Paulson Family Foundation
The Paulson Family Foundation is a private independent foundation designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 2009, the foundation is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, with additional presence in New York, New York. It operates as a significant philanthropic organization with substantial assets and a broad geographic reach across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4B
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.6M
-90.1% YoY
Grant Count
44
-13.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$150K
-88.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paulson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $54.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects diverse interests across multiple sectors, including:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Arts and culture
- Jewish causes and organizations
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of exclusive focus, instead supporting a wide range of initiatives across various disciplines and geographies.
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
approximately $4,000
Average Grant
approximately $4,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and territories, including:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- Puerto Rico
Major funding concentrations appear in New York, California, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $1,388,610,735
- Total liabilities: $12,300
- Total expenses: $66,900,000
- Total revenue: $28,200,000
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since September 2009
- EIN: 26-3922995
- Required to file IRS Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,388,610,735 | $1,400,869,609 | $1,473,216,498 |
| Revenue | $11,984,460 | $28,195,371 | $-29,391,565 |
| Expenses | $7,252,854 | $66,858,447 | $67,814,177 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,596,528 | $66,626,602 | $67,458,540 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,984,460 | $36,176,469 | $451,784 |
| Distributable Amount | $54,694,097 | $46,006,538 | $49,503,859 |
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
212 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Manhattan Institute ($2,000,000), Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream ($750,000), Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach ($700,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Institute new york, NY | TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW IDEAS THAT FOSTER GREATER ECONOMIC CHOICE AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. | $2,000,000 |
| The Southampton Hospital Foundation southampton, NY | TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN NEED OF QUALITY HEALTHCARE. | $43,000 |
| Prostate Cancer Foundation santa monica, CA | TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION'S EFFORTS IN CANCER RESEARCH. | $150,000 |
| Hope for Depression Research Foundation new york, NY | TO HELP THE FOUNDATION FUND DEPRESSION RESEARCH. | $70,000 |
| Gabrielle's Angel Foundation New York, NY | TO FUND RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE EFFICACY OF CANCER TREATMENTS. | $100,000 |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL Boston, MA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF HARVARD TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS AND CITIZEN-LEADERS FOR OUR SOCIETY. | $200,000 |
| Greater New York Council Scouting America New York, NY | TO BUILD PROGRAMS THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP AND LIVE BETTER LIVES. | $50,000 |
| JOHN PAULSON CAMPUS for JEWISH LIFE MIAMI BEACH, FL | To provide the education and means to promote Jewish awareness, knowledge and practice. | $185,000 |
| FOURTH OF JULY PARADE Southampton, NY | TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE. | $1,000 |
| MUSEO DE ARTE DE PONCE | To connect the community with Western art and its makers, from the 14th century to the present. | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John Paulson – Director, President, and Secretary (serves without compensation)
- Lebin Mathew – Treasurer (serves without compensation)
- Christopher C Papagianis – President of Paulson Family Foundation and Partner at Paulson & Co.
- Abigail Teller – Vice President, Paulson Family Foundation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Paulson | DIRECTOR PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| LEBIN MATHEW | TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Paulson Family Foundation has made significant recent commitments to Hebrew University, including:
Paulson Family Foundation makes an additional $19 million ...An additional $19 million donation to fund a new building for electrical engineering
Paulson Family Foundation makes an additional $19 million ...Combined with previous gifts, total donations to Hebrew University reached $46 million
Paulson Family Foundation Makes an Additional $19 Million Donation to HebrewThe foundation has also invested $27 million in computer science initiatives at Hebrew University
Paulson Family Foundation makes an additional $19 million ...These donations reflect the foundation's growing emphasis on STEM education and scientific research infrastructure.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paulson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects diverse interests across multiple sectors, including: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human services • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Arts and culture • Jewish causes and organizations The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of exclusive focus, instead supporting a wide range of initiatives across various disciplines and geographies.
How do I apply for a grant from Paulson Family Foundation?
**Financial Scale:** • Total assets: $1.4 billion (as of 2023) • Total giving: $66.9 million in expenses (2023) • Revenue: $28.2 million (2023) • Average grant size: approximately $4,000 • Total grants awarded: 13,441 (previous year data) **Recent Notable Grants:** • New York University: $20,200,000 • Central Park Conservancy: $10,065,000 • Success Academy Charter Schools: $4,600,000 • The Spence School: $3,050,000 • The Metropolitan Museum of Art: $3,050,000 • Hebrew University: $46,000,000 to…
Where does Paulson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and territories, including: • California • Colorado • Florida • Massachusetts • Maryland • New Jersey • New York • Pennsylvania • Virginia • Washington, D.C. • Puerto Rico Major funding concentrations appear in New York, California, and Florida.
What size grants does Paulson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Paulson Family Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $6.6M — an average of about $150K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Paulson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Paulson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $54.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Paulson Family Foundation's EIN?
Paulson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3922995. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Paulson 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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