The Zegar Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2007 and based in New York, NY. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic impact across multiple sectors including education, human services, and environmental sustainability.
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
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to give back by improving the larger world and the lives of others where gifts can yield meaningful tangible impact for a better world. The foundation describes its approach as impact-oriented, with emphasis on "the bang for the buck and how you move the needle."
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education (including grants for science teachers and education nonprofits)
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Environment and Sustainability
- Justice and Human Rights
Grantmaking
The foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaking foundation. Prospective grantees may contact Charles and Merryl Zegar with innovative program ideas, though the foundation does not employ staff members to field inquiries.
Grant Range
$3,000 to $2,100,000
Average Grant
amount: $213,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- California
- District of Columbia
These three states account for 87% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 17 states, with a significant focus on New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $269,481,728
- Annual revenue: $30,953,867
- Annual expenses: $24,054,683
- Total giving: $27,043,087
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $46 million in 2011 to $297.7 million in 2024.
Commitment: Charles and Merryl Zegar have signed The Giving Pledge, committing to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
| 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 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Zegar Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Charles Zegar, co-founder of Bloomberg L.P.
- Merryl Snow Zegar
Key Personnel:
- Lan Pham, Chief Operating Officer
- Bruce Dennis, Program Director
Merryl Zegar, who earned her J.D. from Fordham University and worked as an attorney and administrative law judge in New York City, is actively involved in the foundation's strategic direction.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES M ZEGAR | TRUSTEE/FINANCIAL DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| MERRYL SNOW ZEGAR | TRUSTEE/MANAGING DIRECTOR | 30 | — |
| LAN THI PHAM | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $263,962 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Zegar Family Foundation was among leading philanthropic organizations to partner and commit over $223 million to reducing methane emissions, demonstrating the foundation's engagement with environmental sustainability initiatives.
The Zegar Family Foundation - DevexSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Zegar Family Foundation 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