The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation is a private family foundation based in Brooklyn, New York. Incorporated in 1956 and tax-exempt since February 1961, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
-2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$201K
+2.5% YoY
Grant Count
143
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth reported a distributable amount of $217K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Human rights
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants across a range of sizes, with typical awards ranging from $75 to $16,000. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily to New York, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,427,275
- Total Revenue: $170,564
- Total Expenses: $222,566
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Sources (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $169,087
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,477
Financial Trend: Investment income declined 5.6% from 2022 ($179,099) to 2023 ($169,087).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,372,990 | $2,427,275 | $2,479,277 |
| Revenue | $205,476 | $170,564 | $194,332 |
| Expenses | $259,758 | $222,566 | $223,050 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $220,310 | $201,143 | $195,492 |
| Net Investment Income | $169,128 | $149,141 | $169,774 |
| Distributable Amount | $217,378 | $202,240 | $214,295 |
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 Catlin Gabel School ($12,000), Aclu Foundation ($10,000), American Cancer Society ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $275 |
| APPALACIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY HARPERS FERRY, WV | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS BRIDGERPORT, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BIG REUSE BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250 |
| BRICCELEBRATE BROOKLYN BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BROOKLYN ARTS EXCHANGE BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Melissa Wohlgemuth is listed as a contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA WOHLGEMUTH | PRESIDENT | 2 | $4,500 |
| SARA WOHLGEMUTH | TRUSTEE | 2 | $4,500 |
| KAREN WOHLGEMUTH | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ERIK WOHLGEMUTH | TREASURER | — | — |
| JESSICA CINTRON | SECRETARY | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: c/o Melissa Wohlgemuth, 447 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Telephone: 718-499-0104
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human services • Human rights • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The foundation makes grants across a range of sizes, with typical awards ranging from $75 to $16,000. Recent grants include: • Catlin Gabel School: $15,000 (2023) • ACLU Foundation: $10,000 (2023) • The Pacific Forest Trust Incorporated: $9,500 (2023) The foundation made 80 grants totaling approximately $110,470 in 2023.
Where does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily to New York, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth award?
In 2024, The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth awarded 143 grants totaling $201K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth reported a distributable amount of $217K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth's EIN?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6086849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth'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.