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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Total Given
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Total Given
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Druckenmiller Foundation
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Total Given
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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