The Selz Foundation
The Selz Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Its 2024 filing lists grants for education, animal welfare, environmental purposes, community services, library support, and arts.
The Selz Foundation at a glance
In short: The Selz Foundation gave $104K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in New York. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $103,958
- -98.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -73.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,997
- -95.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $134,610,641
- +3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (80% 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 Selz Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 121 East 73Rd Street, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 269-7808
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Selz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was NY University ($51K). Together the top 10 received $103K.
Grant Size Distribution
227 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 158 grants of 227 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 11% to Montana, 7% to Washington, D.C., and 2% to Washington state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Selz Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. 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 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 $104K (2024) to $15.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $104K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Selz 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 | $134,610,641 | $12,087,703 | $891,903 | $103,958 | 13 | $166,789 | $10,335,621 | $8,469,476 |
| 2023 | $129,738,163 | $-10,556,682 | $9,701,552 | $8,640,530 | 49 | $8,678,262 | $4,525,311 | $7,884,642 |
| 2022 | $152,334,912 | $28,347,823 | $16,663,264 | $15,906,693 | 27 | $16,025,128 | $15,300,373 | $8,238,591 |
| 2021 | $142,395,054 | $24,456,334 | $9,868,201 | $9,019,522 | 59 | $9,091,381 | $21,532,844 | $8,358,747 |
| 2020 | $125,357,313 | $4,581,319 | $9,290,568 | $8,473,111 | 79 | — | $1,523,418 | $8,209,008 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a foundation mission. Its 2024 grant purposes include general-purpose education, animal welfare, environmental work, community services, library support, and arts.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Fordham University describes its work as research and education; the World Wildlife Fund says its mission is to conserve nature and reduce threats to the diversity of life; and United in Light describes rescuing and providing sanctuary for draft horses. The Coalition for the Homeless describes its work as advocacy and direct services for homeless people and families, while the Metropolitan Museum of Art describes collecting, studying, conserving, and presenting works of art.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $103,958. Grant amounts ranged from $116 to $50,543, with a median of $3,000. The largest awards included $50,543 to NY University and $25,718 to Fordham University, both for general-purpose education. Other listed grants included $7,500 to the World Wildlife Fund and $5,000 to United in Light, both for general-purpose animal welfare; and $3,000 each to the Nature Conservancy of Montana for an environmental purpose and Horse Haven Montana for animal welfare.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bernard T. Selz as president and director, Lisa Selz as secretary and treasurer, and Arnold Syrop as vice president and director.
The Selz Foundation is led by Bernard T. Selz, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bernard T. Selz
President & Director
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arnold Syrop
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Selz
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
30 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 Selz Foundation
How much does The Selz Foundation give each year?
The Selz Foundation gave $104K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.6M across 49 grants.
What is The Selz Foundation's typical grant size?
The Selz Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $7,997, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Selz Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Selz Foundation give grants?
The Selz Foundation gives mostly in New York: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Montana (11%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants).
Does The Selz Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Selz Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Selz Foundation's largest grantees?
The Selz Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include NY University ($50,543), Fordham University ($25,718) and World Wildlife Fund ($7,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Selz Foundation?
The Selz Foundation reported $134.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $167K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Selz Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a foundation mission. Its 2024 grant purposes include general-purpose education, animal welfare, environmental work, community services, library support, and arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Selz Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 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.
Does The Selz 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Selz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
New York, NY
LISC funds affordable housing, community development, small businesses, and related efforts that strengthen inclusive communities, providing grants as well as loans, equity, and technical assistance across the country. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $40,000, though amounts varied widely. Application access is program-specific: for its Rhode Island child care facilities planning grants, applicants are instructed to consult program staff before submitting a request.
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,119
Total Given
$102.8M
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Selz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-selz-foundation-morg_8bd92c458aa1497589a75e67a0ef983c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133180806_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Selz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-selz-foundation-morg_8bd92c458aa1497589a75e67a0ef983c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Selz 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.
The Selz Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?