Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation
The Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation is a private foundation established in 1969 and based in Purchase, New York. Founded by financier Edgar "Ed" Wachenheim III and his wife Sue, the foundation operates as a substantial grantmaking institution with a notably low public profile. The foundation does not maintain a website and maintains a selective, invitation-only approach to grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$592.8M
+22.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$28.3M
-12.8% YoY
Grant Count
29
+11.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$975K
-21.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not publicly disclose a formal mission statement. However, tax filings and grantmaking patterns indicate primary funding focus in the following areas:
- Education (K-12 and higher education)
- Arts and Culture
- Democracy and International Affairs
- Health
- Jewish Causes
The foundation prioritizes institutions with which the Wachenheim family maintains personal connections, often through board memberships and long-term relationships.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of trustees based on family interests and board connections. The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. It is challenging to contact the foundation except by mail, and the foundation takes a proactive rather than reactive approach to grantmaking.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $13,500,000
Average Grant
approximately $679,500
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes the New York City and Tri-state area (New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey), with particular emphasis on institutions in these regions where the family maintains connections.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:
- Total Assets: $484,631,262
- Total Revenue: $127,242,217
- Total Expenses: $33,707,665
- Total Liabilities: $0
Tax-Exempt Status: April 1969 (EIN: 23-7011002)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $592,791,507 | $484,631,262 | $412,705,929 |
| Revenue | $137,996,447 | $127,242,217 | $7,265,446 |
| Expenses | $29,836,202 | $33,707,665 | $21,491,945 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $28,290,250 | $32,458,000 | $21,070,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $137,763,817 | $99,881,152 | $13,577,343 |
| Distributable Amount | $35,224,333 | $33,317,886 | $25,301,494 |
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
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include The Museum of Modern Art ($12,135,000), Memorial Sloan-kettering ($7,500,000), Council on Foreign Relations ($3,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK FORTY-SIXERS INC (THE) PLATTSBURGH, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $750,000 |
| BLYTHEDALE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL VALHALLA, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND ARTS KATONAH, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000,000 |
| EAGLE HILL SCHOOL GREENWICH, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| FORTUNE SOCIETY LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| FRIENDS OF RYE TOWN PARK RYE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| GREENWICH HOSPITAL GREENWICH, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Edgar Wachenheim III serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation. He is a financier and investor who graduated from Williams College in 1959 and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He serves as chairman of Greenhaven Associates, a New York money-management firm. Edgar Wachenheim is trustee emeritus and former board president of Rye Country Day School (1983–1993).
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDGAR WACHENHEIM III | PRESIDENT, CEO | 0.5 | — |
| SUE W WACHENHEIM | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| LANCE R WACHENHEIM | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| KIM W WAGMAN | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| CHRIS A WACHENHEIM | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024:** The Council on Foreign Relations announced a $50 million gift from the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation to establish the Wachenheim Center for Peace and Security.
$200K Wachenheim Foundation Challenge Grant for Rye Town Park - MyRye.com**2025:** The Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation pledged $200,000 toward the Friends of Rye Town Park's tower building restoration project, contingent on the group raising a matching $200,000 by June 30, 2025. The tower building, which opened in 1909, is registered on the National and New York State historical registries.
$200K Wachenheim Foundation Challenge Grant for Rye Town Park - MyRye.com**2022:** The Jay Heritage Center in Rye announced receipt of a $1.5 million gift to open the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III Exhibit and Performance Center.
CFR Receives a $50 Million Gift From the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation fund?
The foundation does not publicly disclose a formal mission statement. However, tax filings and grantmaking patterns indicate primary funding focus in the following areas: • **Education** (K-12 and higher education) • **Arts and Culture** • **Democracy and International Affairs** • **Health** • **Jewish Causes** The foundation prioritizes institutions with which the Wachenheim family maintains personal connections, often through board memberships and long-term relationships.
How do I apply for a grant from Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Makes 26-31 grants annually • Annual giving ranges from $21.1 million to $32.5 million • Grant range: $1,000 to $13,500,000 • Average grant: approximately $679,500 • Median grant: $100,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of trustees based on family interests and board connections. The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. …
Where does Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes the New York City and Tri-state area (New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey), with particular emphasis on institutions in these regions where the family maintains connections.
What size grants does Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation award?
In 2025, Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $28.3M — an average of about $975K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation's EIN?
Sue & Edgar Wachenheim Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7011002. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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