The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation
The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2007. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a private independent foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$646K
-43.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$496K
+75.3% YoY
Grant Count
30
-14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+104.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and cultural organizations
The foundation supports charitable contributions across these areas, with a geographic focus on New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Grantmaking
The foundation also made grants totaling $197,426 to additional organizations in 2023.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,137,971
- Total Revenues: $41,667
- Total Expenses: $298,984
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 0
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $12,898
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $22,211
- Grants and contributions: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $646,151 | $1,137,971 | $1,395,288 |
| Revenue | $20,001 | $41,667 | $11,955 |
| Expenses | $511,821 | $298,984 | $241,836 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $505,581 | $292,006 | $219,855 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,931 | $35,109 | $1,989 |
| Distributable Amount | $45,769 | $63,675 | $75,129 |
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
114 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Weill Cornell Fund ($100,000), Presidents & Fellows of Harvard College ($60,000), Central Synagogue ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISREAL INC NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| ARTIST' FELLOWSHIP INC NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $3,000 |
| ATHLETE ALLY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $2,500 |
| CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $40,000 |
| CITTA NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $25,000 |
| CONCERTS IN MOTION NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| EARTHQUAKE RELIEF - SERHAN SECMEN NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| PULLUM CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SYRACUSE, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jonathan Dorfman — President and Secretary
- Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer of Napier Park, a global alternative investment manager
- Over 35 years of experience in finance, business, and legal contracts
- Previously Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Citi Capital Advisors
- Co-founder of Carlton Hill Global Capital (acquired by Citi in 2007)
- 20-year tenure at Morgan Stanley, including 17 years in Tokyo and London
- BSE degree, magna cum laude, from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania (1984)
Melissa Kaish — Treasurer
- Located at 135 Central Park West, Apt 7NC, New York, NY 10023
Morton Kaish — Director
- Located at 610 West End Avenue, Apt 9A, New York, NY 10024
The foundation's leadership is connected to the Kaish family legacy in American art. Luise Kaish and Morton Kaish are renowned artists whose works are held in major museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Whitney Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and British Museum. Their artistic legacy continues through family members including daughter Melissa and grandchildren Robert and Kathryn, whose passion for art inspired the founding of the Kaish Family Art Project.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONATHAN DORFMAN | PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY | — | — |
| MELISSA KAISH | TREASURER | — | — |
| MORTON KAISH | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Kaish Family Art Project, which evolved from the foundation's artistic legacy, announced the appointment of Susan Fisher as Director in May 2024. The foundation's leadership, including Melissa Kaish and Jonathan Dorfman, have made donations to support arts education, including a gift to Harvard's Graduate School of Design to help students realize their visions.
Kaish Family Art Project Announces Appointment Of Susan Fisher As DirectorSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and cultural organizations The foundation supports charitable contributions across these areas, with a geographic focus on New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
How do I apply for a grant from The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 20 grants in 2023 • Typical award range: $1–$100,000 • Total giving in 2023: $496,001 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Central Synagogue: $47,000 • Citta: $25,000 • Art Students League of New York: $15,000 • Artists Fellowship: $2,000 The foundation also made grants totaling $197,426 to additional organizations in 2023.
Where does The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $496K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation's EIN?
The Dorfman and Kaish Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5956133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dorfman and Kaish 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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