The Selz Foundation
senate-budget-committee---3102026 type: exa:news title: '[PDF] Testimony of David J. Bier The Selz Foundation Chair in Immigration ...' type: exa:news title: Selby Foundation Awards $648,376 in Capital Grants to Local Nonprofits - William G. and Marie Selby Foundation type: exa:news title: Selby Foundation Awards $938,246 in Grants to Local Nonprofits - William G. and Marie Selby Foundation type: exa:news title: Selby Foundation Supports 45 Students With Renewable Academic Scholarships type: exa:news title: SEL Awards $25K in Scholarship Funding as Part of New Program
Key facts about The Selz Foundation
- EIN
- 13-3180806
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $103,958
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $7,997
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2024)
- Total assets
- $134,610,641
- Primary geography
- New York (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Invitation only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Selz Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Selz Foundation's 13 itemized 2024 grants were New York (80%), Montana (11%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Selz Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 99% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 2% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$134.6M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$104K
-98.8% YoY
Grant Count
13
-73.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-95.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Selz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not disclose a formal mission statement. However, based on grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports a diverse range of causes including education, arts and cultural preservation, and other charitable purposes. Bernard and Lisa Selz are noted collectors of medieval art and artifacts, which influences the foundation's philanthropic interests.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $25,000 to $250,000+, with some grants extending into millions for major institutional support.
Invitation Only
** Invitation only. The foundation does not maintain a public application process and does not provide pre-application support for unsolicited requests.
Ready to take the next step with The Selz Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
National and international.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $134.6 million
- Total Revenue: $12.1 million
- Total Expenses: $891,903
- Net Assets: $134.6 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $129.7 million
- Total Revenues: -$10.6 million
- Total Expenses: $9.7 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $134,610,641 | $129,738,163 | $152,334,912 |
| Revenue | $12,087,703 | $-10,556,682 | $28,347,823 |
| Expenses | $891,903 | $9,701,552 | $16,663,264 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $166,789 | $8,678,262 | $16,025,128 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,335,621 | $4,525,311 | $15,300,373 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,469,476 | $7,884,642 | $8,238,591 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
227 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Ny University ($50,543), Fordham University ($25,718), World Wildlife Fund ($7,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NY UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE-EDUCATION | $50,543 |
| FORDHAM UNIVERSITY BRONX, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE-EDUCATION | $25,718 |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE-ANIMAL WELFARE | $7,500 |
| UNITED IN LIGHT LIVINGSTON, MT | GENERAL PURPOSE-ANIMAL WELFARE | $5,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE-EDUCATION | $3,121 |
| NATURE CONSRVANCY OF MONTANA HELENA, MT | GENERAL PURPOSE-ENVIROMENTAL | $3,000 |
| HORSE HAVEN MONTANA MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL PURPOSE-ANIMAL WELFARE | $3,000 |
| SIDEWALK RESCUE TACOMA, WA | GENERAL PURPOSE-COMMUNITY SERVICES | $2,000 |
| THE MORGAN LIBRARY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE-LIBRARY | $2,000 |
| COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE-COMMUNITY SERVICES | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Bernard T. Selz – President and Founder
- Lisa Selz – Secretary and Treasurer
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard T Selz | Pres/Dir | 7 | — |
| Lisa Selz | Secy/Tres | 30 | — |
| Arnold Syrop | VP/Dir | 7 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1370 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 554-5044
Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Selz Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not disclose a formal mission statement. However, based on grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports a diverse range of causes including education, arts and cultural preservation, and other charitable purposes. Bernard and Lisa Selz are noted collectors of medieval art and artifacts, which influences the foundation's philanthropic interests.
How do I apply for a grant from The Selz Foundation?
Invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Selz Foundation make grants?
National and international.
What size grants does The Selz Foundation award?
In 2024, The Selz Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $104K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Selz Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Selz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Selz Foundation's EIN?
The Selz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3180806. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Selz 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.