Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is a private foundation based in Stamford, Connecticut, established in 2001 by Steven A. Cohen and Alexandra Cohen. The foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a private independent foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking and inspiring community service.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$537.2M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$130.0M
+1.1% YoY
Grant Count
191
-2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$681K
+3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $47.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to inspire philanthropy and community service by creating awareness, offering guidance, and leading by example to show the world what giving can do. The foundation supports public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in the United States that either help people in need or solve complex problems.
Primary funding areas include:
- Underserved Communities ($87.2M in 2025)
- Children ($36.4M in 2025)
- Lyme and Tickborne Disease Research ($5M in 2025)
- Psychedelics Research ($8.8M in 2025) — specifically research on psychedelic medications for the treatment of mental illnesses and psychiatric disorders
- Women's Health ($4.7M in 2025)
- The Arts ($778K in 2025)
- Sustainability ($860K in 2025)
The foundation's giving reflects personal connections with causes championed by the founders, though it is not limited to these particular areas. The foundation has supported initiatives including endowing a hospital for women and newborns, investing in psychedelics research centers, and providing hurricane relief efforts.
Grantmaking
The foundation employs a proactive grantmaking approach and does not accept unsolicited applications or letters of intent. Prospective grantees are encouraged to follow the foundation's social media accounts for networking opportunities.
Grant Range
$100,000
Average Grant
award: $830,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation traditionally focused its giving in New York City and Connecticut but has recently expanded to national grantmaking. Primary funding regions include:
- New York
- Connecticut
- California
The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 28 states, with Connecticut, New York, and California accounting for 73% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets: $537.2 million (as of 2024)
- Annual income: $142.2 million
- Total liabilities: $0 (as of 2023)
Recent Giving:
- 2025: $144+ million distributed
- 2024: $129.2 million in total giving
- 2023: $138 million in revenue; $131 million in expenses
- 2022: $244.7 million in annual giving
- 2020: $91.5 million in annual giving
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $537,222,157 | $527,570,662 | $520,466,643 |
| Revenue | $142,192,267 | $138,232,432 | $124,033,209 |
| Expenses | $132,540,772 | $131,128,413 | $124,092,267 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $131,046,941 | $129,082,838 | $122,547,469 |
| Net Investment Income | $142,144,640 | $138,209,761 | $123,993,541 |
| Distributable Amount | $47,189,153 | $43,947,722 | $42,108,268 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cohen Veterans Network Inc ($51,000,000), City Harvest Inc ($4,200,000), Digital Harbor Foundation ($2,867,894).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 914 CARES ARMONK, NY | HUMAN SERVICES | $160,000 |
| ABILIS GREENWICH, CT | HUMAN SERVICES | $2,520,000 |
| ACE PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | $100,000 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE SHADY GROVE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION GAITHERSBURG, MD | RESEARCH | $353,157 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE INC GAITHERSBURG, MD | RESEARCH | $180,253 |
| AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER NEW YORK, NY | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | $94,000 |
| AFYA FOUNDATION INC YONKERS, NY | HUMAN SERVICES | $70,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT INC BRIDGEPORT, CT | HUNGER RELIEF | $25,000 |
| AMAZIN' METS FOUNDATION INC QUEENS, NY | RECREATION & SPORTS | $816,204 |
| ASSOCIATION TO BENEFIT CHILDREN NEW YORK, NY | HEALTHCARE | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Alexandra Cohen — President
- Jeanne Melino — Executive Director and Principal Officer
- Bennett Nemser — Chief Program Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN A COHEN | VP / TREASURER | 3 | — |
| ALEXANDRA M COHEN | PRESIDENT / SECRETARY | 15 | — |
| JOSHUA COHEN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a $116 million grant to LaGuardia Community College to create the Cohen Career Collective
Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation awards a $1.1 million transformativeThe Menopause Society received a $5 million grant to forward the digital-innovation phase of its NextGen Now Initiative
The Menopause Society Receives $5 Million Grant from the Steven & AlexandraThe foundation awarded a $3 million gift to support innovation and community resilience on the Treasure Coast
Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation awards a $1.1 million transformativeHomes for the Brave received a $95,000 grant to support women veterans
Homes for the Brave Receives $95,000 Grant from the Steven & Alexandra CohenWestchester Community College Foundation received a $1.1 million transformative grant
Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation awards a $1.1 million transformativeSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to inspire philanthropy and community service by creating awareness, offering guidance, and leading by example to show the world what giving can do. The foundation supports public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in the United States that either help people in need or solve complex problems. Primary funding areas include: • **Underserved Communities** ($87.2M in 2025) • **Children** ($36.4M in 2025) • **Lyme and Tickborne Disease Research** ($5M in 2025) • **P…
How do I apply for a grant from Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • In 2025, the foundation distributed more than $144 million across 273 grants • Historical giving since 2001 exceeds $1.5 billion • Median grant size: $100,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $5,000 to $91.5 million • Average grant award: $830,000 • The foundation has made 405 grants totaling $336.2 million to 166 unique organizations **Application Process:** The foundation employs a proactive grantmaking approach and does not accept unsolicited applications or letters…
Where does Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation traditionally focused its giving in New York City and Connecticut but has recently expanded to national grantmaking. Primary funding regions include: • New York • Connecticut • California The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 28 states, with Connecticut, New York, and California accounting for 73% of all grants.
What size grants does Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc awarded 191 grants totaling $130.0M — an average of about $681K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $47.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc's EIN?
Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1627638. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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