The Simone Leigh Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 88-1563642

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.

Key facts about The Simone Leigh Foundation

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.

EIN
88-1563642
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$29,000
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$9,667
Median grant
$7,500
Total assets
$1,469,406
Primary geography
New York (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.5M

+13.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$29K

Grant Count

3

Avg Grant Size

$10K

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.

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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkHelena

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K0 grants2022 0 grants2023 0 grants2024 3 grants2025

In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $29K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Women Make Movies Inc: $17KWomen Make Movies Inc$17KArchie Bray Foundation: $8KArchie Bray Foundation$8KThe Studio Museum in Harlem: $5KThe Studio Museum in Harlem$5K

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

3<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Women Make Movies Inc New York, NYGeneral Operating Support$16,500
Archie Bray Foundation Helena, MTGeneral Operating Support$7,500
The Studio Museum in Harlem New York, NYGeneral Operating Support$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,469,406$1,293,033$1,140,534
Revenue$105,161$417,352$1,056,623
Expenses$63,733$14,923$16,026
Qualifying Distributions$44,086$8,790$16,026
Net Investment Income$58,033$411,219—
Distributable Amount$66,794$55,578$9,200

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 23, 2026)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025

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.

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