The Zankel Scala Family Foundation
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including schools, colleges, arts organizations, and organizations supporting social change.
Key facts about The Zankel Scala Family Foundation
In short: The Zankel Scala Family Foundation gave $701K across 48 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in New York. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 85-3005046
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $701,005
- Grants made (2024)
- 48
- Average grant
- $14,604
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (10 of 43, 2024)
- Total assets
- $14,665,621
- Primary geography
- New York (81% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.7M
-3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$701K
+0.8% YoY
Grant Count
48
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zankel Scala Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $760K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Zankel Scala Family Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 43 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available grant records show support for education, scholarships, performing arts, and music-related social change initiatives. For example, the 2024 grant to Skidmore College supported the Zankel Experience Network, scholarship funds, an endowed performing arts residency, and the Arthur Zankel Music Center. Several grants supported the Zankel Music Fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change.
Grantees describe a range of missions. Skidmore College says it educates predominantly full-time undergraduates and prepares graduates to make informed, responsible choices. WhyHunger says it supports grassroots movements and community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial, and economic justice, with the goal of ending hunger and advancing the human right to nutritious food. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts says it aims to inspire, educate, and empower people through the arts and humanities. The Divided Sky Foundation says it operates a withdrawal management and substance use disorder support center in Vermont.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 48 grants totaling $701,005. Awards ranged from $250 to $200,000, with a median grant of $2,500.
Notable 2024 grants included $200,000 each to Saint Ann’s School for its annual fund and 20/20 campaign, and to Skidmore College for the programs and funds listed above. Other grants included $45,000 to WhyHunger for its Zankel Music Fund, $25,000 to Charlottesville Area Community Foundation for the Soulshine Concert Fund, and $20,000 to St Ann’s Warehouse for general and unrestricted support. The foundation also awarded $15,000 each to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Jewish Community Centers of Chicago, The Divided Sky Foundation, and We Are Moving the Needle for the Zankel Music Fund.
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with The Zankel Scala Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, New York recipients received 81% of grant dollars. Other listed recipient-state shares were District of Columbia, 4%; Virginia, 4%; Connecticut, 3%; and Illinois, 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $555K (2021) to $701K (2024). In 2024 it made 48 grants totaling $701K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Skidmore College ($211K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $583K.
Grant Size Distribution
191 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 179 grants of 191 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Anns School Brooklyn, NY | Annual Fund and Saint Ann's 20/20 Campaign | $200,000 |
| Skidmore College Saratoga SPGS, NY | Zankel Experience Network (ZEN), Zankel Family Scholarship Fund, Skidmore Scholarship Fund, Endowed Residency in Performing Arts, and Arthur Zankel Music Center | $200,000 |
| Whyhunger Inc New York, NY | Zankel music fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change | $45,000 |
| Charlottesville Area Community Foundation Charlottesvle, VA | Soulshine Concert Fund | $25,000 |
| St Ann's Warehouse Brooklyn, NY | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Inc Liberty, NY | Zankel music fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change | $15,000 |
| Jewish Community Centers of Chicago Northbrook, IL | Zankel music fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change | $15,000 |
| The Divided Sky Foundation Corporation Ludlow, VT | Zankel music fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change | $15,000 |
| We Are Moving the Needle Inc Stamford, CT | Zankel music fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change | $15,000 |
| Circusense Brooklyn, NY | Zankel music fund for the employment of music as an instrument for social change | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,665,621 | $539,921 | $1,002,667 | $701,005 | 48 |
| 2023 | $15,128,367 | $340,139 | $987,547 | $695,500 | 52 |
| 2022 | $15,775,275 | $2,762,861 | $984,594 | $696,754 | 55 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,665,621 | $15,128,367 | $15,775,275 |
| Revenue | $539,921 | $340,139 | $2,762,861 |
| Expenses | $1,002,667 | $987,547 | $984,594 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $923,119 | $917,033 | $915,718 |
| Net Investment Income | $466,220 | $475,553 | $232,996 |
| Distributable Amount | $760,133 | $711,543 | $733,854 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Pia Scala-Zankel as Co-President, Director, and Secretary, and James D. Zankel as Co-President, Director, and Treasurer.
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation is led by James D Zankel, Co- President, Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2021; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James D Zankel
Co- President, Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$97K (2021) → $140K (2024)
Pia Scala-Zankel
Co- President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $7K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $140K, to James D Zankel (Co- Pres, Dir, Treas). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Frequently asked questions about The Zankel Scala Family Foundation
How much does The Zankel Scala Family Foundation give each year?
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation gave $701K across 48 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $696K across 52 grants.
What is The Zankel Scala Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $14,604, across 48 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Zankel Scala Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Zankel Scala Family Foundation give grants?
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (15 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants), Brooklyn, NY (4 grants) and Saratoga Springs, NY (4 grants).
Does The Zankel Scala Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of The Zankel Scala Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 48) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Zankel Scala Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Skidmore College ($211,000 across 3 grants), Saint Anns School ($200,000) and Whyhunger Inc ($46,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Zankel Scala Family Foundation?
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation reported $14.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $923K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $760K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Zankel Scala Family Foundation fund?
The available grant records show support for education, scholarships, performing arts, and music-related social change initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Zankel Scala Family 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 Zankel Scala Family Foundation's EIN?
The Zankel Scala Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3005046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Zankel Scala Family 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 October 2026.
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