The Gershwind Foundation
The Gershwind Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported educational, medical, and religious purposes, including gifts to universities, health organizations, and a church.
The Gershwind Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gershwind Foundation gave $983K across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), top state Pennsylvania. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $982,585
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- +25.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,053
- +1.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $7,387,179
- -10.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (18 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (44% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Gershwind Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 55 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 969-3606
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gershwind Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northwell Health Foundation ($206K across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $881K.
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 160 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Pennsylvania (44%) and New York (43%), followed by Massachusetts (12%). Florida accounted for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Gershwind Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 38 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 81% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 264% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $516K (2020) to $983K (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $983K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania Associate Vice Provost Philadelphia, PA | Educational | $200,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Family Forum Philadelphia, PA | Educational | $179,000 |
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Educational | $50,000 |
| New York University Langone New York, NY | Medicial | $50,000 |
| Northwell Health Foundation New Hyde Park, NY | Medical | $50,000 |
| Northwell Health Foundation New Hyde Park, NY | Medical | $50,000 |
| Northwell Health Foundation New Hyde Park, NY | Medical | $50,000 |
| Northwell Health Foundation New Hyde Park, NY | Medical | $50,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Educational | $50,000 |
| The Riverside Church in the City of New York New York, NY | Religious | $35,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,387,179 | $13,703 | $1,011,430 | $982,585 | 49 | $997,105 | $191,212 | $377,333 |
| 2023 | $8,269,604 | $101,419 | $797,552 | $767,503 | 39 | $784,027 | $87,894 | $378,044 |
| 2022 | $7,929,122 | $48,744 | $577,753 | $548,567 | 34 | $562,959 | $143,047 | $437,785 |
| 2021 | $9,254,593 | $67,935 | $568,433 | $542,019 | 20 | $555,175 | $155,933 | $455,148 |
| 2020 | $9,437,504 | $377,448 | $542,829 | $516,417 | 18 | — | $436,064 | $399,812 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gershwind Foundation reported a distributable amount of $377K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grant descriptions include educational, medical, and religious purposes. Among its grantees, Northwell Health Foundation says it supports efforts to help underserved and uninsured people, advance medical technology and research, and fund Northwell Health facilities and programs. Sunrise Day Camps Association says it brings childhood activities to children with cancer and their siblings through camps, year-round programs, and hospital activities offered free of charge. Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center says it provides programming based on Jewish values, traditions, heritage, education, and culture.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $982,585. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $200,000, with a median of $3,000. Notable grants included $200,000 to University of Pennsylvania Associate Vice Provost and $179,000 to University of Pennsylvania Family Forum, both for educational purposes; $50,000 to Harvard University for an educational purpose; and $50,000 to New York University Langone and four $50,000 grants to Northwell Health Foundation for medical purposes. The Riverside Church in the City of New York received $35,000 for a religious purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Erik Gershwind as director, Jackie Gershwind as vice president, and J Robert Small as treasurer.
The Gershwind Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Erik Gershwind
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
J. Robert Small
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jackie Gershwind
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Gershwind Foundation
How much does The Gershwind Foundation give each year?
The Gershwind Foundation gave $983K across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $768K across 39 grants.
What is The Gershwind Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gershwind Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $20,053, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Gershwind Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does The Gershwind Foundation give grants?
The Gershwind Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (43%) and Massachusetts (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (15 grants), Philadelphia, PA (6 grants), New Hyde Park, NY (6 grants) and East Hills, NY (3 grants).
Does The Gershwind Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on The Gershwind Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (15 grants), "Educational" (12 grants) and "Religious" (12 grants).
Who are The Gershwind Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gershwind Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Northwell Health Foundation ($205,600 across 6 grants), University of Pennsylvania Associate Vice Provost ($200,000) and University of Pennsylvania Family Forum ($179,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Gershwind Foundation?
The Gershwind Foundation reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $997K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $377K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gershwind Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grant descriptions include educational, medical, and religious purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gershwind Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Gershwind Foundation's EIN?
The Gershwind Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1617389. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Gershwind Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gershwind Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gershwind Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gershwind-foundation-morg_c1523cc427e043daa644610b76d192e4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461617389_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gershwind Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gershwind-foundation-morg_c1523cc427e043daa644610b76d192e4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Gershwind Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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