William S Paley Foundation Inc
William S Paley Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Jefferson Valley, New York. In 2024, it reported 33 grants totaling $8,239,939, with major awards supporting the Paley Center for Media, Greenpark Foundation, and Jerusalem Foundation.
William S Paley Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: William S Paley Foundation Inc gave $8.2M across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $250K), mostly in New York. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,239,939
- -78.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- +37.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $249,695
- -84.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $177,660,247
- +7.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (6 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to William S Paley Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that no particular form is required, but full financial information should be disclosed. Grants may not be made to individuals.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Patrick S Gallagher
Mailing address: 3630 Hill Boulevard Suite 202, Jefferson Valley, NY 10535-1513
Phone: (914) 769-5005
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William S Paley Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Paley Center for Media ($5.6M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $8.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
156 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 156 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 2% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 1% each to recipients in Connecticut and California. Massachusetts accounted for 0% as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is William S Paley Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 29 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $354K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 75% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.7M (2021) to $38.4M (2023). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $8.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Paley Center for Media New York, NY | General Operating Support | $3,050,106 |
| The Paley Center for Media New York, NY | GJG Grant | $2,000,000 |
| Greenpark Foundation Jefferson Valley, NY | Paley Park - Program Support | $1,306,833 |
| The Jerusalem Foundation New York, NY | Capital Pledge | $533,000 |
| The Paley Center for Media New York, NY | Paley Televison Festival | $500,000 |
| The Museum of Modern Art New York, NY | General Operating Support | $110,000 |
| The Jerusalem Foundation New York, NY | Paley Art Center | $100,000 |
| The Jerusalem Foundation New York, NY | Innovation | $100,000 |
| Madison SQ Boys Girls Club Foundati New York, NY | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $177,660,247 | $11,383,423 | $9,008,090 | $8,239,939 | 33 | $8,561,027 | $8,783,754 | $7,929,182 |
| 2023 | $165,236,989 | $34,645,020 | $27,592,886 | $38,417,470 | 24 | $38,711,410 | $31,703,550 | $8,664,149 |
| 2022 | $145,579,273 | $39,042,056 | $28,919,960 | $8,245,058 | 36 | $8,787,088 | $24,974,319 | $8,789,289 |
| 2021 | $152,417,340 | $14,608,211 | $9,002,449 | $4,695,924 | 35 | $5,264,770 | $12,031,278 | $6,827,210 |
| 2020 | $135,652,976 | $16,683,216 | $7,779,595 | $6,237,643 | 28 | — | $14,697,844 | $5,504,463 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William S Paley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for cultural organizations, educational programs, community organizations, and humanitarian work. For example, the Foundation for City College describes its mission as supporting students and programs at the City College of New York, while World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes its work as collecting, studying, conserving, and presenting art across times and cultures.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $8,239,939. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $3,050,106, and the median grant was $20,000. Its largest awards included $3,050,106 in general operating support and $2,000,000 for a GJG grant to the Paley Center for Media; $1,306,833 for Paley Park program support to Greenpark Foundation; and $533,000 as a capital pledge to the Jerusalem Foundation. Other listed awards included $500,000 to the Paley Center for Media for the Paley Television Festival and $110,000 in general operating support to the Museum of Modern Art.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its filing lists Patrick S Gallagher as the contact, says no particular form is required but full financial information should be disclosed, and states that grants may not be made to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patrick S Gallagher as Executive Director; Henry A Kissinger as Chairman/Director; William C Paley as Vice President; Daniel L Mosley as Treasurer and Secretary/Director; and Faiza J Saeed and Jacqueline Scalisi as Directors.
William S Paley Foundation Inc is led by Patrick S. Gallagher, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patrick S. Gallagher
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $189K (2024)
Daniel L. Mosley
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faiza J. Saeed
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Scalisi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William C. Paley
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Henry A. Kissinger (2020–2024) — Chairman & Director · Filing note: Thru 11/2023
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 $189K, to Patrick S Gallagher (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about William S Paley Foundation Inc
How much does William S Paley Foundation Inc give each year?
William S Paley Foundation Inc gave $8.2M across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $38.4M across 24 grants.
What is William S Paley Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
William S Paley Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $249,695, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William S Paley Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does William S Paley Foundation Inc give grants?
William S Paley Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 96% 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 (17 grants) and Washington, DC (7 grants).
Does William S Paley Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 76% of William S Paley Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are William S Paley Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
William S Paley Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Paley Center for Media ($5,550,106 across 3 grants), Greenpark Foundation ($1,306,833) and The Jerusalem Foundation ($733,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William S Paley Foundation Inc?
William S Paley Foundation Inc reported $177.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does William S Paley Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for cultural organizations, educational programs, community organizations, and humanitarian work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William S Paley Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William S Paley Foundation Inc's EIN?
William S Paley Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6085929. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does William S Paley Foundation Inc 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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William S Paley Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-s-paley-foundation-inc-morg_9403bd04b73c41e7a9b0670a71681e0f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136085929_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William S Paley Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-s-paley-foundation-inc-morg_9403bd04b73c41e7a9b0670a71681e0f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from William S Paley Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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