The Lautenberg Foundation
The Lautenberg Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking foundation established in 1968 and located at 745 Palisade Avenue in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. The foundation was founded by the late Frank Lautenberg, who served as a Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey across five non-consecutive terms (1982–2001 and 2003–2013). Prior to his Senate career, Lautenberg was Chairman and CEO of Automatic Data Processing, Inc., a global provider of integrated computing and business outsourcing services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
+0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$169K
-49.8% YoY
Grant Count
41
-8.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-44.9% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Lautenberg Foundation grants largely for Jewish welfare funds, education, and cultural programs locally, with some support also directed toward educational and cultural institutions in Israel. The foundation's giving priorities encompass education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 58 grants in 2024 with total giving of $168,800. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $80,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, Massachusetts, and Florida, with local emphasis on the New Jersey area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,338,734
- Total Revenues: $273,135
- Total Expenses: $239,646
- Investment Income and Dividends: $212,053 (26.2% increase from prior year)
Historical Context (December 2022):
- Total Assets: $4.5 million
- Total Revenue: $453.1k
- Investments: $3.1 million
The foundation has experienced exceptional growth over the past eight years, with revenue increasing at an average rate annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,338,734 | $4,305,245 | $4,521,287 |
| Revenue | $273,135 | $118,740 | $453,109 |
| Expenses | $239,646 | $412,782 | $425,888 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $189,570 | $353,124 | $364,322 |
| Net Investment Income | $227,379 | $113,406 | $397,543 |
| Distributable Amount | $429,017 | $386,618 | $396,691 |
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
235 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($60,500), Eagle Valley Land Trust ($13,000), Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS BOONE, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| BNAI VAIL VAIL, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CARROLL SCHOOL LINCOLN, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| CLARK FUND WORCESTER, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| COLGATE UNIVERSITY HAMILTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS OF MAJOR AMERICAN JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN LAUTENBERG | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ELEANORE RIGOLOSI | SECRETARY | 10 | $17,500 |
| JOSHUA LAUTENBERG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LISA BIRER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NAN MORGART | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN GREENBERG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2009, the Lautenberg Foundation filed a lawsuit in federal court in New Jersey seeking to recoup more than $7 million it claimed to have lost through investment with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. The foundation had invested $7.3 million with Madoff in 2001 and 2002, which was valued at more than $15.4 million according to Madoff's company statement in November 2008, but the foundation contended this amount was inflated. The lawsuit named Peter Madoff, the second-ranking official at the firm, as a defendant.
[PDF] ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Michael J. Fox FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Lautenberg Foundation fund?
The Lautenberg Foundation grants largely for Jewish welfare funds, education, and cultural programs locally, with some support also directed toward educational and cultural institutions in Israel. The foundation's giving priorities encompass education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lautenberg Foundation?
The foundation made 58 grants in 2024 with total giving of $168,800. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $80,000. Recent grantees have included: • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($60,500 in general support) • Eagle Valley Land Trust ($13,000 in general support) • The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Fund ($10,000 in general support) • Lautenberg Cancer Research Center The foundation primarily funds general support to its grantees.
Where does The Lautenberg Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, Massachusetts, and Florida, with local emphasis on the New Jersey area.
What size grants does The Lautenberg Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lautenberg Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $169K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lautenberg Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lautenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $429K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lautenberg 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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