The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust
The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1999 and located in Darien, Connecticut. It has been tax-exempt since April 2000 and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation functions as a family foundation with a primary focus on grantmaking to charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+33.7% YoY
Grant Count
68
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
+0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $75K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's stated purpose is to earn passive income solely to continue funding charitable purposes. Its grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
- Historic Buildings Preservation
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker, having distributed 51 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2025). Typical grant awards range from $150,000 to $500,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2025):
- Total Assets: $1,476,790
- Total Revenues: $4,498,911
- Total Expenses: $2,238,054
- Total Giving: $2,180,334
Prior Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $1,42M
- Revenue: $2.84M
- Expenses: $1.68M
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,476,790 | $1,424,544 | $1,492,020 |
| Revenue | $4,498,911 | $2,836,220 | $318,233 |
| Expenses | $2,238,054 | $1,680,463 | $1,288,209 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,184,664 | $1,637,407 | $1,273,638 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,250,851 | $1,249,208 | $40,720 |
| Distributable Amount | $74,795 | $73,809 | $109,295 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Caron Foundation ($210,000), Packer Collegiate Institute ($166,666), Neighbors Link ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92nd Street Y New York, NY | General Use | $2,500 |
| ALS One Whitman, WA | General Use | $1,000 |
| American Friends of Shalva New York, NY | General Use | $3,600 |
| American Museum of the Moving Image Astoria, NY | General Use | $50,000 |
| Anchor House Trenton, NJ | General Use | $500 |
| Back On My Feet Philadelphia, PA | General Use | $1,000 |
| Bedford Historical Society Bedford, NY | General Use | $25,000 |
| Bedford Playhouse Bedford, NY | General Use | $5,000 |
| Beit Ruth Jericho, NY | General Use | $10,000 |
| Black Theatre United New York, NY | General Use | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strauss Zelnick | Trustee/Chairman | — | — |
| Wendy Belzberg | Trustee/President/Secy | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 685 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820
- Telephone: 203-655-2200
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust fund?
The trust's stated purpose is to earn passive income solely to continue funding charitable purposes. Its grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education • Historic Buildings Preservation
How do I apply for a grant from The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust?
The foundation is an active grantmaker, having distributed 51 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2025). Typical grant awards range from $150,000 to $500,000. Recent notable grants include: • Wesleyan University: $500,000 (General Use) • Packer Collegiate Institute: $166,666 (General Use) • Third Way Institute: $150,000 (General Use) • Covenant House (among other recipients) The foundation does not currently offer live grant opportunities.
Where does The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and California.
What size grants does The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust award?
In 2025, The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust awarded 68 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $75K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust's EIN?
The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7187853. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The ZelnickBelzberg Charitable Trust'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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