The Zegar Family Foundation
The Zegar Family Foundation is a private foundation that files Form 990-PF and is based in New York, New York. In 2024, it made 105 grants totaling $27,043,087 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in areas such as climate and environmental conservation, research, and education.
Key facts about The Zegar Family Foundation
In short: The Zegar Family Foundation gave $27.0M across 105 grants in 2024 (avg $258K), top state New York. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-7548507
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $27,043,087
- Grants made (2024)
- 105
- Average grant
- $257,553
- Median grant
- $125,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (14 of 99, 2024)
- Total assets
- $297,717,993
- Primary geography
- New York (43% 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
$297.7M
+10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$27.0M
+32.0% YoY
Grant Count
105
+29.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$258K
+1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zegar Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Zegar Family Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 99 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $221K; repeat grants $282K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 66% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 184% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states its mission is “to give back by improving the larger world around us and the lives of others where our gifts can yield meaningful tangible impact for a better world.” Its grant-program description identifies environment and sustainability, justice and human rights, science, education, and community development as areas of focus.
Grantees’ own descriptions show the range of organizations supported. Windward Fund says it provides fiscal sponsorship and operational support to environmental projects pursuing solutions to the climate crisis and other environmental challenges. The Nature Conservancy describes its mission as conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Environmental Defense Fund says it works to preserve natural systems through science- and economics-guided solutions. New York University describes its primary missions as education, research and scholarship, and patient care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 105 grants totaling $27,043,087. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $3,234,975, with a median of $125,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $3,234,975 to RF Catalytic Capital Inc.; $1,905,048 to Windward Fund for the Global Methane Hub – Enteric Accelerator; $1,699,993 to The Nature Conservancy; and $1,664,502 to National Philanthropic Trust. Other grants included $1,250,000 and $833,761 to New York University for Genome Center support, $1,000,940 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc. for Oceans 5, and $750,000 to Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated.
Invitation Only
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its grant-program description says proposals are by invitation only.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Zegar Family Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Zegar Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, New York organizations received 43% of grant dollars, California 18%, the District of Columbia 18%, Virginia 6%, and Pennsylvania 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 105 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15.6M (2020) to $27.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 105 grants totaling $27.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was RF Catalytic Capital Inc ($3.2M). Together the top 10 received $14.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
432 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 159 grants of 432 (37%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RF Catalytic Capital Inc New York, NY | General Purpose Contribution | $3,234,975 |
| Windward Fund Washington, DC | Global Methane Hub - Enteric Accelerator | $1,905,048 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | General Purpose Contribution | $1,699,993 |
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | General Purpose Contribution | $1,664,502 |
| New York University New York, NY | Genome center - to support research at genomics core | $1,250,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | OCEANS 5 | $1,000,940 |
| New York University New York, NY | Genome center - to support research at the university center | $833,761 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated New York, NY | General Purpose Contribution | $750,000 |
| The University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Regents Fund - Research | $686,215 |
| Congregation B'nai B'rith Santa Barbara, CA | General Purpose Contribution | $510,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $297,717,993 | $56,267,255 | $31,274,809 | $27,043,087 | 105 |
| 2023 | $269,481,728 | $30,953,867 | $24,054,683 | $20,489,483 | 81 |
| 2022 | $262,726,488 | $28,286,009 | $23,381,901 | $20,016,440 | 91 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $297,717,993 | $269,481,728 | $262,726,488 |
| Revenue | $56,267,255 | $30,953,867 | $28,286,009 |
| Expenses | $31,274,809 | $24,054,683 | $23,381,901 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $28,546,349 | $22,126,519 | $21,484,020 |
| Net Investment Income | $38,646,293 | $15,879,956 | $5,955,742 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,555,852 | $13,123,979 | $12,476,316 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles M Zegar as Trustee/Financial Director, Merryl Snow Zegar as Trustee/Managing Director, and Lan Thi Pham as Chief Operating Officer.
The Zegar Family Foundation is led by Merryl Snow Zegar, Trustee & Managing Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Merryl Snow Zegar
Trustee & Managing Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles M. Zegar
Trustee & Financial Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lan Thi Pham
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$202K (2021) → $264K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $264K, to Lan THI Pham (Chief Operating Officer).
Contact
Mailing address: Co Corient Tax Llc - PO Box 1510, New York, NY 10150
Phone: (212) 583-6001
Frequently asked questions about The Zegar Family Foundation
How much does The Zegar Family Foundation give each year?
The Zegar Family Foundation gave $27.0M across 105 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $20.5M across 81 grants.
What is The Zegar Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Zegar Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $125,000, and its average grant was $257,553, across 105 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Zegar Family Foundation that year got $221K on average.
Where does The Zegar Family Foundation give grants?
The Zegar Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (18%) and District of Columbia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (35 grants), Washington, DC (15 grants), Santa Barbara, CA (15 grants) and San Francisco, CA (5 grants).
Does The Zegar Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of The Zegar Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (93 of 105) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Zegar Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Zegar Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include RF Catalytic Capital Inc ($3,234,975), New York University ($2,083,761 across 2 grants) and Windward Fund ($1,905,048), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Zegar Family Foundation?
The Zegar Family Foundation reported $297.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Zegar Family Foundation fund?
The foundation states its mission is “to give back by improving the larger world around us and the lives of others where our gifts can yield meaningful tangible impact for a better world.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Zegar 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 Zegar Family Foundation's EIN?
The Zegar Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7548507. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Zegar 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 September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Zegar Family Foundation by hand.
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