The David and Geri Epstein Private Foundation concentrates on sizable gifts to health care and higher education institutions, with a particular emphasis on cancer research/treatment and pediatric health as well as support for major universities. Grants are made to both local Connecticut beneficiaries and nationally prominent institutions, and the foundation shows a preference for repeat, multi-year support to a small set of core organizations.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a limited number of grantees with repeat grants to flagship institutions; a mix of local (CT) and national beneficiaries rather than many small awards.
David and Geri Epstein Private Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated five-figure and six-figure general support to a small set of institutions, including three consecutive $250,000 grants to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for general support. That pattern places cancer research and treatment near the center of the foundation’s portfolio, alongside large commitments to pediatric health and higher education. The foundation also supported Connecticut Children’s Foundation with $185,000 in 2025 and $175,000 in 2024, showing continued backing for children’s health in Connecticut. Beyond health care, it made annual $125,000 general support grants to the University of Notre Dame in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and provided support to Wake Forest University in both 2023 and 2025. The grant list points to a funder that favors operating support rather than project-specific awards, with relationships that repeat across multiple years. Its recipients include nationally known hospitals and universities as well as Connecticut-based organizations, suggesting a regional giving pattern with a concentrated core of beneficiaries.
Cancer research and treatment is a clear focus area: the foundation gave $250,000 in 2025 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for general support, after making the same amount available in 2023 and 2024. Pediatric health is another major theme, reflected in $185,000 to Connecticut Children’s Foundation in 2025 and $175,000 in 2024, both for general support. In higher education, the foundation backed the University of Notre Dame with $125,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. It also supported Wake Forest University with $100,000 in 2025 after $60,000 grants in 2023 and 2024, again as general support.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $25,000, median grant size is $50,000, and p75 is $57,500. The pattern in the recent grants list is strongly repetitive, with multiple recipients appearing across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to ongoing rather than one-time relationships. The foundation operates as a private foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Recent grants are consistently labeled general support, indicating an emphasis on organizational flexibility and operating capacity.
$1M
$31.5M
$12.9M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $58K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$58K
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Notable grantees: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Notre Dame, Connecticut Children's Foundation, Wake Forest University
Grantmaking is concentrated in Connecticut, which accounts for 50% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recent Connecticut recipients include Hartford, New Haven, Westport, and Cromwell. Outside the state, the foundation also gives to organizations in New York, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma, and Maryland. All recent grants listed were made to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants show a strong focus on health care and higher education. Recurring recipients include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Connecticut Children’s Foundation, the University of Notre Dame, and Wake Forest University, with grants consistently marked for general support.
The recent grants are labeled general support across the list, including recurring awards to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Connecticut Children’s Foundation, and the University of Notre Dame. That indicates a preference for unrestricted or core support rather than narrowly defined projects.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution centers on five-figure awards: p25 is $25,000, median grant size is $50,000, and p75 is $57,500. Recent grants also include larger six-figure awards to health and higher-education institutions.
Connecticut is the top state by grant count, with 50% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent Connecticut recipients include organizations in Hartford, New Haven, Westport, and Cromwell, while other grants go to recipients in New York, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma, and Maryland.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated awards across multiple years to several organizations, including three consecutive years of support to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Connecticut Children’s Foundation, the University of Notre Dame, and Wake Forest University.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | HARTFORD, CT | $185,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAFAYETTE COLLEGE-JOHN COOPER | EASTON, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAPLES TUITION GRANTS | WESTPORT, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIRDIES FOR CHARITY FIRST TEE -CT | CROMWELL, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION | OWASSO, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HORIZONS BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEVITT PAVILION | WESTPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THERE GOES MY HERO FOUNDATION | BEL AIR, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| READ TO GROW | BRANFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HUMANITY FOR FREEDOM FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | HARTFORD, CT | $175,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PGA TOUR INC | PONTE VEDRA, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAFAYETTE COLLEGE-JOHN COOPER | EASTON, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAPLES TUITION GRANTS | WESTPORT, CT | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION | OWASSO, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THERE GOES MY HERO FOUNDATION | BEL AIR, MD | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEVITT PAVILION | WESTPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HORIZONS BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| READ TO GROW | BRANFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTONSALEM, NC | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAFAYETTE COLLEGE-JOHN COOPER | EASTON, PA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE OF CT | CROMWELL, CT | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION | OWASSO, OK | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAPLES TUITION GRANTS | WESTPORT, CT | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE | WESTPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HORIZONS BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE-NATIONAL | ST AUGUSTINE, FL | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEVITT PAVILION | WESTPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THERE GOES MY HERO FOUNDATION | BEL AIR, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STAPLES TUITION GRANTS
GENERAL SUPPORT
BIRDIES FOR CHARITY FIRST TEE -CT
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEVITT PAVILION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THERE GOES MY HERO FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
READ TO GROW
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HUMANITY FOR FREEDOM FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STAPLES TUITION GRANTS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THERE GOES MY HERO FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEVITT PAVILION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
READ TO GROW
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CONNECTICUT CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST TEE OF CT
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STAPLES TUITION GRANTS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST TEE-NATIONAL
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEVITT PAVILION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THERE GOES MY HERO FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT