The Wolfensohn Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1995 and based in New York City. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization classified as a private independent foundation. The foundation was launched by financier James David Wolfensohn and his late wife Elaine, a former teacher and advocate for children and gender equity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$49.4M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+14.9% YoY
Grant Count
98
+28.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-10.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a public mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Wolfensohn Family Foundation primarily supports:
- Arts and Culture — Particularly performing arts, with significant historical support for institutions like Carnegie Hall
- Health
- Jewish Causes — Including Holocaust survivor support programs
- Environment
- Policy and Global Organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Prospective grantees are encouraged to contact the foundation directly to introduce their work.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, with a particular emphasis on New York-based institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $47.3 million
- Total Revenue: $1.98 million
- Total Expenses: $2.49 million
- Total Liabilities: $17.2 thousand
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $49.36 million
- Total Giving: $2.41 million
The foundation has no employees and operates with minimal staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $49,360,061 | $47,324,099 | $44,310,386 |
| Revenue | $1,252,346 | $1,984,658 | $7,571,400 |
| Expenses | $2,856,292 | $2,489,708 | $1,314,191 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,502,482 | $2,154,757 | $552,214 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,041,594 | $1,684,370 | $498,664 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,416,475 | $2,080,197 | $1,992,133 |
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
209 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James David Wolfensohn is the founder. Marc Britton serves as Chief (title and compensation details not fully specified in available sources).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARA R WOLFENSOHN | TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NAOMI R WOLFENSOHN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ADAM R WOLFENSOHN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARC BRITTON | CFO | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains a limited public profile and does not actively publicize its grantmaking strategies or guidelines. Its preference for selecting its own grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals suggests a more private approach to philanthropy. The foundation's support extends across multiple years for selected organizations, indicating sustained commitment to certain grantees.
Wolf Foundation $1 million commitment will add additional full scholarshipSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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