The Victor Herbert Foundation
The Victor Herbert Foundation is a private foundation based in Newton, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports 12 grants totaling $99,000 to organizations including performing arts groups, a law school, a senior-housing provider, and a conservancy. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 14 grants totaling $121,827.
The Victor Herbert Foundation at a glance
In short: The Victor Herbert Foundation gave $122K across 14 grants in 2026 (avg $9K), top state New York. 29% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $121,827
- +23.1% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $8,702
- +5.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,934,841
- +8.0% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (45% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Victor Herbert Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs applicants to contact Carolyn Gabbay and submit the required materials electronically. It describes two review cycles: applications submitted May 1–September 30 for action by November 30, and applications submitted October 1–March 1 for action by April 30. These cycle dates and the stated preference for applications submitted by September 1 are from the 2024 filing and are past; the filing says funds may be committed in the fall.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states a preference for applications submitted by September 1.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states a preference for applications submitted by September 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Carolyn Gabbay
Mailing address: 11 Doris Circle, Newton, MA 02458
Phone: (617) 965-3325
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Victor Herbert Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Boston University School of Law ($35K). Together the top 10 received $107K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 63 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (51%), New York (30%), Illinois (10%), California (7%), and Colorado (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Victor Herbert Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 64% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+7%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $97K (2022) to $186K (2024). In 2026 it made 14 grants totaling $122K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boston University School of Law Boston, MA | To support the organization | $35,000 |
| Lyric Theatre of San Jose San Jose, CA | To support the organization | $11,552 |
| Musical Theatre Works Wilmette, IL | To support the Organization | $10,000 |
| New York Philharmonic New York, NY | To support the organization | $10,000 |
| Victor Herbert Renaissance Project - Live New York, NY | To support the organization | $10,000 |
| Signature Theatre New York, NY | To support the organization | $10,000 |
| 2Life Communities Brighton, MA | To support the organization | $5,000 |
| Lake Placid Sinfonietta Lake Placid, NY | To support the organization | $5,000 |
| Master Voices New York, NY | To support the organization | $5,000 |
| New York Youth Symphony New York, NY | To support the organization | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Victor Herbert 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $2,934,841 | $128,551 | $148,209 | $121,827 | 14 | $129,956 | $110,298 | $137,644 |
| 2025 | $2,717,017 | $121,901 | $125,950 | $99,000 | 12 | $109,437 | $105,388 | $127,826 |
| 2024 | $2,533,389 | $108,186 | $206,979 | $186,212 | 15 | $191,729 | $99,274 | $125,975 |
| 2023 | $2,638,406 | $180,124 | $142,672 | $113,662 | 12 | $123,128 | $160,580 | $129,646 |
| 2022 | $2,717,058 | $252,723 | $127,940 | $97,250 | 10 | $107,891 | $232,674 | $137,108 |
| 2021 | $2,832,573 | $230,129 | $164,281 | $137,850 | 16 | — | $212,589 | $130,992 |
| 2020 | $2,480,998 | $115,242 | $184,237 | $154,700 | 8 | — | $95,619 | $127,549 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Victor Herbert Foundation reported a distributable amount of $138K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2025 grants include arts and music organizations as well as organizations working in other areas. 2Life Communities describes its mission as building and operating low-income senior housing and offering services to support independence and dignity; New York Youth Symphony describes its mission as inspiring and educating young musicians through performance and ensemble activities. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $99,000. Grants ranged from $250 to $40,000, with a median grant of $5,250. The largest awards included $40,000 to Boston University School of Law; $10,000 each to Musical Theatre Works, New York Philharmonic, and Master Voices; and $6,000 to Operetta Foundation. Each was listed as support for the organization. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 14 grants totaling $121,827.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It describes an application process requiring a brief proposal narrative, an explanation of how the proposal complies with a chartered corporate purpose, the target audience and anticipated reach, outreach or accommodations for special populations, a sources-and-uses budget, and the applicant’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. Applications are to be submitted electronically. The filing states that grants are limited to 501(c)(3) organizations and are not awarded for general or annual fund drives, capital campaigns, or individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carolyn Jacoby Gabbay as President/Director, Jonathan A. Jacoby as Treasurer/Director, and Philip D. Jacoby as Secretary/Director.
The Victor Herbert Foundation is led by Carolyn Jacoby Gabbay, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Carolyn Jacoby Gabbay
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan A Jacoby
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip D Jacoby
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Victor Herbert Foundation
How much does The Victor Herbert Foundation give each year?
The Victor Herbert Foundation gave $122K across 14 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $99K across 12 grants.
What is The Victor Herbert Foundation's typical grant size?
The Victor Herbert Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,702, across 14 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Victor Herbert Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Victor Herbert Foundation give grants?
The Victor Herbert Foundation's top state is New York, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (33%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (8 grants).
Does The Victor Herbert Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The Victor Herbert Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To support the organization" (14 grants).
Who are The Victor Herbert Foundation's largest grantees?
The Victor Herbert Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Boston University School of Law ($35,000), Lyric Theatre of San Jose ($11,552) and Musical Theatre Works ($10,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Victor Herbert Foundation?
The Victor Herbert Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $130K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $138K (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 Victor Herbert Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2025 grants include arts and music organizations as well as organizations working in other areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Victor Herbert Foundation?
The 2024 filing directs applicants to contact Carolyn Gabbay and submit the required materials electronically. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Victor Herbert Foundation's EIN?
The Victor Herbert Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7044623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Victor Herbert Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-victor-herbert-foundation-morg_96c3de8e53dd4731ad765323cef8d3ea
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237044623_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Victor Herbert Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-victor-herbert-foundation-morg_96c3de8e53dd4731ad765323cef8d3ea},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-05. 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 Victor Herbert 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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