The Robert S Rifkind
The Robert S Rifkind Charitable Foundation is a family foundation established in 1986 and based in New York City. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on Jewish higher education and Jewish organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$470K
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$248K
-38.2% YoY
Grant Count
20
-25.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-16.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert S Rifkind reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving supports:
- Jewish higher education
- Jewish organizations
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, the District of Columbia, and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $470,457 (based on most recent IRS Form 990 filing in 2024)
Total Giving: $247,800
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $470,457 | $454,141 | $546,457 |
| Revenue | $272,393 | $311,444 | $80,900 |
| Expenses | $256,077 | $403,760 | $397,836 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $249,433 | $401,000 | $392,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $154,902 | $183,859 | $78,833 |
| Distributable Amount | $25,230 | $25,246 | $45,855 |
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
86 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Schecter Institute ($85,000), Leo Baeck Institute ($26,300), Center for Jewish History ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICANS UNITED WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| MOMENT MAGAZINE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SLIFKA CENTER NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| THE LOOMIS CHAFFEE SCHOOL WINDSOR, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME NOTRE DAME, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CONGREGATION ANSCHE CHESED NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250 |
| GUCKER CAMPERSHIP FUND HOPKINTON, NH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250 |
| LVIS EAST HAMPTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Robert S. Rifkind served as the foundation's principal figure. He was a graduate of Yale College (1958, summa cum laude) and Harvard Law School (1961). He had a distinguished career as a partner in the litigation group at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and served on numerous boards including The Dalton School (President, 1977-1979), Brandeis University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, the Charles H. Revson Foundation (Chairman, 1997-2003), and The Jewish Theological Seminary. He was also President of The American Jewish Committee (1994-1998).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT S RIFKIND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In December 2024, Robert S. Rifkind made a $2.5 million gift to The Jewish Theological Seminary to establish the Robert S. Rifkind Professorship of Jewish History. This endowed professorship supports a tenured or tenure-track faculty member specializing in American Jewish history and will enable JTS students to develop a deeper understanding of the American Jewish experience.
JTS Receives Generous Gift to Establish the Robert S. Rifkind Professorship\Contact Information
Address: 820 Park Ave Apt 15a, New York City, NY 10021-2758
Telephone: 212-474-1000
EIN: 13-3374924
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert S Rifkind fund?
The foundation's primary giving supports: • Jewish higher education • Jewish organizations
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert S Rifkind?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $300,000. **Total Giving:** $247,800 (based on most recent IRS Form 990 filing in 2024) **Focus Areas:** Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services
Where does The Robert S Rifkind make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, the District of Columbia, and Connecticut.
What size grants does The Robert S Rifkind award?
In 2024, The Robert S Rifkind awarded 20 grants totaling $248K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert S Rifkind required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert S Rifkind reported a distributable amount of $25K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert S Rifkind's EIN?
The Robert S Rifkind's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3374924. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert S Rifkind'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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