,272,908 | $15,635,088 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,115,060 | $12,918,176 | $6,367,297 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,119,199 | $7,308,359 | $8,273,195 |
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
164 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Communal Fund #4681 ($8,225,000), Worldwide Friends Foundation ($2,196,147), Keren Keshet Israel ($1,529,146).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1210 SCOTT STREET INC NEW YORK, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $202,000 |
| CALIFORNIA PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | OPERATING EXPENSES | $25,000 |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NY | PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES | $25,000 |
| COMMENTARY MAGAZINE NEW YORK, NY | RESEARCH/WRITING | $6,000 |
| CONGREGATION KOL ISRAEL BROOKLYN, NY | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $414,667 |
| CONGREGATION KOL SHOFAR TIBURON, CA | PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES | $50,000 |
| CONOGREGATION KEHILATH JESHURUN NEW YORK, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $5,000 |
| CROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES | $5,000 |
| GATESTONE INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | OPERATING EXPENSES | $10,000 |
| ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees
- Mem Dryan Bernstein
- Arthur W. Fried
Staff
- Linda Sakacs, Secretary
- Nechama Leibowitz, Director of Operations
- Brendan Delany, Office Manager
- Zhanetta Chernyak, Bookkeeper
The foundation employs 5 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEM DRYAN BERNSTEIN | VICE-PRES & TREASURER | 20 | $22,976 |
| LINDA SAKACS | SECRETARY | 40 | $236,170 |
| ALBERT L FRIED | PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the foundation reported record-breaking philanthropic activity in Israel, demonstrating continued commitment to its mission during a significant year for both LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for Jewish educational and cultural programs, backing strong Jewish leaders and organizations. Its funding priorities include: **Jewish Education** • Leadership development for educators • Hebrew language and Judaics instruction • Educational innovation and 21st-century learning • Jewish day schools and high schools **Jewish Culture and Literature** • Digital media promoting Jewish culture • Public intellectual engagement with Jewish ideas • Cultural programming i…
How do I apply for a grant from Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation?
**Grant Activity** • Annual giving: $6,263,203 (2024) • Total giving: $13,357,760 (2024) • Grant range: $50,000 - $20,000,000 • Average grant size: $229,689 • Typical awards: $1,800 - $10,000,000 **Application Process** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant opportunities are by invitation only. **Recent Grants (2024)** • 1210 Scott Street: $202,000 (Operating Expenses) • American Friends of Start-Up Nation Central (AFSNC): $55,000 (Programming Initiatives) • Congregatio…
Where does Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus includes: • New York City metropolitan area • Israel • San Francisco • California • District of Columbia
What size grants does Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation award?
In 2024, Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $13.4M — an average of about $393K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation's EIN?
Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4069592. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Keren Keshet - the Rainbow Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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