Zenkel Foundation
Zenkel Foundation is a private foundation based in West Harrison, New York. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 filing says it contributes only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Zenkel Foundation at a glance
In short: Zenkel Foundation gave $229K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), top state New York. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $229,406
- -7.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -25.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,974
- +24.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,540
- Total assets
- $4,291,594
- +31.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (7 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (30% 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 Zenkel Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4 New King Street Suite 101, West Harrison, NY 10604
Phone: (914) 400-8129
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zenkel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Michigan ($50K). Together the top 10 received $205K.
Grant Size Distribution
171 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 168 grants of 171 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (30%), Michigan (22%), Massachusetts (12%), New Hampshire (11%), and Pennsylvania (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Zenkel Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 23 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 736% 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 $178K (2021) to $3.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $229K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | General Support | $50,000 |
| The Rye Arts Center Rye, NY | General Support | $33,500 |
| Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | General Support | $25,000 |
| Westchester Reform Temple Malvern, PA | General Support | $22,501 |
| Scope Astoria, NY | General Support | $16,000 |
| UJA Federation of New York New York, NY | General Support | $15,000 |
| Hammer Museum Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $7,500 |
| Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| UJA Federation of Greenwich Inc Grrenwich, CT | General Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Zenkel Foundation?
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 | $4,291,594 | $876,572 | $290,110 | $229,406 | 23 | $1,834,211 | $832,673 | $249,258 |
| 2023 | $3,255,763 | $502,916 | $367,805 | $247,660 | 31 | $265,268 | $465,889 | $215,172 |
| 2022 | $3,120,652 | $9,175,759 | $3,375,647 | $3,278,930 | 41 | $3,309,577 | $4,612,087 | $126,747 |
| 2021 | $1,720,540 | $237,568 | $223,691 | $177,760 | 38 | $185,897 | $149,547 | $169,675 |
| 2020 | $1,708,742 | $206,430 | $285,752 | $243,200 | 38 | — | $97,938 | $131,675 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zenkel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $249K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a university, an arts center, a cancer research organization, a college, a temple, and philanthropic organizations.
The Rye Arts Center describes its mission as inspiring interest and participation in the arts in Westchester and the surrounding region through programs with artistic, educational, and innovative qualities. Play for Pink says it supports research related to the causes, cures, and prevention of breast cancer. UJA Federation of Greenwich describes its work as connecting and supporting Jewish communities through cultural and educational programs, advocacy, and philanthropy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $229,406. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $4,540. The largest awards included $50,000 to the University of Michigan, $33,500 to The Rye Arts Center, $25,000 each to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Dartmouth College, and $22,501 to Westchester Reform Temple. The listed purposes for these grants were general support.
The foundation reported 31 grants totaling $247,660 in 2023 and 41 grants totaling $3,278,930 in 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following directors: Bruce Zenkel, Daniel Zenkel, Gary B Zenkel, Lisa Z Sheldon, Lois Zenkel, Michele Crames Zenkel, and Suzane Siegel Zenkel.
Zenkel Foundation's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bruce Zenkel
Director
Secretary & Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel R. Zenkel
Director
Treasurer & Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2021
President, Treasurer & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary B. Zenkel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Z. Sheldon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lois Zenkel
Director
President & Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Crames Zenkel
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzane Siegel Zenkel
Director
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
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.
Frequently asked questions about Zenkel Foundation
How much does Zenkel Foundation give each year?
Zenkel Foundation gave $229K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $248K across 31 grants.
What is Zenkel Foundation's typical grant size?
Zenkel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,540, and its average grant was $9,974, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Zenkel Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Zenkel Foundation give grants?
Zenkel Foundation's top state is New York, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Michigan (22%) and Massachusetts (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Hilton Head Island, SC (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Zenkel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Zenkel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Zenkel Foundation's largest grantees?
Zenkel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Michigan ($50,000), The Rye Arts Center ($33,500) and Dana Farber Cancer Institute ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Zenkel Foundation?
Zenkel Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $249K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zenkel Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a university, an arts center, a cancer research organization, a college, a temple, and philanthropic organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zenkel 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 Zenkel Foundation's EIN?
Zenkel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3380631. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Zenkel 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.
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). Zenkel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zenkel-foundation-morg_673cb903b04c4a4e963fabfb9198e8aa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133380631_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zenkel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zenkel-foundation-morg_673cb903b04c4a4e963fabfb9198e8aa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Zenkel 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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