The Alper Family Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts to major research universities and medical institutions, with a clear emphasis on biomedical research and clinical care. They provide multi-grant support to a small set of elite institutions—particularly University of Chicago and Mount Sinai—and also fund disease-specific research such as ALS. Their giving appears strategic and concentrated rather than broadly distributed across many small nonprofits.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat grantees; primarily multi-grant/general-purpose gifts to elite universities and medical institutions rather than many small or local grants.
Alper Family Foundation’s clearest pattern is concentrated, large-scale support for a small set of research and medical institutions, with repeated seven-figure gifts to the University of Chicago and Mount Sinai. In the recent grants list, the foundation backed The University of Chicago four times across 2024 and 2025, including a $1,935,612 grant in 2025, and it also made multiple grants to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Health System. That recurring pattern points to an emphasis on institutional support rather than a broad spread of small awards. The foundation’s giving also includes disease-focused philanthropy. Target ALS Foundation Inc received two grants in the recent record, one in 2024 and one in 2025, showing that ALS research sits alongside general support for universities and academic medical centers. Beyond those core recipients, the recent list includes grants to UJA-Federation of New York, Council on Foreign Relations, The New York Historical Society, New York Restoration Project, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, and Rememberusorg. Across the file, the grants are almost entirely large and general-purpose in nature, with several awards labeled general support or general purpose.
Biomedical research and clinical care are central themes in the foundation’s recent giving. The University of Chicago received $1,935,612 in 2025 for general purpose support, while Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai received $1,100,000 in 2024 for general support and $989,999 in 2025 for general purpose support. Mount Sinai Health System also received $1,014,156 in 2024 for general purpose support, reinforcing the medical-institution focus. Disease-specific philanthropy appears in the support for Target ALS Foundation Inc, which received $256,510 in 2025 and $254,988 in 2024, both listed as general purpose. The foundation also funds broader civic and cultural organizations in New York, including UJA-Federation of New York, Council on Foreign Relations, The New York Historical Society, New York Restoration Project, and Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. Those awards suggest a portfolio that reaches beyond research while still favoring established institutions.
Typical grants are large: the p25 is $56,250, the median is $628,424, and the p75 is $1,011,717. That spread shows a funding model built around substantial institutional awards rather than small competitive grants. The recent record is also repetitive: The University of Chicago appears four times, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai appears three times across 2024 and 2025, indicating ongoing support to the same recipients. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Most awards in the recent list are general purpose or general support, which points to flexible operating-style giving.
$3.3M
$8.6M
$2M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $56K and $1M, with a median of $628K.
25th Percentile
$56K
Median
$628K
75th Percentile
$1M
About 60% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: The University of Chicago, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Health System, Target ALS Foundation
Giving is strongly centered in New York, which accounts for 60% of grants in the HQ state and is the top state by grant count. Recent New York recipients include New York, NY-based institutions such as Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Health System, Target ALS Foundation Inc, UJA-Federation of New York, Council on Foreign Relations, The New York Historical Society, New York Restoration Project, and Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. Outside New York, Chicago, IL appears through The University of Chicago, and Needham, MA appears through Rememberusorg. All recent grants in the file go to US recipients.
Its recent grants favor major research universities and medical institutions. The University of Chicago, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Mount Sinai Health System receive some of the largest awards, and Target ALS Foundation Inc also appears twice, showing a strong biomedical and clinical research orientation.
The typical grant profile is large. The p25 is $56,250, the median is $628,424, and the p75 is $1,011,717. That distribution suggests the foundation usually makes sizable institutional grants rather than smaller project awards.
Yes. The University of Chicago appears four times across 2024 and 2025, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai appears three times in the same period. Target ALS Foundation Inc also appears in both 2024 and 2025.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 60% of grants go to recipients in New York. Recent New York recipients include New York, NY-based institutions such as Mount Sinai Health System, Target ALS Foundation Inc, and UJA-Federation of New York, alongside Chicago, IL and Needham, MA recipients outside the state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | CHICAGO, IL | $1,935,612 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | NEW YORK, NY | $989,999 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Target ALS Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $256,510 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Council on foreign relations | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| New York Restoration Project | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Stephen Wise Free Synagogue | NEW YORK, NY | $6,094 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | NEW YORK, NY | $1,100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The University of Chicago | CHICAGO, IL | $1,038,496 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Mount Sinai Health System | New York, NY | $1,014,156 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,004,401 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,001,860 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Target ALS Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $254,988 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UJA-Federation of New York | New York, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Council on foreign relations | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The New York Historical Society | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| REMEMBERUSORG | Needham, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
The University of Chicago
$1,935,612GENERAL PURPOSE
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
$989,999GENERAL PURPOSE
Target ALS Foundation Inc
$256,510GENERAL PURPOSE
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
Council on foreign relations
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
New York Restoration Project
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
$6,094GENERAL PURPOSE
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
$1,100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
The University of Chicago
$1,038,496GENERAL PURPOSE
Mount Sinai Health System
$1,014,156GENERAL PURPOSE
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$1,004,401GENERAL SUPPORT
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$1,001,860GENERAL SUPPORT
Target ALS Foundation Inc
$254,988GENERAL PURPOSE
UJA-Federation of New York
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Council on foreign relations
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
The New York Historical Society
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
REMEMBERUSORG
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT