The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation
The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City, founded in 1955 by businessman Horace Ward Goldsmith. It supports domestic and international health, education, and Jewish nonprofits, as well as left-leaning policy organizations. The foundation reports more than $428 million in grants to over 1,000 recipient organizations.
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation at a glance
In short: The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation gave $32.0M across 284 grants in 2024 (avg $113K), top state New York. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $31,953,334
- +0.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 284
- +9.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $112,512
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $72,500
- Total assets
- $826,373,173
- +9.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (44 of 271, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (31% 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 Horace W Goldsmith 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: 375 Park Avenue 3601, New York, NY 10152
Phone: (212) 319-8700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Constitution Center ($1.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,339 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 420 grants of 1,339 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in New York received 31% of grant dollars, California 24%, Pennsylvania 18%, Connecticut 6%, and Washington, DC 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 284 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 44 of 271 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $95K; repeat grants $122K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $27.1M (2020) to $33.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 284 grants totaling $32.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Constitution Center Philadelphia, PA | General Operations | $850,000 |
| Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy San Francisco, CA | Special Purpose | $750,000 |
| Tipping Point Community San Francisco, CA | General Operations | $750,000 |
| American Journalism Project Washington, DC | General Operations | $500,000 |
| Democracy Works Brooklyn, NY | General Operations | $500,000 |
| Metropolitan Opera New York, NY | General Operations | $500,000 |
| The Beginnings Fund Alexandria, VA | General Operations | $500,000 |
| The Jerusalem Foundation Inc New York, NY | General Operations | $500,000 |
| University of Virginia School of Law Charlottesville, VA | General Operations | $500,000 |
| Yale Law School New Haven, CT | Special Purpose | $500,000 |
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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 | $826,373,173 | $76,967,391 | $36,429,652 | $31,953,334 | 284 | $32,669,277 | $74,246,802 | $37,940,430 |
| 2023 | $753,425,740 | $24,693,766 | $32,084,823 | $31,917,333 | 260 | $32,712,222 | $22,751,204 | $31,507,041 |
| 2022 | $650,924,619 | $28,832,763 | $40,177,248 | $33,439,333 | 283 | $34,236,886 | $29,313,402 | $33,600,454 |
| 2021 | $789,805,822 | $88,903,334 | $32,361,456 | $27,495,668 | 257 | $28,258,230 | $85,840,988 | $35,449,263 |
| 2020 | $683,024,129 | $26,463,250 | $26,592,268 | $27,149,166 | 255 | — | $23,556,028 | $29,925,644 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $37.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its support for health, education, and Jewish nonprofits in the United States and internationally, as well as left-leaning policy organizations. Its 2024 grants also show support for organizations in areas including civic education, parks conservation, poverty reduction, local journalism, and health.
Among its 2024 grantees, the National Constitution Center describes its work as nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. Tipping Point Community says it advances promising poverty-fighting solutions, while the American Journalism Project describes its work as building and supporting local news organizations. Health grantees included Last Mile Health, which works with community health workers in remote communities, and Tidepool Project, which develops software and applications for diabetes management.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 284 grants totaling $31,953,334. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $850,000, with a median of $72,500.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $850,000 to the National Constitution Center; $750,000 each to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Tipping Point Community; and $500,000 each to American Journalism Project, Democracy Works, Metropolitan Opera, The Beginnings Fund, The Jerusalem Foundation, University of Virginia School of Law, Yale Law School, and Yale School of Management. Other reported grants included $400,000 to Living Goods and $350,000 each to Last Mile Health and Noora Health.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
William A. Slaughter is listed as managing director and CEO. Other officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are Charles L. Slaughter, managing director, CFO and treasurer; R. James Slaughter, managing director and secretary; Joseph W. Slaughter, director; Hannah M. Jocelyn, director; and Samuel Slaughter, director.
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation is led by Charles L. Slaughter, Managing Director on every filing since 2020; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles L. Slaughter
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$175K (2020) → $175K (2024)
R. James Slaughter
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$175K (2020) → $175K (2024)
William A. Slaughter
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$175K (2020) → $175K (2024)
Hannah M. Jocelyn
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Joseph W. Slaughter
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Samuel Slaughter
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $50K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $175K, to William a Slaughter (Managing DIR. (CEO)). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation
How much does The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation give each year?
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation gave $32.0M across 284 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $31.9M across 260 grants.
What is The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's typical grant size?
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $72,500, and its average grant was $112,512, across 284 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation that year got $95K on average.
Where does The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation give grants?
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's top state is New York, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (24%) and Pennsylvania (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (81 grants), Philadelphia, PA (40 grants), San Francisco, CA (30 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (25 grants).
Does The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (244 of 284) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Special Purpose" (38 grants).
Who are The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's largest grantees?
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Constitution Center ($1,000,000 across 2 grants), Yale Law School ($920,000 across 4 grants) and Living Goods ($800,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation?
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation reported $826.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its support for health, education, and Jewish nonprofits in the United States and internationally, as well as left-leaning policy organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Horace W Goldsmith 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 Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's EIN?
The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6107758. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Horace W Goldsmith 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-horace-w-goldsmith-foundation-morg_b8b12b41ea554506820e768ee38f14ef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136107758_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Horace W Goldsmith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-horace-w-goldsmith-foundation-morg_b8b12b41ea554506820e768ee38f14ef},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Horace W Goldsmith 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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