The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In 2024, it reported 26 grants totaling $6,263,975 to charitable organizations working in areas that include education, health, children’s services, and international assistance.
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation gave $6.3M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $241K), top state New York. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,263,975
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $240,922
- +6.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $21,600,753
- -1.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (42% 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 Robert and Kate Niehaus 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: 770 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 894-0660
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ($600K). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,300,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 58 grants of 144 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in New York received 42% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Washington, DC (21%), Maryland (13%), Connecticut (6%), and California (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 26 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $175K; repeat grants $246K. How we count
Medians: $175K first-time, $200K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 404% 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 $5.2M (2020) to $6.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $6.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,300,000 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Bethesda, MD | Charitable contribution - to cure cystic fibrosis (CF) and to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives. | $600,000 |
| Success Academy Charter Schools Inc New York, NY | Charitable contribution - to provide children in nyc with a high quality education that gives them the knowledge, skills, character & disposition to meet & exceed nys standards, & the resources to succeed | $500,000 |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Charitable contribution - prevention, treatment, and cure of cancer through excellence, vision, and cost effectiveness in patient care, outreach programs, research, and education. | $400,000 |
| De La Salle Academy New York, NY | Charitable contribution - to offer academically talented, economically less advantaged children of diverse backgrounds a life-changing educational experience, where they are empowered to reach their full potential. | $350,000 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc Fairfield, CT | Charitable contribution - to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. | $350,000 |
| Camfed USA Foundation San Francisco, CA | Charitable contribution - to fight poverty and hiv/aids in africa by educating girls and empowering women to become leaders of change. | $300,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Inc Harlan, IA | Charitable contribution - to provide assistance to the poor overseas without regard to race, religion or nationality by responding to emergencies and fighting poverty. | $250,000 |
| Guiding Eyes for the Blind Yorktown Heights, NY | Charitable contribution - to provide guide dogs to people with vision loss, at no cost to the individual. To connect exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence. | $250,000 |
| St Phillip Neri Church & School Metairie, LA | Charitable contribution - to provide a catholic community where all stakeholders share the responsibility of developing each child spirtually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. | $245,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Robert and Kate Niehaus 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 | $21,600,753 | $9,394,809 | $6,743,092 | $6,263,975 | 26 | $6,300,290 | $5,019,836 | $1,561,382 |
| 2023 | $21,943,165 | $5,355,352 | $6,905,436 | $6,560,245 | 29 | $6,583,582 | $2,869,475 | $1,460,191 |
| 2022 | $25,153,410 | $9,815,741 | $7,013,814 | $6,595,246 | 31 | $6,632,474 | $5,246,997 | $1,483,115 |
| 2021 | $26,169,606 | $13,329,406 | $6,596,462 | $6,197,442 | 29 | $6,210,388 | $6,171,110 | $1,637,435 |
| 2020 | $25,478,607 | $8,144,071 | $5,506,399 | $5,170,178 | 29 | — | $5,164,734 | $1,365,478 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M 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 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Success Academy Charter Schools describes its mission as providing New York City children with a high-quality education and resources to succeed; Save the Children Federation says it works to improve how the world treats children and achieve lasting change in their lives. CAMFED USA Foundation describes its work as supporting vulnerable girls and young women in shaping their futures and their communities. Guiding Eyes for the Blind says it provides guide dogs to people with vision loss to support greater independence.
Other 2024 recipients included organizations focused on cancer care and research, cystic fibrosis, education for underserved youth, and assistance to people in need overseas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $6,263,975. Grant amounts ranged from $37 to $1,300,000, with a median of $200,000.
The largest reported grants included $1,300,000 to an individual recipient Cristo Rey High School to educate underserved youth and prepare them for college and careers; $600,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; $500,000 to Success Academy Charter Schools; $400,000 to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and $350,000 each to De La Salle Academy and Save the Children Federation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kate Niehaus as president, Robert H. Niehaus as vice president and treasurer, and Jerome L. Levine as director.
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation is led by Kate Niehaus, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kate Niehaus
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerome L. Levine
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert H. Niehaus
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
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 Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation
How much does The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation give each year?
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation gave $6.3M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.6M across 29 grants.
What is The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $240,922, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation that year got $175K on average.
Where does The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation give grants?
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's top state is New York, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (21%) and Maryland (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants).
Does The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ($600,000), Success Academy Charter Schools Inc ($500,000) and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($400,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,300,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation?
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation reported $21.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert and Kate Niehaus 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 Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's EIN?
The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4007527. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Robert and Kate Niehaus 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
Live grants for the work The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-kate-niehaus-foundation-morg_1287321ec75546cd9b947d20dd08bbf2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134007527_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert and Kate Niehaus Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-kate-niehaus-foundation-morg_1287321ec75546cd9b947d20dd08bbf2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Robert and Kate Niehaus 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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