Knott Family Foundation
Knott Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Syosset, New York. In its 2024 filing, it reported 27 grants totaling $651,434 to charitable organizations.
Knott Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Knott Family Foundation gave $651K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in New York. 69% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $651,434
- -18.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +68.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,127
- -51.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,063,345
- +40.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 69% first-time grantees (18 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Knott Family Foundation
- 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: 485 Underhill Road 205, Syosset, NY 11791-3434
Phone: (516) 364-0303
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Knott Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cold Spring Harbor Lab ($110K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $527K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 89 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 9% to North Carolina, 8% each to Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and 2% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Knott Family Foundation open to new grantees?
69%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 26 grantees (69%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $45K repeat.
- 19% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 292% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $358K (2021) to $876K (2022). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $651K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oloisukut Conservancy Empowers Africa New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $100,634 |
| Cold Spring Harbor Lab Cold Spring Harbo, NY | Alzheimer's Research | $100,000 |
| Scan-Harbor New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $51,300 |
| Project Nyame NSA Manhasset, NY | General Charitable Purposesgeneral Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| The Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| For Others Collective Franklin, TN | General Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| St John's of Lattingtown Locust Valley, NY | Annual Giving | $40,000 |
| Caron Treatment Center Wernersville, PA | General Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| UNC Arts & Sciences Chapel Hill, NC | The Arts & Science Foundation | $25,000 |
| Wine to Water - Boone NC Boone, NC | General Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Knott Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,063,345 | $2,120,645 | $667,096 | $651,434 | 27 | $652,434 | $316,931 | $223,781 |
| 2023 | $3,609,796 | $1,020,952 | $807,725 | $794,197 | 16 | $794,697 | $308,424 | $167,954 |
| 2022 | $3,396,569 | $79,994 | $896,254 | $876,348 | 15 | $877,098 | $60,838 | $203,390 |
| 2021 | $4,213,020 | $3,140,859 | $367,911 | $358,000 | 13 | $358,750 | $486,760 | $131,457 |
| 2020 | $2,151,749 | $26,036 | $401,175 | $381,500 | 18 | — | $14,121 | $91,763 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Knott Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $224K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for research, arts and sciences, charitable organizations, and other causes. For example, Cold Spring Harbor Lab received a grant for Alzheimer’s research, and UNC Arts & Sciences received a grant for its Arts & Science Foundation.
Some grantees describe their own work as addressing particular needs. For Others Collective says it raises awareness and empowers organizations working to end the child welfare crisis in America. Read Ahead says it helps New York City youth strengthen literacy and social-emotional skills through reading and mentoring. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $651,434. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $100,634, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $100,634 to Oloisukut Conservancy Empowers Africa for general charitable purposes, $100,000 to Cold Spring Harbor Lab for Alzheimer’s research, and $51,300 to SCAN-Harbor for general charitable purposes. The foundation also gave $50,000 each to Project Nyame Nsa, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, and For Others Collective.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David M Knott Jr as co-president, treasurer, and director; Virginia C Knott as vice president and director; and Virginia K Leachman as co-president and director.
Knott Family Foundation is led by Virginia K. Leachman, Co-President & Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Virginia K. Leachman
Co-President & Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David M. Knott Jr.
Co-President Treasurer & Director
President & Director → Co-President Treasurer & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia C. Knott
Vice President & Director
Treasurer & Director → Vice President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Knott Family Foundation
How much does Knott Family Foundation give each year?
Knott Family Foundation gave $651K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $794K across 16 grants.
What is Knott Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Knott Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $24,127, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Knott Family Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Knott Family Foundation give grants?
Knott Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were North Carolina (9%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Locust Valley, NY (3 grants), Cold Spring Harbo, NY (2 grants) and Chapel Hill, NC (2 grants).
Does Knott Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 70% of Knott Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Knott Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Knott Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cold Spring Harbor Lab ($110,000 across 2 grants), Oloisukut Conservancy Empowers Africa ($100,634) and Scan-Harbor ($51,300), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Knott Family Foundation?
Knott Family Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $652K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $224K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Knott Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for research, arts and sciences, charitable organizations, and other causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Knott Family Foundation?
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 Knott Family Foundation's EIN?
Knott Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0495479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Knott Family Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Knott Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Select Equity Group Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation supports charitable organizations in advocacy and civil rights, arts and culture, education and youth development, the environment, health, human services, and international development, locally, nationally, and internationally. In 2025, grants ranged from $30 to $500,000, with a median of $1,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$44.7M
Grants
854
Total Given
$7.3M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
New York, NY
LISC funds affordable housing, community development, small businesses, and related efforts that strengthen inclusive communities, providing grants as well as loans, equity, and technical assistance across the country. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $40,000, though amounts varied widely. Application access is program-specific: for its Rhode Island child care facilities planning grants, applicants are instructed to consult program staff before submitting a request.
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,119
Total Given
$102.8M
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Knott Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/knott-family-foundation-morg_e2f8a30c3a8f4482bc8e9c06c31bc594
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200495479_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Knott Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/knott-family-foundation-morg_e2f8a30c3a8f4482bc8e9c06c31bc594},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Knott Family Foundation'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.
Knott Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?