The Thomas J Edelman Foundation
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including a school, a wildlife conservation organization, educational institutions, and community organizations.
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Thomas J Edelman Foundation gave $1.1M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Connecticut. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,139,629
- +4.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,485
- +18.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $28,166,444
- +35.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (69% 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 Thomas J Edelman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 598 Madison Ave 3Rd Fl, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 371-1117
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Thomas J Edelman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Hotchkiss School ($785K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 123 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Connecticut (69%) and New York (29%); recipients in New Jersey accounted for 1%. The filing also lists grants to recipients in Washington, DC, and Virginia, each accounting for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 24 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% 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 $1.0M (2021) to $1.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Hotchkiss School Lakeville, CT | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $785,482 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $150,000 |
| New York School of Interior Design New York, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $50,000 |
| Lenox Hill Neighborhood House New York, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $35,000 |
| Columbia Law School New York, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $25,000 |
| Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $25,000 |
| Congregation Emmanuel New York, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $21,250 |
| Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF Hamptons) East Hampton, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $10,000 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $7,667 |
| Pestalozzi US Children's Charity Inc New York, NY | To help activities of var public char inst which are exempt under 501 (c)(3) | $5,000 |
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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 | $28,166,444 | $13,738,688 | $1,296,278 | $1,139,629 | 24 | $1,143,982 | $1,673,878 | $1,443,766 |
| 2023 | $20,776,529 | $6,271,809 | $1,186,236 | $1,086,097 | 27 | $1,090,280 | $263,383 | $1,091,106 |
| 2022 | $18,693,726 | $735,018 | $1,412,901 | $1,248,229 | 25 | $1,249,079 | $135,496 | $663,326 |
| 2021 | $21,431,101 | $159,038 | $1,149,125 | $1,022,176 | 26 | $1,023,214 | $5,759,988 | $748,299 |
| 2020 | $22,505,124 | $889,564 | $1,123,440 | $1,028,756 | 21 | — | $810,568 | $860,464 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thomas J Edelman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in education, wildlife conservation, community services, and historic preservation. The Hotchkiss School says it aims to inspire students committed to improving themselves and society. The Wildlife Conservation Society says it works to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation, education, and public engagement. Lenox Hill Neighborhood House says it serves people and families on Manhattan’s East Side. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association says it preserves and manages George Washington’s estate and educates visitors about his life and legacy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $1,139,629. Grants ranged from $500 to $785,482, with a median grant of $4,000. The largest awards included $785,482 to The Hotchkiss School, $150,000 to the Wildlife Conservation Society, $50,000 to the New York School of Interior Design, and $35,000 to Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas J Edelman as president and Cornelia S Edelman as director.
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation is led by Thomas J. Edelman, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas J. Edelman
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cornelia S. Edelman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 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 Thomas J Edelman Foundation
How much does The Thomas J Edelman Foundation give each year?
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation gave $1.1M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 27 grants.
What is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $47,485, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Thomas J Edelman Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Thomas J Edelman Foundation give grants?
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants) and East Hampton, NY (7 grants).
Does The Thomas J Edelman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Hotchkiss School ($785,482), Wildlife Conservation Society ($150,000) and New York School of Interior Design ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation?
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation reported $28.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 Thomas J Edelman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in education, wildlife conservation, community services, and historic preservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Thomas J Edelman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's EIN?
The Thomas J Edelman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3762804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Thomas J Edelman 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Thomas J Edelman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-thomas-j-edelman-foundation-morg_12ffef12c1e2476ebc5510cd03560932
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133762804_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Thomas J Edelman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-thomas-j-edelman-foundation-morg_12ffef12c1e2476ebc5510cd03560932},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Thomas J Edelman 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.
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