Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation
The Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation was established by Max and Selma Kupferberg, prominent philanthropists with deep ties to Queens, New York. Selma Kupferberg passed away in January 2012 at age 86, while Max Kupferberg was a Queens College alumnus and co-founder of Kepco, a successful engineering and electronic manufacturing company based in Flushing.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.3M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$405K
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
29
-6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+4.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $420K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts & Culture
The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting the performing and visual arts, with significant investments in arts education and cultural institutions.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent IRS 990 Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $7,346,805
- Total Giving: $405,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,346,805 | $7,460,223 | $7,524,558 |
| Revenue | $368,607 | $421,720 | $307,305 |
| Expenses | $482,025 | $486,055 | $495,524 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $426,468 | $435,566 | $438,185 |
| Net Investment Income | $509,306 | $375,760 | $242,116 |
| Distributable Amount | $420,387 | $402,320 | $421,688 |
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
171 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Queens College Foundation Inc ($175,000), Patient Airlift Services ($75,000), Queens Botanical Garden Society Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| BELMONT CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION INC ELMONT, NY | General & Unrestricted | $500 |
| CALVARY HOSPITAL INC BRONX, NY | General & Unrestricted | $8,500 |
| CENTER FOR BOOKS ARTS INCORPORATED 1974 NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE MONTGOMERY, AL | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| FOOTSTEPS INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION INC MADISON, WI | General & Unrestricted | $500 |
| HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY BOSTON, MA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| HIAS INC WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $750 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Based on available records, foundation leadership includes:
- Martin Kupferberg – Trustee, President
- Saul Kupferberg – Trustee, Treasurer
- Seth Kupferberg – Trustee, Vice President
- Mark Kupferberg – Trustee
The foundation is administered through Foundation Source.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhoda Kupferberg Joss | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Saul Kupferberg | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation serves as a major sponsor of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts' 2025-26 season at Queens College, supporting the institution that bears the family name. The foundation's $10 million gift to Queens College in 2006 enabled the establishment of the Selma and Max Kupferberg Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, which includes the Colden Auditorium, LeFrak Concert Hall, Goldstein Theatre, and Godwin-Ternbach Museum.
Why I Give? - Queens College/CUNYSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • **Education** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** • **Arts & Culture** The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting the performing and visual arts, with significant investments in arts education and cultural institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $175,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** • $175,000 to Queens College Foundation Inc. (Flushing, NY) in 2022 for support of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, including support for The Mosaic Project curriculum adaptation for in-school artists' residencies, general operating support, and the Kupferberg Arts Incubator Projects • $1,000 to University of Massachusetts Foundation Inc. (Boston, MA) in 2021 for WUMB Radio at UMass Boston
Where does Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • Massachusetts • District of Columbia
What size grants does Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $405K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $420K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation's EIN?
Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1636082. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Max and Selma Kupferberg Family 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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