The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation
The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1999 and based in New York, NY. It operates as a non-operating foundation focused on grantmaking to charitable organizations rather than direct charitable activities.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.7M
+35.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.0M
+1260.6% YoY
Grant Count
6
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.5M
+1260.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $984K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to Jewish organizations and also funds higher education, health care, the arts, policy, youth, education, and culture. While the foundation does not maintain formally named targeted programs or published grantmaking strategies, its giving patterns suggest priorities aligned with the personal interests and affiliations of its founders.
The foundation appears particularly interested in funding large, established cultural institutions and organizations that overlap with the founders' personal background and involvement.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and makes grants only to preselected charitable organizations. Networking is noted as the most viable approach for potential grantseekers.
Grant Range
$500 to $600,000
Average Grant
$67,000–$293,000 (varies by fiscal year)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York and Washington, D.C., though it also supports organizations in other U.S. locations including California, Massachusetts, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (ending March 2025):
- Total Assets: $5,717,528
- Total Revenue: $2,742,621
- Total Expenses: $9,027,988
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: Assets have grown from $1.3 million in 2011 to approximately $5.7 million as of 2025. Annual giving has ranged from $233,000 to $899,000 in recent years.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,717,528 | $4,227,163 | $2,867,789 |
| Revenue | $2,742,621 | $2,761,047 | $1,091,437 |
| Expenses | $9,027,988 | $667,750 | $900,570 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,972,402 | $659,750 | $899,550 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,706,090 | $2,014,322 | $409,270 |
| Distributable Amount | $984,123 | $723,889 | $696,334 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include See Attached List ($8,886,240), Washington Institute for Near East Policy ($50,000), United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Institute for Near East Policy Washington, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom New York, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| New York-Presbyterian Fund Inc New York, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre Inc New York, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| SEE ATTACHED LIST VARIOUS, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $8,886,240 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by four trustees, all serving without compensation:
- Abby J. Cohen – Trustee (1 hour per week)
- David M. Cohen – Trustee (1 hour per week)
- Ellen M. Gertsen – Trustee (1 hour per week)
- Lauren G. Cohen – Trustee (1 hour per week)
Abby Joseph Cohen is a Goldman Sachs veteran who has been recognized as one of the 30 most powerful women in America. The Cohens are alumni of Cornell University and serve as overseers at Weill Cornell Medical School. David Cohen serves on the board of Roundabout Theater, and Abby Cohen previously chaired the board of Jewish Theological Seminary.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBY J COHEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID M COHEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELLEN M GERTSEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LAUREN G COHEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily to Jewish organizations and also funds higher education, health care, the arts, policy, youth, education, and culture. While the foundation does not maintain formally named targeted programs or published grantmaking strategies, its giving patterns suggest priorities aligned with the personal interests and affiliations of its founders. The foundation appears particularly interested in funding large, established cultural institutions and organizations that overlap w…
How do I apply for a grant from The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $500 to $600,000 • Median grant size: $10,000–$60,000 (varies by fiscal year) • Average grant size: $67,000–$293,000 (varies by fiscal year) • Application approach: Preselected grantees only The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and makes grants only to preselected charitable organizations. Networking is noted as the most viable approach for potential grantseekers. **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grantees have included Washington Instit…
Where does The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York and Washington, D.C., though it also supports organizations in other U.S. locations including California, Massachusetts, and other states.
What size grants does The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation award?
In 2025, The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation awarded 6 grants totaling $9.0M — an average of about $1.5M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $984K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation's EIN?
The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4090442. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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