The Lynton Foundation
The Lynton Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1993 and based in New York City. It operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving in education, health, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.0M
+7.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$234K
+138.7% YoY
Grant Count
4
-55.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+437.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lynton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $403K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for education and health organizations. Its funding interests include:
- Education: Support for higher education institutions and K-12 educational programs
- Health: Health-related organizations and initiatives
- Human Services & Human Rights: Various human services causes
Grantmaking
The foundation made approximately $2 million in grants in a recent year. Grant recipients have included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes New York and the northeast region, with particular emphasis on New York-based organizations and educational institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2016:
- Total Assets: $8,051,003
- Contributions, gifts, and grants received: $2,975,389
As of 2021:
- Total Assets: $10,589,156
- Revenue: $4,429,061
- Expenses: $2,633,781
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,982,210 | $8,377,429 | $6,044,831 |
| Revenue | $1,269,727 | $1,152,590 | $1,178,139 |
| Expenses | $260,650 | $120,685 | $732,035 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $240,400 | $104,215 | $720,159 |
| Net Investment Income | $321,545 | $213,932 | $153,426 |
| Distributable Amount | $402,989 | $334,510 | $329,462 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Columbia University ($214,000), Working in the Schools ($10,000), The Association of Pangasinenses in America Fdn Inc (apafi) ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | ACHIEVE CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $214,000 |
| THE ASSOCIATION OF PANGASINENSES IN AMERICA FDN INC (APAFI) WOODSIDE, NY | ACHIEVE CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS CHICAGO, IL | ACHIEVE CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| SNACK AND FRIENDS INC NEW YORK, NY | ACHIEVE CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Lynton Foundation is run by brother and sister Michael Lynton and Carol "Lili" Lynton, who serve as its two trustees.
Michael Lynton brings extensive experience from the entertainment and media industries. He previously served as CEO of Sony Entertainment and chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. He also served as chairman of Snap and is chairman of Warner Music Group. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at The Walt Disney Company, Pearson plc's Penguin Group, Time Warner, and AOL. Lynton serves on the board of overseers at Harvard University.
Carol "Lili" Lynton serves as co-trustee and is listed at the foundation's address of 33 West 81st Street, New York City.
Michael Lynton's wife Jamie Lynton is also involved in the foundation's grantmaking and is the founder and executive of an educational organization supported by the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL LYNTON | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MICHAEL LYNTON | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 33 West 81st Street, New York, NY 10024
Telephone: 212-840-3456
EIN: 13-3743511
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lynton Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for education and health organizations. Its funding interests include: • **Education**: Support for higher education institutions and K-12 educational programs • **Health**: Health-related organizations and initiatives • **Human Services & Human Rights**: Various human services causes
How do I apply for a grant from The Lynton Foundation?
The foundation made approximately $2 million in grants in a recent year. Grant recipients have included: **Higher Education:** • Harvard University • Yale University • Sarah Lawrence College • Columbia University **K-12 Education:** • East Harlem Tutorial Program • Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) • KIPP Ascend Academy • Ethical Culture Fieldston The foundation prioritizes funding in New York, with schools in the northeast receiving the bulk of grantmaking support.
Where does The Lynton Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes New York and the northeast region, with particular emphasis on New York-based organizations and educational institutions.
What size grants does The Lynton Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lynton Foundation awarded 4 grants totaling $234K — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lynton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lynton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $403K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lynton Foundation's EIN?
The Lynton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3743511. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lynton 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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