The Block Friedman Family Foundation
The Block Friedman Family Foundation (formerly known as the Adele and Leonard Block Foundation) is a private family foundation established in 1945 and based in New York City. The foundation is supported by the estate of Adele Block and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It focuses its philanthropic efforts on supporting nonprofit organizations primarily in the New York City metropolitan area.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$31.8M
-12.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.7M
+91.3% YoY
Grant Count
23
+21.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$248K
+58.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Block Friedman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its funding priorities include:
- Arts and culture (museums and theater)
- Education
- Health
- Human services and social services
- Jewish organizations
- Children and youth
- The environment
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. It does not maintain a public website or publicly listed contact information. Communication is typically initiated by the foundation rather than through formal grant applications.
Grant Range
Approximately $157,000
Average Grant
Approximately $157,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is concentrated in the New York City metropolitan area, with particular emphasis on organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total assets: $36,193,390
- Total revenues: $6,262,441
- Total expenses: $3,008,323
- Total liabilities: $1,950
- Investment income and dividends: $13,384,526
Asset Growth: The foundation has experienced substantial growth in recent years, with total assets increasing from approximately $3 million in 2018 to over $36 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,785,732 | $36,193,390 | $32,939,272 |
| Revenue | $1,512,018 | $6,262,441 | $13,294,341 |
| Expenses | $5,919,676 | $3,008,323 | $4,228,608 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,711,667 | $2,986,000 | $4,215,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,512,018 | $13,384,526 | $1,014,180 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,067,089 | $1,539,005 | $1,448,046 |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include 92nd Street Y ($2,050,000), Mt Sinai Medical Center ($1,260,000), Cornell University ($866,667).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92ND STREET Y NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $2,050,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $866,667 |
| HYDE SQUARE TASK FORCE JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| JEWISH ASSOCIATION FOR SERVICES FOR THE AGED NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $18,000 |
| LINCOLN CENTER THEATER NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| MT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,260,000 |
| NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS BEAVERTON, OR | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $45,000 |
| OBJECTS CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT (METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART) NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS BLOCK | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT HEUN | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PHILIP HEIMLICH | SECRETARY, DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MARILYN FRIEDMAN | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JONATHAN BLOCK | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ALISON BLOCK | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Block Friedman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its funding priorities include: • Arts and culture (museums and theater) • Education • Health • Human services and social services • Jewish organizations • Children and youth • The environment • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Block Friedman Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total grants distributed: $2,986,000 • Number of grants: 17-19 awards • Average grant size: Approximately $157,000 • Grant range: $50,000–$2,040,000 **Types of Support:** • General operating support • Project support • Unrestricted charitable contributions **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. It does not maintain a public website or publicly listed contact information. Communication is typically initiated by the foundation ra…
Where does The Block Friedman Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is concentrated in the New York City metropolitan area, with particular emphasis on organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
What size grants does The Block Friedman Family Foundation award?
In 2025, The Block Friedman Family Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $5.7M — an average of about $248K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Block Friedman Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Block Friedman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Block Friedman Family Foundation's EIN?
The Block Friedman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6026000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Block Friedman 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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