William S Paley Foundation Inc
The William S Paley Foundation Inc is an independent private foundation incorporated in 1936 in New York. Based in Jefferson Valley, NY, the foundation was founded by the late William S. Paley, who served as CEO and driving force behind the growth of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) from a minor radio network into one of the "big three" television networks. Under his stewardship, CBS became known for its news division, featuring talents and shows such as Edward R. Murrow and "60 Minutes."
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$177.7M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.2M
-78.6% YoY
Grant Count
33
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$250K
-84.4% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose emphasizes endowment funds held for the Museum of Television and Radio and the Greenpark Foundation (Paley Park). The foundation provides support for other museums, health services, education, and cultural programs. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Museums
- Education
- Health
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$7,000
Average Grant
$7,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple regions of the United States, with particular focus on:
- New York
- Washington, DC
- Connecticut
- Maryland
- California
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $165.2 million (with 2.6% increase from previous year)
- Total Assets (2024 filing): $177,660,247
- Annual Revenue (2023): $34.6 million
- Annual Expenses (2023): $27.6 million
- Total Liabilities (2023): $89.5 million
Tax Status:
- EIN: 13-6085929
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since April 1951
- Form 990-PF filer
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $177,660,247 | $165,236,989 | $145,579,273 |
| Revenue | $11,383,423 | $34,645,020 | $39,042,056 |
| Expenses | $9,008,090 | $27,592,886 | $28,919,960 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,561,027 | $38,711,410 | $8,787,088 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,783,754 | $31,703,550 | $24,974,319 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,929,182 | $8,664,149 | $8,789,289 |
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
156 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Paley Center for Media ($3,050,106), The Paley Center for Media ($2,000,000), Greenpark Foundation ($1,306,833).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GREENPARK FOUNDATION JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY | PALEY PARK - PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,306,833 |
| CLEAN SOBER STREETS INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PALEY ART CENTER | $100,000 |
| MADISON SQ BOYS GIRLS CLUB FOUNDATI NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $110,000 |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,050,106 |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA NEW YORK, NY | PALEY TELEVISON FESTIVAL | $500,000 |
| OXFORD HOUSE SILVER SPRING, MD | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| WASHINGTON PROJECT FOR THE ART WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Patrick S. Gallagher – Executive Director
- Henry A. Kissinger – Chairman/Director (served until November 23)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK S GALLAGHER | Executive Dir. | 16 | $188,726 |
| HENRY A KISSINGER THRU 1123 | CHAIRMAN/DIR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM C PALEY | Vice President | 1 | — |
| DANIEL L MOSLEY | TREAS&SEC/DIR | 1 | — |
| FAIZA J SAEED | Director | 1 | — |
| JACQUELINE SCALISI | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3630 Hill Blvd Ste 202 Jefferson Valley, NY 10535-1513 United States
Telephone: 914-769-5005
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William S Paley Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's purpose emphasizes endowment funds held for the Museum of Television and Radio and the Greenpark Foundation (Paley Park). The foundation provides support for other museums, health services, education, and cultural programs. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Museums • Education • Health
How do I apply for a grant from William S Paley Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity & Scale:** • Total giving (2024): $8,239,939 • Total assets: $177,660,247 • Annual revenue (2023): $34.6 million • Annual expenses (2023): $27.6 million • Typical award range: $2,000–$32,891,939 • Average grant size: $7,000 • Total grants awarded (previous year): 8,639 • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% The foundation is open to new applicants.
Where does William S Paley Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple regions of the United States, with particular focus on: • New York • Washington, DC • Connecticut • Maryland • California
What size grants does William S Paley Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, William S Paley Foundation Inc awarded 33 grants totaling $8.2M — an average of about $250K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William S Paley Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William S Paley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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