The Esther & Robert Born Foundation
The Esther & Robert Born Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Founded in 1995, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and focuses on providing donations to charities to further their charitable purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$990K
-31.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$352K
-48.4% YoY
Grant Count
19
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-59.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary charitable activity is providing donations to charities to further their charitable purpose. The foundation directs income to donate to qualifying 509(a) organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes donations to qualifying organizations, with a focus on Jewish-affiliated institutions and charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with The Esther & Robert Born Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Tax Year 2023
- Total assets: $1,446,320
- Total revenues: -$48,998
- Total expenses: $688,994
- Contributions: $297,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $990,278 | $1,446,320 | $2,184,312 |
| Revenue | $-94,982 | $-48,998 | $501,418 |
| Expenses | $361,060 | $688,994 | $316,184 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $352,199 | $681,932 | $305,957 |
| Net Investment Income | $24,811 | $14,306 | $162,700 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
80 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Friends of the Idf ($125,000), U S Holocaust Museum ($50,000), Congregation Kehilath Jes ($43,619).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CONGREGATION KEHILATH JES NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $43,619 |
| TIBET FUND NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $13,000 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR NAVY SEALS VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | DONATION | $1,800 |
| J N F NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $18,000 |
| UJA NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $10,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTI CHICAGO, IL | DONATION | $25,000 |
| U S HOLOCAUST MUSEUM WASHINGTON DC, DC | DONATION | $50,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDF NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $125,000 |
| FRIENDS OF RABIN MEDICAL CENTER NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $18,000 |
| COLLEL BETH SHMUEL AARON NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard Born — President (5 hours/week, unpaid)
- Rita Distenfeld — Treasurer (5 hours/week, unpaid)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD BORN | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| RITA DISTENFELD | TREASURER | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Esther & Robert Born Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary charitable activity is providing donations to charities to further their charitable purpose. The foundation directs income to donate to qualifying 509(a) organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Esther & Robert Born Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023)** • Total distributions: $681,932 • Number of grants: 15-17 • Grant median: $24,000 • Grant maximum: $240,000 **Recent Grantees (2023)** • Ramaz School: $240,000 • American Friends of Rabin Medical Center: $43,000 • Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach: $10,180 • Collel Chabad (mentioned as grantee) The foundation makes donations to qualifying organizations, with a focus on Jewish-affiliated institutions and charitable organizations.
What size grants does The Esther & Robert Born Foundation award?
In 2024, The Esther & Robert Born Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $352K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Esther & Robert Born Foundation's EIN?
The Esther & Robert Born Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3797585. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Esther & Robert Born Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Jewish Communal Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3.0B
Grants
4,673
Total Given
$953.3M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Fjc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$430.3M
Grants
706
Total Given
$40.6M
The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$518.0M
Grants
2,485
Total Given
$212.1M
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater
WHIPPANY, NJ
Assets
$470.9M
Grants
375
Total Given
$6.7M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Jewish Community Federation of San
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
991
Total Given
$123.7M
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Esther & Robert Born Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities