The Abraham J and Phyllis Katz Foundation makes a small number of very large, targeted gifts focused on university-level arts endowment and biomedical/clinical programs, with a clear interest in supporting organzations that build research capacity. While one major grant is an endowed music/keyboard studies gift to Cornell, the remainder of funding is concentrated on cord‑blood collection/biobanking and pediatric clinical research tied to Atlanta hospitals. Grants are large, strategic, and often directed to institutional partners rather than many small community groups.
A $5 million endowed gift to Cornell University for the Center for Keyboard Studies stands out in the Abraham J and Phyllis Katz Foundation’s recent record and shows how selectively it uses large grants. The foundation also backs biomedical and clinical work at a similarly serious scale, including repeated support for Cleveland Cord Blood Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. That pattern points to a funder that favors institutional partners, research capacity, and programs that can be sustained over time. Across recent grants, the foundation has supported cord blood collection and transplant infrastructure, sickle cell disease research, hospice and palliative care staffing, and clinical trials at Atlanta-based health institutions. Its grants are typically substantial rather than numerous, with several gifts repeated across multiple years to the same organizations. The mix of an arts endowment at a university and concentrated medical philanthropy makes the foundation distinctive: it funds both long-horizon cultural support and specialized healthcare programs. Recent awards also show a preference for named programs within larger institutions, such as research initiatives, operating support, and staffing or infrastructure needs. The foundation’s giving style suggests targeted institutional funding rather than broad, open-ended community grantmaking.
In sickle cell disease work, the foundation has made multiple large grants to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, including $1,000,000 in 2025 for the Research: Sickle Cell Disease Healthy Lives Program and additional support for Research: Sickle Cell Disease Health Services and Outcomes. Those awards show a sustained emphasis on both research and care delivery. Cord blood infrastructure is another core area. Cleveland Cord Blood Center received funding for cord blood collection programs tied to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown, along with general operating support and support for National Cord Blood Transplant Network participating centers. The grants suggest an interest in the collection and transplant pipeline rather than a single isolated project. The foundation has also backed clinical research through Emory University, including the TUDCA Clinical Trial, Phase IIB (Boatright), and supported hospice and palliative care staffing at Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice. Its arts funding is visible in the Cornell University endowment for the Center for Keyboard Studies.
$13.4M
$23.9M
$2.3M
$14M
Most grants fall between $52K and $250K, with a median of $148K.
25th Percentile
$52K
Median
$148K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants (few grants totaling $8M) with repeat funding to select biomedical partners; mixes one large institutional endowment with multi-grant support for clinical/research programs tied to local hospitals.
Notable grantees: Cornell University, Cleveland Cord Blood Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Typical grant sizes are large: the distribution shows a p25 of $51,500, a median of $147,882, and a p75 of $250,000. Recent giving also includes several six- and seven-figure awards, indicating a preference for concentrated institutional support rather than many small grants. The same organizations recur across multiple years, especially Cleveland Cord Blood Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, and Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments, which fits a grantmaking model centered on direct grants, operating support, and endowment or infrastructure support.
The foundation gives mainly in Georgia: 70% of its grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Georgia is also the top state by grant count. Atlanta is the clearest center of activity, with grants to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice, and Atlanta Speech School. Outside Georgia, grants also land in Ithaca, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Recent grants point to university-level arts endowment, cord blood collection and transplant infrastructure, sickle cell disease research, clinical trials, and hospice and palliative care staffing. The foundation also funds capacity-building support such as operating support and program staffing.
Yes. Cleveland Cord Blood Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, and Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice each appear across multiple grant years, with repeated awards for similar programs or general operating support.
The grant-size distribution is sizable: p25 is $51,500, median grant size is $147,882, and p75 is $250,000. Recent awards also include several seven-figure grants and one $5 million endowment gift.
Georgia receives 70% of grants, and Atlanta is the main recipient city in the recent grant list. Grants also went to Ithaca, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio, but Georgia is both the top state by grant count and the state that receives the largest share of grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $5,000,000 | 2025 | Center for Keyboard Studies endowment |
| Cleveland Cord Blood Center | Cleveland, OH | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Research: Sickle Cell Disease Healthy Lives Program |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $422,380 | 2025 | Research: Sickle Cell Disease Health Services and Outcomes |
| Cleveland Cord Blood Center | Cleveland, OH | $350,000 | 2025 | Cord blood collection program, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital |
| Atlanta Speech School | Atlanta, GA | $339,000 | 2025 | Science of Reading Project |
| Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice | Atlanta, GA | $300,000 | 2025 | Hospice and palliative care programs, staffing |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $293,522 | 2025 | Research: Sickle Cell Disease |
| Cleveland Cord Blood Center | Cleveland, OH | $280,000 | 2025 | National Cord Blood Transplant Network participating centers support |
| TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation | Atlanta, GA | $250,000 | 2025 | Satellite clinic initiative |
| Cleveland Cord Blood Center | Cleveland, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | Cord blood collection program, Emory University Hospital Midtown |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | Center for Keyboard Studies |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $250,000 | 2025 | Research: Retinal degeneration |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $250,000 | 2025 | Winship Cancer Institute, GI Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship Program |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $235,000 | 2025 | Preventive Cardiology Fellowship Program |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $200,000 | 2025 | Research: Small molecule therapeutics for sickle cell anemia |
| Theatrical Outfit | Atlanta, GA | $200,000 | 2025 | General operations, endowment |
| Cleveland Cord Blood Center | Cleveland, OH | $193,340 | 2025 | National Cord Blood Transplant Network infrastructure development |
| Woodruff Arts Center | Atlanta, GA | $183,334 | 2025 | Atlanta Symphony Orchestra student musician training program |
| Camp Twin Lakes | Atlanta, GA | $160,000 | 2025 | Camper scholarships |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $160,000 | 2025 | Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Chronos Faculty Fellowship |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $159,232 | 2025 | Sickle cell disease research equipment - Sysmex analyzer |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $150,000 | 2025 | Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Piano Studies Program |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $146,183 | 2025 | Molecular Vision medical journal support |
| Atlanta Community Food Bank | Atlanta, GA | $145,000 | 2025 | General operating |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $125,000 | 2025 | Research: Targeting VIP receptor signaling in pancreatic cancer |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $120,000 | 2025 | Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Institute for the Liberal Arts |
| Parker Kenneth | Gloucester, MA | $108,000 | 2025 | Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Content development, presentation |
| Common Good Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | Executive director position salary support |
| National Center for Civil and Human Rights | Atlanta, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | General operating, education programming |
| Atlanta Music Project | Atlanta, GA | $85,000 | 2025 | General operating |
| Center for the Visually Impaired | Atlanta, GA | $80,000 | 2025 | General operating and matching funds |
| Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities | Atlanta, GA | $75,000 | 2025 | Capital campaign; program support |
| Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities | Atlanta, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | Winship Cancer Institute, Patient & Family Services Program |
| American Red Cross | Atlanta, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | Biomedical equipment and operations |
| Mr Holland's Opus Foundation The | Studio City, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Music education services assessment, musical instrument donations to Atlanta Public Schools |
| Sight Savers America | Pelham, AL | $45,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $42,978 | 2025 | Sickle cell disease research equipment - Long-term storage freezers |
| Special Olympics Georgia | Atlanta, GA | $30,000 | 2025 | Georgia State Games |
| Guth Harry John | Valley Cottage, NY | $27,000 | 2025 | Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Video editing services |
| Krimmel Samuel | Beverly, MA | $21,600 | 2025 | Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Video editing services |
| McKenna Ryan | Somerville, MA | $21,600 | 2025 | Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Video editing services |
| Candid | Atlanta, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | General Operating and Programming - Southern region |
| Cleveland Cord Blood Center | Cleveland, OH | $1,000,000 | 2024 | Cord blood collection program, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $655,287 | 2024 | Research: Sickle Cell Disease |
| CLEVELAND CORD BLOOD CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $600,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA | $495,066 | 2024 | Research: Sickle Cell Disease Health Services and Outcomes |
| Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice | Atlanta, GA | $450,000 | 2024 | Hospice and palliative care programs, staffing |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $420,000 | 2024 | TUDCA CLINICAL TRIAL, PHASE IIB (BOATRIGHT) |
Cornell University
$5,000,000Center for Keyboard Studies endowment
Cleveland Cord Blood Center
$1,000,000General operating support
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$1,000,000Research: Sickle Cell Disease Healthy Lives Program
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$422,380Research: Sickle Cell Disease Health Services and Outcomes
Cleveland Cord Blood Center
$350,000Cord blood collection program, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
Atlanta Speech School
$339,000Science of Reading Project
Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice
$300,000Hospice and palliative care programs, staffing
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$293,522Research: Sickle Cell Disease
Cleveland Cord Blood Center
$280,000National Cord Blood Transplant Network participating centers support
TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
$250,000Satellite clinic initiative
Cleveland Cord Blood Center
$250,000Cord blood collection program, Emory University Hospital Midtown
Cornell University
$250,000Center for Keyboard Studies
Emory University
$250,000Research: Retinal degeneration
Emory University
$250,000Winship Cancer Institute, GI Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship Program
Emory University
$235,000Preventive Cardiology Fellowship Program
Emory University
$200,000Research: Small molecule therapeutics for sickle cell anemia
Theatrical Outfit
$200,000General operations, endowment
Cleveland Cord Blood Center
$193,340National Cord Blood Transplant Network infrastructure development
Woodruff Arts Center
$183,334Atlanta Symphony Orchestra student musician training program
Camp Twin Lakes
$160,000Camper scholarships
Emory University
$160,000Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Chronos Faculty Fellowship
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$159,232Sickle cell disease research equipment - Sysmex analyzer
Emory University
$150,000Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Piano Studies Program
Emory University
$146,183Molecular Vision medical journal support
Atlanta Community Food Bank
$145,000General operating
Emory University
$125,000Research: Targeting VIP receptor signaling in pancreatic cancer
Emory University
$120,000Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Institute for the Liberal Arts
Parker Kenneth
$108,000Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Content development, presentation
Common Good Atlanta
$100,000Executive director position salary support
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
$100,000General operating, education programming
Atlanta Music Project
$85,000General operating
Center for the Visually Impaired
$80,000General operating and matching funds
Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities
$75,000Capital campaign; program support
Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities
$50,000Program support
Emory University
$50,000Winship Cancer Institute, Patient & Family Services Program
American Red Cross
$50,000Biomedical equipment and operations
Mr Holland's Opus Foundation The
$50,000Music education services assessment, musical instrument donations to Atlanta Public Schools
Sight Savers America
$45,000Program support
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$42,978Sickle cell disease research equipment - Long-term storage freezers
Special Olympics Georgia
$30,000Georgia State Games
Guth Harry John
$27,000Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Video editing services
Krimmel Samuel
$21,600Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Video editing services
McKenna Ryan
$21,600Project: Luthier tutorial video series/Video editing services
Candid
$20,000General Operating and Programming - Southern region
Cleveland Cord Blood Center
$1,000,000Cord blood collection program, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$655,287Research: Sickle Cell Disease
CLEVELAND CORD BLOOD CENTER
$600,000RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
$495,066Research: Sickle Cell Disease Health Services and Outcomes
Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice
$450,000Hospice and palliative care programs, staffing
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$420,000TUDCA CLINICAL TRIAL, PHASE IIB (BOATRIGHT)