Woldenberg Foundation
The Woldenberg Foundation is a private foundation based in Metairie, Louisiana. It primarily funds nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Orleans area, with giving in areas including arts and culture, education, human services, health, and Jewish causes.
Woldenberg Foundation at a glance
In short: Woldenberg Foundation gave $1.6M across 115 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), top state Kentucky. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,607,791
- -55.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 115
- -52.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,981
- -7.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $23,563,538
- -3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (31 of 88, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (31% 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 Woldenberg Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Begin with a Letter of Inquiry through the foundation’s application process. The 2024 filing says to email Lisa B. Williams for the form and materials.
- Review Cycle
- N/A on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- N/A on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Lisa B Williams
Mailing address: 524 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70005-4308
Phone: (504) 849-6087
Email: lisa@goldringfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Woldenberg Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National WW II Museum ($215K). Together the top 10 received $806K.
Organizations only. It also paid 20 individual scholarships ($192,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
768 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 684 grants of 768 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it primarily funds nonprofits in the Greater New Orleans area. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky (31%), Louisiana (29%), and New York (21%), followed by Florida (4%) and Indiana (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 115 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Woldenberg Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 88 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 52% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% 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 $1.6M (2024) to $3.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 115 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National WW II Museum New Orleans, LA | Arts & Culture | $215,000 |
| American Friends of Alyn Hospital New York, NY | Jewish Causes | $150,000 |
| Birthright Israel New York, NY | Jewish Causes | $100,000 |
| University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | Scholarships | $65,000 |
| 8 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $146,000 |
| Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY | Scholarships | $55,000 |
| American Friends of MDA Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Jewish Causes | $50,000 |
| City Year New Orleans, LA | Education | $50,000 |
| University of Louisville Louisville, KY | Scholarships | $46,000 |
| Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY | Scholarships | $45,000 |
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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 | $23,563,538 | $1,121,452 | $1,877,123 | $1,607,791 | 115 | $1,733,576 | $521,921 | $1,453,565 |
| 2023 | $24,403,827 | $5,817,201 | $3,971,869 | $3,621,808 | 240 | $3,740,545 | $5,692,530 | $1,336,381 |
| 2022 | $22,583,408 | $1,787,760 | $4,169,009 | $3,815,492 | 198 | $3,928,200 | $1,822,281 | $1,521,033 |
| 2021 | $25,006,485 | $2,799,407 | $3,722,641 | $3,362,510 | 109 | $3,476,481 | $2,771,541 | $1,794,986 |
| 2020 | $25,933,445 | $2,818,238 | $2,611,766 | $2,229,321 | 106 | — | $2,654,057 | $1,513,365 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Woldenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M 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 website lists its areas of giving as Animals & Environment, Arts & Culture, Civil Affairs, Education/Recreation & Opportunities for Children, Human Services, Health, and Jewish Causes.
Its 2024 grants included support for educational institutions and organizations working in arts and culture, Jewish causes, human services, and youth programs. Grantee descriptions illustrate this range: New Orleans Women & Children’s describes its work as providing shelter and support for women, children, and families transitioning from homelessness and poverty; Youth Empowerment Project says it engages underserved young people through education, mentoring, and employment-readiness programs; and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art describes its work as presenting Southern art through exhibitions, public events, and educational programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 115 grants totaling $1,607,791. Grant amounts ranged from $16 to $215,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $215,000 to the National WWII Museum for arts and culture, $150,000 to American Friends of ALYN Hospital for Jewish causes, and $100,000 to Birthright Israel for Jewish causes. Other notable grants included $65,000 to the University of Kentucky and $55,000 to Western Kentucky University, both for scholarships, and $50,000 to City Year for education.
The foundation’s website says applicants begin with a Letter of Inquiry providing general details about their organization. Its 2024 filing lists Lisa B. Williams as the contact for application materials and says to email her; the filing lists no award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William A. Goldring as board chair; Jeffrey B. Goldring, Robert Steeg, Mark Halpern, and Minette Brown as trustees; Paul L. Fine as treasurer; and Lisa B. Williams as secretary.
Woldenberg Foundation is led by William A. Goldring, Board Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William A. Goldring
Board Chair
President → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Halpern
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$30K (2020) → $30K (2024)
Minette Brown
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$60K (2020) → $60K (2024)
Robert Steeg
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$30K (2020) → $30K (2024)
Jeffrey B. Goldring
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa B. Williams
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul L. Fine
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $60K, to Minette Brown (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Woldenberg Foundation
How much does Woldenberg Foundation give each year?
Woldenberg Foundation gave $1.6M across 115 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 240 grants.
What is Woldenberg Foundation's typical grant size?
Woldenberg Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $13,981, across 115 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Woldenberg Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Woldenberg Foundation give grants?
Woldenberg Foundation's top state is Kentucky, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Louisiana (29%) and New York (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (14 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Louisville, KY (4 grants) and Metairie, LA (3 grants).
Does Woldenberg Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 115 grants with a stated purpose on Woldenberg Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (87 grants), "Jewish Causes" (8 grants) and "Education" (8 grants).
Who are Woldenberg Foundation's largest grantees?
Woldenberg Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National WW II Museum ($215,000), American Friends of Alyn Hospital ($150,000) and Birthright Israel ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 20 individual scholarships ($192,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Woldenberg Foundation?
Woldenberg Foundation reported $23.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Woldenberg Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website lists its areas of giving as Animals & Environment, Arts & Culture, Civil Affairs, Education/Recreation & Opportunities for Children, Human Services, Health, and Jewish Causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Woldenberg Foundation?
Begin with a Letter of Inquiry through the foundation’s application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Woldenberg Foundation's EIN?
Woldenberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-6022665. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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). Woldenberg Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/woldenberg-foundation-morg_7265175d113542c691ecf08d0eb4091e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_726022665_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Woldenberg Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/woldenberg-foundation-morg_7265175d113542c691ecf08d0eb4091e},
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 Woldenberg Foundation'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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