The Cahn Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy in New Orleans, with the vast majority of funding directed to the local Jewish community and a smaller but meaningful commitment to preserving the city’s cultural arts (notably jazz). They make relatively large, general-purpose grants to established local institutions rather than many small or program-specific gifts. The foundation appears oriented toward sustaining community infrastructure — both religious/communal services and cultural heritage — through unrestricted support.
Concentrated, local giving: a small number of large grants, repeat funding to a primary grantee (Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans), and occasional support for prominent cultural organizations.
Cahn Family Foundation C/o Mr James Cahn gives almost entirely in Louisiana, with 91% of its grants landing in the HQ state and a visible pattern of repeated support for the New Orleans Jewish community. The largest recent gifts in the record go to Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, including $200,000 in 2024, $125,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2025, all for general purposes. That recurring support sits alongside other long-running gifts to Jewish Children’s Regional Service, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, and Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans, showing a sustained commitment to community infrastructure rather than one-off projects. The foundation also backs New Orleans cultural institutions, including Preservation Hall Foundation and Shakespeare Festival at Tulane, and its recent grants show broad general-purpose funding across religious, educational, and cultural organizations. With annual grants of $1.659 million and total assets of $9.9 million, it operates at a local scale while concentrating on established institutions in New Orleans and nearby communities.
A central theme is support for Jewish communal infrastructure in the New Orleans area. The foundation gave $35,000 in 2025 to Jewish Children’s Regional Service for general purposes, and it also made repeated general-purpose grants to Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana and Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans. Educational and youth-serving Jewish institutions also appear in the record, including $25,000 to Jewish Community Day School in 2025 and $30,000 to Urj Henry S Jacobs Camp in both 2024 and 2025. Beyond Jewish communal work, the foundation supports cultural preservation and arts organizations. It gave $50,000 in 2025 to Preservation Hall Foundation and also funded Shakespeare Festival at Tulane with multiple general-purpose grants, including $30,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2025. New Orleans civic and recovery organizations are present too, such as City Park Conservancy and St Bernard Project.
Typical grant sizes are modest relative to the foundation’s total giving: the 25th percentile is $3,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent-grants record also shows several larger general-purpose awards, so the portfolio mixes frequent small gifts with a smaller number of larger institutional grants. Recurring support is a clear pattern: Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Jewish Children’s Regional Service, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans, St George’s Episcopal School, Urj Henry S Jacobs Camp, City Park Conservancy, and Shakespeare Festival at Tulane all appear in more than one year. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$559K
$9.9M
$1M
$696K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Preservation Hall Foundation
Grantmaking is highly local. Louisiana recipients account for 91% of grants, and the top giving state is LA. Within the recent grants list, New Orleans and Metairie dominate, with additional gifts to Utica, Mississippi. Named recipient cities include New Orleans for Preservation Hall Foundation, City Park Conservancy, Shakespeare Festival at Tulane, Prospect New Orleans, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and St Bernard Project; Metairie for Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Jewish Children’s Regional Service, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans, and Jewish Community Day School; and Utica for Urj Henry S Jacobs Camp.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on Jewish communal institutions in the New Orleans area, including Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Jewish Children’s Regional Service, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans, and Jewish Community Day School. The foundation also funds cultural and civic organizations such as Preservation Hall Foundation, City Park Conservancy, and Shakespeare Festival at Tulane.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in both 2024 and 2025, including Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Jewish Children’s Regional Service, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans, St George’s Episcopal School, Urj Henry S Jacobs Camp, City Park Conservancy, and Shakespeare Festival at Tulane.
The reported grant-size distribution is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. That indicates the foundation’s usual grants are relatively small, even though the recent record also includes larger general-purpose awards to established institutions.
Louisiana is the clear center of activity: 91% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and LA is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are concentrated in New Orleans and Metairie, with additional grants in Utica, Mississippi.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS | METAIRIE, LA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| PRESERVATION HALL FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH CHILDREN'S REGIONAL SERVICE | METAIRIE, LA | $35,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $30,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA | METAIRIE, LA | $30,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| URJ HENRY S JACOBS CAMP | UTICA, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| CITY PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS | METAIRIE, LA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL | METAIRIE, LA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT TULANE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $20,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| NEW ORLEANS CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| CHABAD-LUBAVITCH OF LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $12,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| ST BERNARD PROJECT | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| SLATER TORAH ACADEMY | METAIRIE, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN JEWISH EXPERIENCE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $8,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| PROSPECT NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $7,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| HILLEL FOUNDATION OF NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $7,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| KIDSMART | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| TEACHING RESPONSIBLE EARTH EDUCATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| YAYA INC | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| TULANE JEWISH STUDIES | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| THE ELLA PROJECT | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| COMMITTEE FOR ACCURACY IN MIDDLE EAST REPORTING IN AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| LOUISIANA SPCA | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| WWOZ | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $4,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| MINO FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $3,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL & FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $3,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $3,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT HUMANITIES | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $3,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $2,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $2,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| VIEUX CARRE COMMISSION FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $2,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS | METAIRIE, LA | $200,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS | METAIRIE, LA | $125,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH CHILDREN'S REGIONAL SERVICE | METAIRIE, LA | $35,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH CHILDREN'S REGIONAL SERVICE | METAIRIE, LA | $35,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA | METAIRIE, LA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT TULANE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA | METAIRIE, LA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS | METAIRIE, LA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
| ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE |
ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
$30,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
URJ HENRY S JACOBS CAMP
$30,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS
$25,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL
$25,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT TULANE
$20,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
NEW ORLEANS CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS
$15,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
CHABAD-LUBAVITCH OF LOUISIANA
$12,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
SLATER TORAH ACADEMY
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN JEWISH EXPERIENCE
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
$8,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
PROSPECT NEW ORLEANS
$7,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
TEACHING RESPONSIBLE EARTH EDUCATION
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
YAYA INC
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
TULANE JEWISH STUDIES
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
THE ELLA PROJECT
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
WWOZ
$4,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
MINO FOUNDATION
$3,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL & FOUNDATION
$3,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART
$3,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$2,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
VIEUX CARRE COMMISSION FOUNDATION
$2,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT TULANE
$30,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS
$30,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE
ST GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
$30,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF GRANTEE