The Derfner Foundation
The Derfner Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1992 by the late real estate mogul Harold Derfner and his wife Helen. Based in New York City, the foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on supporting charitable causes aligned with the family's philanthropic interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$218.0M
+8.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.1M
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
60
-3.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$119K
+0.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Derfner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to:
- Jewish causes
- Health and public health access
- Education
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Community development
The foundation maintains a low profile and does not publish a formal mission statement or detailed priority guidelines.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Grantmaking operates through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations. Funding is distributed by invitation only, with no public application process available.
Grant Range
$2,500 to $1,500,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily concentrates its giving in the New York area. However, it occasionally makes grants nationally to established organizations that align with the family's interests.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $217,981,344
- Total giving: $7,143,000
- Total revenues: $13,485,451
- Total expenses: $9,674,288
As of 2022:
- Annual giving: $6,555,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $217,981,344 | $200,614,469 | $131,868,578 |
| Revenue | $13,485,451 | $65,072,910 | $5,672,884 |
| Expenses | $9,674,288 | $9,848,147 | $8,610,518 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,143,000 | $7,313,500 | $6,555,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,449,740 | $4,857,621 | $4,030,808 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,312,695 | $7,432,466 | $6,777,522 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mount Sinai Dept of Surgery ($1,500,000), Hebrew Home for the Aged ($1,000,000), Hospital for Special Surgery ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92ND STREET LEXINGTON AVE Y NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED USE | $50,000 |
| AHRC NYC FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED USE | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT RUTH NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED USE | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED USE | $100,000 |
| BABY2BABY LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $250,000 |
| BASSER RESEARCH CENTER FOR BRCA PHILADELPHIA, PA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $100,000 |
| BICOL CLINIC FOUNDATION INC BOCA RATON, FL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $50,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $15,000 |
| BRENTWOOD SCHOOL LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $50,000 |
| CARON TREATMENT CENTERS WERNERSVILLE, PA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Peter Derfner – Trustee; son of founder Harold Derfner
- Jay Lieberman – Trustee; longtime family friend and Derfner Management executive
The foundation operates with minimal staff, maintaining only one employee as of 2024.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY LIEBERMAN | TRUSTEE | 40 | $600,000 |
| ANDREA LIEBERMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported significant research initiatives, including funding for regenerative medicine research and faculty research awards in pediatrics. Mount Sinai received a $6 million gift from the foundation, and the Kessler Foundation received funding for novel research in regenerative medicine.
Request for Proposals: Derfner Foundation Faculty Research ...The foundation maintains a connection to the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, where Harold and Helen Derfner established the Derfner Judaica Museum and provided the lead gift for "Helen's Terrace," a 25,000 square foot outdoor space. Harold Derfner served on the Hebrew Home's board for more than five decades.
Request for Proposals: Derfner Foundation Faculty Research ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Derfner Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to: • Jewish causes • Health and public health access • Education • Arts and culture • Human services • Community development The foundation maintains a low profile and does not publish a formal mission statement or detailed priority guidelines.
How do I apply for a grant from The Derfner Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $2,500 to $1,500,000 • Typical grant size: $25,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $6.6 million (2022); $7,143,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 101 grants in 2024; 58 awards in 2022 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Grantmaking operates through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations. Funding is distributed by invitation only, with no public application process available. **Recen…
Where does The Derfner Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily concentrates its giving in the New York area. However, it occasionally makes grants nationally to established organizations that align with the family's interests.
What size grants does The Derfner Foundation award?
In 2024, The Derfner Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $7.1M — an average of about $119K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Derfner Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Derfner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Derfner Foundation's EIN?
The Derfner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3661341. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Derfner 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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