Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc
Based in New York, New York, Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc is a private foundation that supports writers working in long-form literary and arts criticism, intellectual essays, political analysis, and social reportage. The foundation’s website describes it as a charitable trust established through a bequest from Robert B. Silvers, a founding editor of The New York Review of Books.
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc gave $200K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), top state New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $200,000
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,091
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $3,065,460
- -11.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc
- 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. Its website separately provides an application process for the Silvers Grants for Work in Progress; the 2026 application window is closed.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 grant application window is closed. The website says to check back in February 2027 for information about the next year’s grants.
- Deadline
- The 2026 grant application window is closed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 207 East 32Nd Street, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 757-8070
Website: HTTPS://SILVERSFOUNDATION.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 118 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in New York, New York. For 2024 grant dollars, the filing lists recipient-state shares of 34% for New York, 10% for California, 6% for Arizona, and 6% for Pennsylvania; another 40% is shown with the state unidentified. The website says writers of any nationality may apply to the Silvers Grants for Work in Progress.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 100% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 241% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2021) to $214K (2022). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 22 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $200,000 |
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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 | $3,065,460 | $23,298 | $425,458 | $200,000 | 22 | $396,294 | $2,579 | $164,385 |
| 2023 | $3,467,626 | $572 | $377,560 | $202,500 | 22 | $350,440 | $978 | $161,236 |
| 2022 | $3,844,618 | $155,485 | $383,414 | $213,500 | 24 | $347,330 | $109,401 | $170,243 |
| 2021 | $4,064,002 | $226,249 | $203,869 | $100,000 | 17 | $185,482 | $207,862 | $206,217 |
| 2020 | $4,041,622 | $788,227 | $214,526 | $127,864 | 33 | — | $27,614 | $151,271 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its aim is to support writers in the fields of long-form literary and arts criticism, the intellectual essay, political analysis, and social reportage. Its grant program supports long-form writing in literary criticism, arts writing, political analysis, and social reportage; fiction and translation are excluded from the 2026 grant program.
The Silvers-Dudley Prizes recognize writing in literary criticism and intellectual and cultural essays, arts writing and cultural history, and journalism, including reporting, long-form political analysis, and commentary.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $200,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median of $4,000. The listed grants were designated “Silvers Writers Grant.” Among the largest were $30,000 each to three individual recipients; and $15,000 each to three individual recipients
The website’s 2026 Silvers Grants for Work in Progress offered Anglophone writers of any nationality up to $10,000 for eligible work. Applicants were required to have a publishing agreement for the project. Applications were to include a CV, a one-page project description, a completed financial questionnaire, a 500–2,000-word writing sample, and proof of the publishing agreement. The financial information should include anticipated costs and other funding, including book advances; priority is given to projects without a significant advance. Fiction and translation are ineligible. The 2026 application window is closed.
The Silvers-Dudley Prizes have no application process. Each of three prize categories has awards of $30,000 for established writers and $15,000 for emerging voices.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Rea Hederman as president and Daniel Mendelsohn as treasurer. The foundation’s website identifies Hederman as president and Mendelsohn as director. Its board page also lists Vinson Cunningham, Tim Duggan, Parul Sehgal, Patrick Hederman, and Zadie Smith.
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc is led by Rea Hederman, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rea Hederman
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Mendelsohn
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$37K (2023) → $40K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $40K, to Daniel Mendelsohn (Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc
How much does Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc give each year?
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc gave $200K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $203K across 22 grants.
What is Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $9,091, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc give grants?
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (10%) and Arizona (6%).
Does Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Silvers Writers Grant" (22 grants).
How large is Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc?
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $396K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $164K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says its aim is to support writers in the fields of long-form literary and arts criticism, the intellectual essay, political analysis, and social reportage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc?
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 Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc's EIN?
Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2796750. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robert B Silvers Foundation Inc 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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