The Fairholme Foundation is a private foundation established in 2002 and based in Coral Gables, Florida. It operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$244.3M
-2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.8M
+0.4% YoY
Grant Count
23
+53.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$512K
-34.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fairholme Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Arts & Culture
- Health
- Social & Human Services
- Community Development
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Prospective grantees should approach the foundation directly for more information regarding funding opportunities.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides support nationally, with particular emphasis on Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets: $244,340,479
- Total giving: $11,772,650
- Foundation income: $1,033,084 (as of December 2022)
Tax-Exempt Status: The foundation has been tax-exempt since July 2002 and holds 501(c)(3) designation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $244,340,479 | $250,882,800 | $278,300,267 |
| Revenue | $1,844,931 | $6,038,044 | $1,279,606 |
| Expenses | $11,786,649 | $11,828,728 | $12,745,925 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,772,650 | $11,725,500 | $12,735,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,924,056 | $5,999,816 | $1,268,881 |
| Distributable Amount | $12,937,079 | $11,761,601 | $11,727,211 |
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
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc ($10,400,000), Beaver Country Day School ($250,000), Florida State University ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL CHESTNUT HILL, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| BEIT RUTH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC SOUTH MIAMI, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,400,000 |
| OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC MILLBURN, NJ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF MIAMI MIAMI, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $110,000 |
| GOG FOUNDATION EDGEWATER, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICS CORAL GABLES, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $150 |
| TEMPLE JUDEA CORAL GABLES, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| WNET NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Bruce Berkowitz - Trustee
- Tracey Berkowitz - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE BERKOWITZ | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| TRACEY BERKOWITZ | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 14 Tahiti Beach Island Road, Coral Gables, FL 33143-6540
- Telephone: 305-667-5437
- EIN: 01-0718240
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fairholme Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Arts & Culture • Health • Social & Human Services • Community Development • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Fairholme Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $11,772,650 (most recent reporting year) • Typical award range: $100 to $12,050,000 • Median grant amount: $12,000 • Grant count: Approximately 12 grants in recent reporting periods **Application Process:** The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Prospective grantees should approach the foundation directly for more information regarding funding opportunities.
Where does The Fairholme Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides support nationally, with particular emphasis on Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
What size grants does The Fairholme Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fairholme Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $11.8M — an average of about $512K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fairholme Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fairholme Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fairholme Foundation's EIN?
The Fairholme Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0718240. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fairholme 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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