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
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.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated ($750,000), Congregation B'nai B'rith ($510,000), Climateworks Foundation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN WOMEN RISING SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $450,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $350,000 |
| AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $250,000 |
| ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN VOTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| ASYLUM SEEKER ADVOCACY PROJECT INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $75,000 |
| BIODIVERSITY FUNDERS GROUP SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $11,200 |
| BLACK VOTERS MATTER CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY INC TUSCAN, AZ | GENERAL PURPOSE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Zegar Family Foundation fund?
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 •…
How do I apply for a grant from The Zegar Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $3,000 to $2,100,000 • Median grant: $100,000 • Average grant amount: $213,000 • Typical awards: $7,500 to $3,500,000 **Recent Activity:** • 2023: Distributed $20.5 million across 81 grants • 2024: Made 337 grants totaling $71.9 million (based on available records from 2020-2024) • Annual giving has grown from $15.6 million in 2020 to $40 million in 2022 **Application Process:** The foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaking foundation. Prosp…
Where does The Zegar Family Foundation make 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.
What size grants does The Zegar Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Zegar Family Foundation awarded 105 grants totaling $27.0M — an average of about $258K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Zegar Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Zegar Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Zegar Family Foundation'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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