Zisson Foundation Inc
Zisson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In 2025, it reported 19 grants totaling $690,000 to charitable organizations, with awards including support for hunger relief, anti-hate work, health research, and disaster response.
Zisson Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Zisson Foundation Inc gave $690K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), top state Connecticut. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $690,000
- +23.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,316
- +36.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $3,604,429
- -4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (4 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Zisson Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 354 E 91St Street 1202, New York, NY 10128
Phone: (212) 369-2356
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zisson Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UJA-JCC Greenwich ($227K). Together the top 10 received $557K.
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 103 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Connecticut (47%), New York (31%), California (9%), Illinois (9%), and Georgia (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Zisson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 19 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 319% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $450K (2022) to $690K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $690K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UJA-JCC Greenwich Greenwich, CT | Unrestricted | $227,000 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | General Support | $60,000 |
| Galapagos Rockford Charter School NFP Inc Rockford, IL | Unrestricted | $60,000 |
| Children's Tumor Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $30,000 |
| Connecticut Foodshare Wallingford, CT | General Support | $30,000 |
| Direct Relief Santa Barbara, CA | General Support | $30,000 |
| The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County Stamford, CT | General Support | $30,000 |
| Food Bank for New York City New York, NY | General Support | $30,000 |
| International Rescue Committee New York, NY | General Support | $30,000 |
| Jceo of Clinton & Franklin County Plattsburgh, NY | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Zisson Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,604,429 | $532,194 | $709,080 | $690,000 | 19 | $690,000 | $527,194 | $216,006 |
| 2024 | $3,781,315 | $393,850 | $568,941 | $558,000 | 21 | $558,000 | $388,850 | $224,873 |
| 2023 | $3,956,406 | $254,113 | $572,894 | $555,000 | 23 | $555,000 | $249,113 | $218,423 |
| 2022 | $4,275,187 | $162,479 | $472,546 | $450,000 | 19 | $450,000 | $157,479 | $233,317 |
| 2021 | $4,585,254 | $1,383,131 | $481,766 | $475,000 | 21 | $475,000 | $284,516 | $212,420 |
| 2020 | $3,683,889 | $1,012,825 | $473,125 | $459,540 | 20 | — | $101,470 | $163,571 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zisson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $216K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in a range of areas. For example, the Anti-Defamation League describes its mission as fighting antisemitism and other forms of hate; the Children’s Tumor Foundation says it works to advance research, knowledge, and care for the NF community; and Team Rubicon describes itself as a veteran-led humanitarian organization serving communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.
Several grantees describe work addressing food insecurity. The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County says it provides food to nonprofit organizations serving communities in Connecticut and works to combat hunger. Connecticut Foodshare says it mobilizes community partners, volunteers, and supporters to deliver an informed and equitable response to hunger. Food Bank for New York City describes its mission as helping New Yorkers achieve food security.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $690,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $227,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest listed grant was $227,000 to UJA-JCC Greenwich for unrestricted support. Other notable grants included $60,000 each to the Anti-Defamation League for general support and Galapagos Rockford Charter School NFP Inc for unrestricted support. The Children’s Tumor Foundation, Connecticut Foodshare, Direct Relief, the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, Food Bank for New York City, the International Rescue Committee, JCEO of Clinton & Franklin County, Neighbor to Neighbor, and Team Rubicon each received $30,000. The filing lists those $30,000 grants as general support, except for JCEO of Clinton & Franklin County, which received unrestricted support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Nancy Zisson as VP/Director; Daniel Zisson as President/Director; Robin Leader as Treasurer/Director; Alexander Zisson as Assistant Secretary/Director; Kristin Zisson as Secretary/Director; and Adam Leader as Assistant Secretary/Director.
Zisson Foundation Inc is led by Daniel Zisson, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel Zisson
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Leader
Assistant Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Zisson
Assistant Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Zisson
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Zisson
Vice President & Director
V. P. & Director → V.p. & Director, 2021
V.p. & Director → Vice President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Leader
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Zisson Foundation Inc
How much does Zisson Foundation Inc give each year?
Zisson Foundation Inc gave $690K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $558K across 21 grants.
What is Zisson Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Zisson Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $36,316, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Zisson Foundation Inc that year got $38K on average.
Where does Zisson Foundation Inc give grants?
Zisson Foundation Inc's top state is Connecticut, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (31%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants) and Greenwich, CT (3 grants).
Does Zisson Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Zisson Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Zisson Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Zisson Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include UJA-JCC Greenwich ($227,000), Anti-Defamation League ($60,000) and Galapagos Rockford Charter School NFP Inc ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Zisson Foundation Inc?
Zisson Foundation Inc reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $690K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $216K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zisson Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in a range of areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zisson Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Zisson Foundation Inc's EIN?
Zisson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3706192. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Zisson Foundation Inc 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zisson Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Lamb Weston Charitable Foundation
Eagle, ID
The foundation funds 501(c)(3) community programs, employee matching gifts, and scholarships for employees’ children, with recent grants supporting food banks and hunger relief. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,000 to $795,172, with a median of $40,565, and supported communities where Lamb Weston operates and employees live and work, including Idaho, Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12.9M
Grants
11
Total Given
$1.3M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Fairfield County's Community Foundation Inc
Norwalk, CT
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation funds local nonprofits addressing education and careers, economic security, health equity, housing, civic engagement, and related community needs in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Awards vary widely: capacity-building grants are up to $10,000, Community Impact Grants are $10,000–$15,000, and reported 2025 grants had a median of $24,080. It accepts unsolicited applications for some programs, including rolling capacity-building and small-grant opportunities; Strategic Partner Grants are invitation-only.
Assets
$291.4M
Grants
448
Total Given
$25.7M
Webster Bank Charitable Foundation
Wilmington, DE
Webster Bank Charitable Foundation funds established 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving low- to moderate-income communities in Webster’s footprint, supporting workforce and community development, financial empowerment, and basic needs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000 and ranged from $50 to $346,732. It accepts applications through an online process on a rolling basis and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$5.0M
Grants
302
Total Given
$4.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Zisson Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zisson-foundation-inc-morg_eb2762730fea443799bf8f394a6115bd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_453706192_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zisson Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zisson-foundation-inc-morg_eb2762730fea443799bf8f394a6115bd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Zisson Foundation Inc'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.
Zisson Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?