The Lautenberg Foundation
The Lautenberg Foundation is a private foundation based in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including a medical school, a land trust, Jewish organizations, and community-service organizations.
The Lautenberg Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lautenberg Foundation gave $169K across 41 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in New York. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $168,800
- -49.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,117
- -44.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $4,338,734
- +0.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (4 of 41, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (60% 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 Lautenberg 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: 745 Palisade Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Phone: (973) 984-3352
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lautenberg Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($61K). Together the top 10 received $121K.
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 228 grants of 244 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New York (60%), Colorado (14%), Massachusetts (9%), New Jersey (5%), and Florida (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Lautenberg Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 41 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 64% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 44% 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 $169K (2024) to $463K (2021). In 2024 it made 41 grants totaling $169K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY | General Support | $60,500 |
| Eagle Valley Land Trust Edwards, CO | General Support | $13,000 |
| Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
| UJA Metrowest New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ Whippany, NJ | General Support | $6,500 |
| Bnai Vail Vail, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Breakthrough New York, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Jewish Big Brothers & Big Sisters Newton, MA | General Support | $4,000 |
| Eagle Valley Community Foundation Vail, CO | General Support | $3,500 |
| Anti-Defamation New York, NY | General Support | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lautenberg Foundation?
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 | $4,338,734 | $273,135 | $239,646 | $168,800 | 41 | $189,570 | $227,379 | $429,017 |
| 2023 | $4,305,245 | $118,740 | $412,782 | $336,500 | 45 | $353,124 | $113,406 | $386,618 |
| 2022 | $4,521,287 | $453,109 | $425,888 | $361,100 | 49 | $364,322 | $397,543 | $396,691 |
| 2021 | $4,679,120 | $293,489 | $503,854 | $462,500 | 58 | $468,675 | $260,191 | $408,765 |
| 2020 | $4,889,485 | $224,199 | $511,125 | $446,700 | 51 | — | $165,052 | $358,420 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lautenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $429K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included general support for organizations whose own missions include advancing medical research and education, protecting land and wildlife habitat, and serving community needs. For example, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describes its mission as advancing science, medicine, and health care delivery; Eagle Valley Land Trust says it protects land, scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitats; and Eagle Valley Community Foundation describes providing access to nourishment, wellness, and growth opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 41 grants totaling $168,800. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $60,500, with a median grant of $2,000. The listed grant purposes were general support.
The largest grant was $60,500 to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Other notable grants included $13,000 to Eagle Valley Land Trust, $10,000 to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, $10,000 to UJA MetroWest, and $6,500 to Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ellen Lautenberg as president and Eleanore Rigolosi as secretary. Directors listed are Joshua Lautenberg, Lisa Birer, Nan Morgart, and Stephen Greenberg.
The Lautenberg Foundation is led by Ellen Lautenberg, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ellen Lautenberg
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Lautenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Birer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nan Morgart
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Greenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eleanore Rigolosi
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$18K (2023) → $18K (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 $18K, to Eleanore Rigolosi (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about The Lautenberg Foundation
How much does The Lautenberg Foundation give each year?
The Lautenberg Foundation gave $169K across 41 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $337K across 45 grants.
What is The Lautenberg Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lautenberg Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,117, across 41 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lautenberg Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Lautenberg Foundation give grants?
The Lautenberg Foundation gives mostly in New York: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (14%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (12 grants), Vail, CO (3 grants), Newton, MA (2 grants) and Ft Lauderdale, FL (2 grants).
Does The Lautenberg Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of The Lautenberg Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lautenberg Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lautenberg Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($60,500), Eagle Valley Land Trust ($13,000) and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lautenberg Foundation?
The Lautenberg Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $190K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $429K (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 Lautenberg Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included general support for organizations whose own missions include advancing medical research and education, protecting land and wildlife habitat, and serving community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lautenberg 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 Lautenberg Foundation's EIN?
The Lautenberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6102734. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Lautenberg 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
(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 Lautenberg Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lautenberg-foundation-morg_49d2dc9e4090450fa5d030128a096e2f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226102734_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lautenberg Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lautenberg-foundation-morg_49d2dc9e4090450fa5d030128a096e2f},
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 Lautenberg 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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