Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation
The Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 and based in Larchmont, New York. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since August 1990. The foundation's primary purpose is to support other organizations exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) through charitable contributions, rather than engaging in direct charitable activities.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80K
-4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$526K
+27.4% YoY
Grant Count
33
+17.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+8.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Performing arts
- Education, including support for Jewish seminaries
- Human services
- Jewish organizations
- Arts and culture
- Jewish causes
- Health
The foundation emphasizes Jewish ethics and social justice, particularly through its support of institutions focused on these areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation established the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. This center emphasizes teaching Jewish ethics from both an activist and traditional academic approach, with programming focused on social justice issues including racial justice, immigration, and gun control.
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- Connecticut
- California
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $79,943 - $83,400
- Revenue: $400,600 - $401,000
- Expenses: $416,000
- Total Liabilities: $7,600
Historical Context: The foundation's financial data is sourced from digitized IRS Form 990-PF filings from 2012 to 2024.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $79,943 | $83,353 | $98,595 |
| Revenue | $525,801 | $400,666 | $315,491 |
| Expenses | $529,211 | $415,908 | $362,970 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $527,767 | $414,588 | $362,970 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | $491 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,679 | $2,373 | $2,538 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Eugene O'neill Theatre ($155,000), Nxt Hvn Inc ($50,000), The Jewish Theological Seminar ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICES NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| ARLEKIN PLAYERS THEATRE NEEDHAM, MA | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| CENTER FOR JEWISH CULTURE & CREATIVITY BEVERLY HILL, CA | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CITY PARKS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| DANCE LAB NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $155,000 |
| FIASCO THEATER NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| HARLEM STAGE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| KALEIDOSCOPE DESERT MORONGO VALLEY, CA | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| LISMORE ROAD NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Stephen Hendel - President and Trustee
- Ruth Hendel - Trustee
Background: Stephen Hendel graduated with a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He was a partner at Goldman Sachs and is involved with Hartee Partners and Hendel Productions. Stephen and Ruth Hendel are known for producing award-winning musicals and plays on Broadway.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN HENDEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RUTH HENDEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported the Jewish Theological Seminary of America through the establishment of the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice. The center's programming includes discussions on social justice issues for current students, enhanced community organizing skills training for rabbinical students, and convenings of accomplished JTS alumni who are social justice activists. The center's executive director is Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay, whose professional background includes work with the American Jewish World Service and Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps.
Stephen & Ruth Hendel FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • Performing arts • Education, including support for Jewish seminaries • Human services • Jewish organizations • Arts and culture • Jewish causes • Health The foundation emphasizes Jewish ethics and social justice, particularly through its support of institutions focused on these areas.
How do I apply for a grant from Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $85,000 to $155,000 **Recent Financial Activity:** • Total giving: $526,298 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) • The foundation had 0 live grant opportunities listed at the time of data collection **Notable Grants:** The foundation established the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. This center emphasizes teaching Jewish ethics from both an activist and traditional academic approach, with programming…
Where does Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • Connecticut • California
What size grants does Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation award?
In 2025, Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $526K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation's EIN?
Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3532037. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
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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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