The Asness Family Foundation gives like a values-driven family foundation with two clear lanes: high-impact support for elite higher education and intellectually aligned policy/free-speech organizations, plus selective local philanthropy in Greenwich and New York-area institutions. Its grantees suggest strong interest in economics, market-oriented public policy, open inquiry, and academic excellence, alongside a recurring personal commitment to schools and community organizations near home. It also makes meaningful gifts to research and medical causes, but these appear secondary to its education and ideas-focused giving.
Moderately concentrated giving with a small set of major repeat grantees, especially universities and policy institutions; many awards are multi-grant relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation appears comfortable making large commitments, often tied to named funds, chairs, or programs, while also supporting a handful of local and civic organizations at smaller levels.
$5.8M
$23.9M
$6.7M
$7.5M
Most grants fall between $15K and $250K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Notable grantees: The University of Chicago, Greenwich Academy, University of Pennsylvania, American Enterprise Institute, International Rescue Committee
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 | $1,500,000 | 2026 | ASNESS & LIEW MASTER IN FINANCE |
| THE BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | ERIC LANDER CATALYTIC FUND |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS | ST. LOUIS, MO | $1,000,000 | 2026 | LAUREL & CLIFF ASNESS DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $625,000 | 2026 | CHICAGO BOOTH |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | AQR PROFESSORSHIP |
| THE BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | FENG ZHENG RESEARCH |
| THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DONORS TRUST, INC. | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, MO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| International Rescue Committee | New York, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Greenwich Academy | Greenwich, CT | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The University of Chicago | — | $625,000 | 2025 | Chicago Booth |
| Manhattan Institute for Policy Research | New York, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The University of Chicago | — | $250,000 | 2025 | AQR Professorship |
| Heterodox Academy | New York, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Broad Institute, Inc. | Cambridge, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | Feng Zheng Research |
| Donors Trust, Inc. | Alexandria, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Robin Hood | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | Robin Hood Benefit |
| The Fund for American Studies | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Greenwich Library | — | $100,000 | 2025 | Library Improvement Fund |
| Advancing American Freedom Foundation | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| WNET | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | Firing Line with Margaret Hoover |
| Greenwich Academy | Greenwich, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | Annual Fund/Senior Class Gift - Final |
| VMTS Education Inc | New York, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Greenwich Academy | Greenwich, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | Molly H. King Fund |
| Criminal Justice Reform Foundation | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Bloomberg Brackets for a Cause |
| The University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $1,000,000 | 2024 | Asness Junior Faculty Fellowship |
| Greenwich Academy | Greenwich, CT | $1,000,000 | 2024 | Leading the Way Campaign |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | Professorship, Fellowship, Jerome Fisher Lab |
| International Rescue Committee | New York, NY | $1,000,000 | 2024 | Global Crises and Humanitarian Disasters |
| Cato Institute | Washington, DC | $500,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| American Enterprise Institute | Washington, DC | $480,000 | 2024 | Asness Chair in Applied Liberty |
| American Enterprise Institute | Washington, DC | $480,000 | 2024 | Asness Chair in Applied Liberty |
| The Broad Institute, Inc. | Cambridge, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | Feng Zhang Research |
| The University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Professorship |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | $250,000 | 2024 | Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center |
| Heterodox Academy | New York, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Institute for Humane Studies | Arlington, VA | $200,000 | 2024 | Clifford S. Asness Research Program on Free Speech and Open Inquiry |
| FIRE | Philadelphia, PA | $200,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Donors Trust, Inc. | Alexandria, VA | $175,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| New-York Historical Society | New York, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Atlas Society | Kingwood, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| International Rescue Committee | New York, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | 2022 Ukraine Relief |
| Robin Hood | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | Robin Hood Benefit |
| WNET | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | Firing Line with Margaret Hoover |
| Greenwich Library | Greenwich, CT | $100,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | PI Fernandez-Villaverde |
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
$1,000,000LAUREL & CLIFF ASNESS DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP
GENERAL SUPPORT
THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Greenwich Academy
$1,000,000General Support
The University of Chicago
$625,000Chicago Booth
The University of Chicago
$250,000AQR Professorship
Robin Hood
$100,000Robin Hood Benefit
Greenwich Library
$100,000Library Improvement Fund
WNET
$100,000Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
Greenwich Academy
$75,000Annual Fund/Senior Class Gift - Final
Greenwich Academy
$25,000Molly H. King Fund
Greenwich Academy
$1,000,000Leading the Way Campaign
Professorship, Fellowship, Jerome Fisher Lab
Clifford S. Asness Research Program on Free Speech and Open Inquiry
New-York Historical Society
$150,000General Support
Atlas Society
$150,000General Support
Robin Hood
$100,000Robin Hood Benefit
WNET
$100,000Firing Line with Margaret Hoover