Wolfensohn Family Foundation
The Wolfensohn Family Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working in areas including emergency aid for Holocaust survivors, the arts, housing stability, and media research.
Key facts about Wolfensohn Family Foundation
In short: Wolfensohn Family Foundation gave $2.4M across 98 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), mostly in New York. 48% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-3781581
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,409,850
- Grants made (2024)
- 98
- Average grant
- $24,590
- Median grant
- $10,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (43 of 89, 2024)
- Total assets
- $49,360,061
- Primary geography
- New York (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wolfensohn Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Wolfensohn Family Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 43 of 89 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1074% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work represented in the 2024 grants. KAVOD says it provides emergency aid for unmet essential needs for Holocaust survivors. Anthos Home says it works to streamline New York City’s housing voucher process and support housing stability. Brooklyn Academy of Music describes its mission as supporting artistic experimentation and inclusion and accessibility throughout the arts. Harmony Labs says it advances research and understanding of media influence in society.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 98 grants totaling $2,409,850. Grants ranged from $360 to $230,000, with a median of $10,750. Among the largest were $230,000 to UJA-Federation of NY; $104,000 to KAVOD; and $100,000 each to AFIPO, the Institute for Advanced Study, Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (paid through UJA), Met Council, Rare Environmental Communications, and Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. The listed purposes for these grants were “general purposes.”
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with Wolfensohn Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, New York recipients accounted for 65% of grant dollars, followed by Massachusetts at 10%, New Jersey at 6%, Tennessee at 4%, and Virginia at 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 98 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $205K (2021) to $2.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 98 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UJA-Federation of NY ($270K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
285 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 251 grants of 285 (88%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UJA-Federation of NY New York, NY | General Purposes | $230,000 |
| Kavod Memphis, TN | General Purposes | $104,000 |
| Afipo New York, NY | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, NJ | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Islandpaid Through UJA New York, NY | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Met Council New York, NY | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Rare Environmental Communications Arlington, VA | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Yale Program on Climate Change Communication New Haven, CT | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Jewish Family & Children's Services Waltham, MA | General Purposes | $85,000 |
| Yad Chessed Newton, MA | General Purposes | $82,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,360,061 | $1,252,346 | $2,856,292 | $2,409,850 | 98 |
| 2023 | $47,324,099 | $1,984,658 | $2,489,708 | $2,097,177 | 76 |
| 2022 | $44,310,386 | $7,571,400 | $1,314,191 | $1,125,400 | 33 |
| 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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sara R. Wolfensohn as trustee/director, Naomi R. Wolfensohn and Adam R. Wolfensohn as trustees, and Marc Britton as CFO.
Wolfensohn Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam R. Wolfensohn
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naomi R. Wolfensohn
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara R. Wolfensohn
Trustee & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Britton
CFO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Elaine R. Wolfensohn (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Through 82020
- Former: James D. Wolfensohn (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Through 112020
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 287 Park Avenue South 424, New York, NY 10010-7002
Phone: (917) 696-6093
Frequently asked questions about Wolfensohn Family Foundation
How much does Wolfensohn Family Foundation give each year?
Wolfensohn Family Foundation gave $2.4M across 98 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 76 grants.
What is Wolfensohn Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Wolfensohn Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,750, and its average grant was $24,590, across 98 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wolfensohn Family Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does Wolfensohn Family Foundation give grants?
Wolfensohn Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (10%) and New Jersey (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (34 grants), Brooklyn, NY (19 grants), Cambridge, MA (6 grants) and Waltham, MA (4 grants).
Does Wolfensohn Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wolfensohn Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (98 of 98) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wolfensohn Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Wolfensohn Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UJA-Federation of NY ($270,000 across 2 grants), Kavod ($104,000) and Afipo ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wolfensohn Family Foundation?
Wolfensohn Family Foundation reported $49.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wolfensohn Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work represented in the 2024 grants. KAVOD says it provides emergency aid for unmet essential needs for Holocaust survivors. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wolfensohn Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wolfensohn Family Foundation's EIN?
Wolfensohn Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3781581. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wolfensohn Family Foundation 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 September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Wolfensohn Family Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wolfensohn Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
New York, NY
LISC funds affordable housing, community development, small businesses, and related efforts that strengthen inclusive communities, providing grants as well as loans, equity, and technical assistance across the country. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $40,000, though amounts varied widely. Application access is program-specific: for its Rhode Island child care facilities planning grants, applicants are instructed to consult program staff before submitting a request.
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,119
Total Given
$102.8M
More Funders in New York
Wolfensohn Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?