Sy Syms Foundation
The Sy Syms Foundation is a private foundation based in Warren, New Jersey, established in 1985 by retail entrepreneur and humanitarian Sy Syms. Its stated mission began with supporting education; the foundation also describes its work as supporting education, science, and the arts.
Sy Syms Foundation at a glance
In short: Sy Syms Foundation gave $2.4M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $2.4M), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,362,380
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -97.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,362,380
- +4110.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,362,380
- Total assets
- $28,390,677
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Sy Syms Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and is no longer accepting new applications.
- Contact
Mailing address: 122 Mount Bethel Road Ste 3, Warren, NJ 07059
Phone: (201) 849-4417
Website: https://sysymsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sy Syms Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Contributions 512024 - 4302025 - Detail Available Upon Request ($2.4M).
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 206 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Warren, New Jersey. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Sy Syms Foundation gives
- Giving fell 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 152% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2024) to $3.4M (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions 512024 - 4302025 - Detail Available Upon Request Warren, NJ | Charitable Activities | $2,362,380 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,390,677 | $1,549,271 | $2,699,200 | $2,362,380 | 1 | $2,389,968 | $1,246,226 | $1,576,851 |
| 2024 | $29,540,606 | $1,135,503 | $3,233,226 | $2,188,320 | 39 | $2,218,347 | $138,161 | $1,588,600 |
| 2023 | $31,638,329 | $52,846 | $3,454,317 | $3,178,890 | 57 | $3,207,663 | $819,036 | $1,676,604 |
| 2022 | $35,039,800 | $5,071,944 | $3,776,084 | $3,413,680 | 51 | $3,447,191 | $4,779,535 | $1,970,764 |
| 2021 | $33,743,940 | $2,586,572 | $3,535,948 | $3,194,820 | 58 | — | $2,313,337 | $1,955,015 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sy Syms Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — 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 was established with a mission to support education. Its website also identifies science and the arts as areas of focus and describes support for higher education, public television and radio, and medical research.
Among the organizations it names as past beneficiaries are the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University and education and scholarship organizations. It also names public media, medical research, civic, and cultural organizations. The foundation describes the work of some medical and science organizations it has supported as improving health and helping people live with and manage diseases.
Grantmaking
Reported grantmaking was $2,362,380 across 1 grant in 2025, $2,188,320 across 39 grants in 2024, and $3,178,890 across 57 grants in 2023. The one itemized 2025 grant was $2,362,380 to “CONTRIBUTIONS 512024 - 4302025 - DETAIL AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST” for charitable activities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marcy Syms Merns as trustee and president, Mark Freiberg as trustee and treasurer, and Lynn Tamarkin Syms as trustee.
Sy Syms Foundation is led by Marcy Syms Merns, Trustee & President on every filing since 2021; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marcy Syms Merns
Trustee & President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$16K (2021) → $16K (2025)
Lynn Tamarkin Syms
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$16K (2021) → $16K (2025)
Mark Freiberg
Trustee & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$16K (2021) → $16K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Syms (2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $16K, to Marcy Syms Merns (Trustee & President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sy Syms Foundation
How much does Sy Syms Foundation give each year?
Sy Syms Foundation gave $2.4M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.2M across 39 grants.
How large is Sy Syms Foundation?
Sy Syms Foundation reported $28.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sy Syms Foundation fund?
The foundation was established with a mission to support education. Its website also identifies science and the arts as areas of focus and describes support for higher education, public television and radio, and medical research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sy Syms Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and is no longer accepting new applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Sy Syms Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Warren, New Jersey. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in New Jersey.
What is Sy Syms Foundation's EIN?
Sy Syms Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2617727. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Sy Syms Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Sy Syms Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?