The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc
The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc is a private non-operating foundation based in Short Hills, New Jersey. Established in 1998, the foundation operates as a corporate foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors including education, health, religion, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$164.8M
+11.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.2M
-23.9% YoY
Grant Count
75
-11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$122K
-13.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education and higher education
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Health and diseases and conditions
- Religion and Judaism
- Human services
- Scholarships and educational support
- Program support and general operating support for nonprofit organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation is noted as "preselected only," indicating it does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$20,000–$25,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $120,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Tennessee
- Minnesota
- Pennsylvania
Additional funding reaches organizations in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and other states. The foundation also supports organizations in Israel and operates with worldwide funding capacity.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $164.8 million
- Total Giving: $12.0 million
- Total Revenues: $8.2 million
- Total Expenses: $9.2 million
- Annual Income: $27.4 million
Historical Asset Growth:
- 2020: $116.5 million
- 2021: $139.8 million
- 2022: $138.1 million
- 2023: $137.0 million
- 2024: $147.7–$164.8 million
Historical Giving Trends:
- 2020: $7.1 million (119 grants)
- 2021: $8.8 million (119 grants)
- 2022: $9.6 million (118 grants)
- 2023: $9.0 million (91 grants)
- 2024: $12.0 million (85 grants)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $164,768,426 | $147,653,426 | $137,011,237 |
| Revenue | $8,162,172 | $5,128,523 | $4,943,977 |
| Expenses | $9,182,026 | $12,056,597 | $9,533,345 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,178,283 | $12,049,962 | $9,022,481 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,789,703 | $5,154,118 | $5,530,496 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,503,587 | $6,910,524 | $7,426,849 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest Nj ($1,583,333), Jewish Federations of North America ($1,025,000), Jewish Museum ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF OR NATIONAL MISSIONS NEW YORK, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $36,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $36,000 |
| BAT SHEVA MITZVAH CAMPAIGN INC HILLSIDE, NJ | CAPITAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | BENEFIT SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| BRIS AVROHOM CENTER HILLSIDE, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PASADENA, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR JEWISH CULTURE AND CREATIVITY LOS ANGELES, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Zygmunt Wilf – President, Treasurer & Trustee
- Mark Wilf – Vice President, Secretary & Trustee
The foundation is governed by 11 officers and trustees, all members of the Wilf family. Board members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZYGMUNT WILF | PRESIDENT, TREASURER & TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| MARK WILF | VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY & TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| ELIZABETH WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| LEONARD WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| ELANA WILF TANZMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| JASON WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| JONATHAN WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| STEVEN WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| STEPHANIE WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| RACHEL S WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
| DANIEL WILF | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education and higher education • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Health and diseases and conditions • Religion and Judaism • Human services • Scholarships and educational support • Program support and general operating support for nonprofit organizations
How do I apply for a grant from The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • 85 grants awarded in 2024 • Median grant size: $20,000–$25,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$3.7 million • Average grant amount: approximately $120,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023-2024):** • Yeshiva University: $1,612,500 (Scholarship Support) • Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ: $1,583,333 (Program Support) • The Jewish Federations of North America: $1,025,000 (Program Support) • University of Pennsylvania: $1,000,000 (General Operating Support) • Vanderbilt Universi…
Where does The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in: • New York • New Jersey • Tennessee • Minnesota • Pennsylvania Additional funding reaches organizations in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and other states. The foundation also supports organizations in Israel and operates with worldwide funding capacity.
What size grants does The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc awarded 75 grants totaling $9.2M — an average of about $122K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3553441. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Laborers Intl Union of 472 Hcl
NEWARK, NJ
Assets
$61.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$179K
The Community Chest of Englewood
ENGLEWOOD, NJ
Assets
$491K
Grants
5
Total Given
$38K
Margaret a Darrin Charitable Trust
FLORHAM PARK, NJ
Assets
$111.3M
Grants
61
Total Given
$6.9M
Anplr Religious Education Inc
PASSAIC, NJ
Assets
$19K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The William & Phyllis Mack Family
FORT LEE, NJ
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
53
Total Given
$3.2M
New Digital Trade Coalition Ndtc
NORTH BERGEN, NJ
Assets
$300
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Z S & M Wilf Foundation Inc to a real strategy.