The Simone Leigh Foundation
The Simone Leigh Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $29K. Net investment income was $58K.
The Simone Leigh Foundation at a glance
In short: The Simone Leigh Foundation gave $29K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $29,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- Average grant
- $9,667
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $1,469,406
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Simone Leigh Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Women Make Movies Inc ($17K). Together the top 3 received $29K.
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Simone Leigh Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 66% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Women Make Movies Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $16,500 |
| Archie Bray Foundation Helena, MT | General Operating Support | $7,500 |
| The Studio Museum in Harlem New York, NY | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Simone Leigh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,469,406 | $105,161 | $63,733 | $29,000 | 3 | $44,086 | $58,033 | $66,794 |
| 2024 | $1,293,033 | $417,352 | $14,923 | — | — | $8,790 | $411,219 | $55,578 |
| 2023 | $1,140,534 | $1,056,623 | $16,026 | — | — | $16,026 | — | $9,200 |
| 2022 | $100,000 | $100,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $1,673 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Simone Leigh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $67K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Simone Leigh Foundation is led by Simone Leigh, President & Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Simone Leigh
President & Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Adib
Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Emily Mello (2022–2023) — Vice President & Treasurer · Filing note: Through 7112023
- Former: Rashida Mumbray (2022–2023) — Vice President & Secretary · Filing note: Through 7112023
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Simone Leigh Foundation
How much does The Simone Leigh Foundation give each year?
The Simone Leigh Foundation gave $29K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Simone Leigh Foundation's typical grant size?
The Simone Leigh Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $9,667, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Simone Leigh Foundation give grants?
The Simone Leigh Foundation gives mostly in New York: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Montana (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Simone Leigh Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Simone Leigh Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Simone Leigh Foundation?
The Simone Leigh Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $44K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (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 is The Simone Leigh Foundation's EIN?
The Simone Leigh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-1563642. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Live grants for the work The Simone Leigh Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Simone Leigh Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in New York
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
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc
New York, NY
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund supports human rights and social and economic justice, including work on climate, the environment, civic engagement, and Jewish causes, in the United States and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $200,000, with amounts ranging from $500 to $9.75 million. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests; it plans to end grantmaking by the end of 2028.
Assets
$134.4M
Grants
1,101
Total Given
$326.0M
More Funders in New York
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Simone Leigh 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 Simone Leigh Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?