The Viola Fund
The Viola Fund is a private family foundation of the Leigh family, established in 1987 and based in New York, NY. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and functions as a grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.8M
-5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+96.1% YoY
Grant Count
18
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$121K
+96.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Viola Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization has not provided a formal mission statement. Based on recent grantmaking activity, the fund supports general initiatives across multiple sectors, including environmental conservation, food security, and the arts.
Grantmaking
The Viola Fund made 19 grants in 2023, with award amounts ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with documented activity in New York, California, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $20,894,280
- Total Revenues: $15,771,551
- Total Expenses: $1,165,862
- Total Grants, Contributions, etc.: $15,561,781
- Investment Income and Dividends: $145,168
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $64,602
Notable Financial Trend:
Total grants and contributions increased dramatically year-over-year, rising 22,845.4% from $67,821 in 2022 to $15,561,781 in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,802,474 | $20,894,280 | $6,288,591 |
| Revenue | $1,125,369 | $15,771,551 | $95,249 |
| Expenses | $2,217,175 | $1,165,862 | $2,215,535 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,182,775 | $1,117,442 | $2,150,442 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,090,969 | $171,350 | $140,943 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,054,151 | $349,151 | $334,478 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Environmental Defense Fund ($2,000,000), Metropolitan Opera ($25,000), Whitney Museum of American Art ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTOLUTION INC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| BOFFO ART NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| CITIZEN UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CORNELL-WEILL HOSPITAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| DIEU DONNE PAPERMILL BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000,000 |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY FUND INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| MAGAZZINO ITALIAN ART FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBY LEIGH | TRUSTEE, AS REQUIRED | 0.1 | — |
| REBECCA LEIGH | TRUSTEE, AS REQUIRED | 0.1 | — |
| DAVID LEIGH | TRUSTEE, AS REQUIRED | 0.1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: Citrin Cooperman 50 Rockefeller Place New York, NY 10020
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Viola Fund fund?
The organization has not provided a formal mission statement. Based on recent grantmaking activity, the fund supports general initiatives across multiple sectors, including environmental conservation, food security, and the arts.
How do I apply for a grant from The Viola Fund?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The Viola Fund made 19 grants in 2023, with award amounts ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000. Recent notable grants include: • Environmental Defense Fund: $1,000,000 (2023) • Open Stage Project: $15,000 (2023) • Feeding America: $10,000 (2023) **Grant Types** The foundation provides general support grants to its grantees.
Where does The Viola Fund make grants?
The fund's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with documented activity in New York, California, and New Jersey.
What size grants does The Viola Fund award?
In 2024, The Viola Fund awarded 18 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $121K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Viola Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Viola Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Viola Fund's EIN?
The Viola Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3398045. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Viola Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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