The Gabelli Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education, routinely making large, multi-million dollar gifts for capital projects, campus improvements, business school endowments, and general operating support. Grants are focused and repeatable — the foundation directs major gifts to a small set of universities (including elite private and Catholic institutions) rather than broad community-based funding. Its giving reflects a preference for institutional strengthening (buildings, endowments, operating funds) over small program grants or direct service work.
Gabelli Foundation Inc. shows a clear preference for concentrated higher-education funding, especially business schools, campus building funds, and operating support for a small set of institutions. The largest recent gift in the data was $2,000,000 to Columbia Business School for the Manhattanville Building Fund, followed by repeated seven-figure support for Boston College’s Plaza Fund and Fordham University’s Business School Endowment Fund. Those patterns point to institutional strengthening rather than broad-based community grantmaking. The foundation’s recent grants also include major operating awards to universities such as Roger Williams University and Princeton University, alongside capital and endowment support at schools in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In several cases, the same recipient appears across multiple years, with similar purposes repeated over time. That consistency is a defining feature of the funder’s profile. Alongside higher education, the foundation has also supported select institutions tied to student aid, campus development, and university advancement efforts. The overall record suggests a grantmaker that uses large, repeatable awards to reinforce infrastructure, endowments, and general operations at a limited set of colleges and universities.
Higher education is the dominant theme in the recent grants. Gabelli Foundation Inc. gave $1,000,000 to Fordham University for its Business School Endowment Fund, and another $715,255 to the same endowment fund in a later year. It also supported business-school infrastructure at Columbia Business School with a $1,500,000 grant for the Manhattanville Building Fund. Campus improvement is another recurring area. Boston College received $1,350,000 in 2025 for the Plaza Fund -Campus Improvements, after earlier awards of $1,525,000 in 2024 and $1,000,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. The foundation also made a $200,000 capital campaign gift to Sacred Heart Greenwich. Student support appears more selectively. Fordham Preparatory School received $210,000 for a scholarship fund, showing that the foundation sometimes backs aid-related priorities within its broader institutional focus.
Typical grants are mid-sized to large, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $100,000. The recent-grants list also shows repeated multi-year awards to the same institutions, including Columbia Business School, Boston College, Fordham University, Roger Williams University, and Brunswick School, which indicates a recurring, relationship-based pattern rather than one-off funding. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant record is dominated by institutional awards, often for operating support, endowments, or capital purposes.
$8.7M
$224.2M
$57.9M
$9.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 14% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat higher-education grantees; multi-grant relationships and capital/endowment-focused gifts rather than many small, one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Columbia Business School, Boston College, Fordham University, Princeton University, Roger Williams University
Gabelli Foundation Inc. gives nationally, with every grant in the recipient-country data going to U.S. organizations. New York is the top state by grant count, and 14% of grants go to recipients in Nevada, the foundation’s HQ state. In the recent grants list, New York City and Bronx recipients appear often, including Columbia Business School, Fordham University, and NYU Langone Health. Other recurring locations include Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; Greenwich, Connecticut; and Bristol, Rhode Island.
The recent grants are concentrated in higher education and related institutional support. Examples include business school endowments, campus improvement funds, operating support for universities, and scholarship funding at schools such as Fordham University, Boston College, Columbia Business School, and Fordham Preparatory School.
The distribution skews to substantial awards: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $25,000, and the p75 is $100,000. The recent grants list also includes several seven-figure gifts, showing that the foundation sometimes makes much larger institutional awards.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years with similar purposes, including Boston College for the Plaza Fund -Campus Improvements, Fordham University for the Business School Endowment Fund, Roger Williams University for operating funds, and Brunswick School for operating funds.
The foundation gives nationally, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. New York is the top state by grant count, while 14% of grants go to Nevada recipients. Recent awards also land in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON COLLEGE | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $1,350,000 | 2025 | PLAZA FUND -CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS |
| FORDHAM UNIVERSITY | BRONX, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | BUSINESS SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND |
| ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY | BRISTOL, RI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | MANHATTANVILLE BUILDING FUND |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $750,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| BRUNSWICK SCHOOL | GREENWICH, CT | $400,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HOSP FOR SPECIAL SURGERY-F CAMMISA | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NYU LANGONE HEALTH | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| STATUE OF LIBERTY ELLIS ISLAND FDN | NEW YORK, NY | $225,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NY HOTEL TRADES COUNCIL HOTEL ASSN | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| SACRED HEART GREENWICH | GREENWICH, CT | $200,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| GREENWICH HOSPITAL | COS COB, CT | $150,000 | 2025 | EMERGENCY DEPT |
| COLUMBIA UNIV SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDI | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CEN | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSN OF DISTINGUISHED | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NEW YORK CITY POLICE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| FORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL | BRONX, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| VALTARESE FOUNDATION | ASTORIA, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL TRIBUTE DINNER |
| AMERICAN ITALIAN CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| FAMILY CENTERS | GREENWICH, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIV | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ST JOHN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION | JACKSON, WY | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE URSULINE SCHOOL | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| GREENWICH LIBRARY | GREENWICH, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL | NO MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB | GREENWICH, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATIO | JACKSON, WY | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| GREGORIAN UNIV FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| BRONX ZOO | BRONX, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CANTERBURY SCHOOL | NEW MILFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| FOUNDATION FOR ITALIAN ART CULTURE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| BRUCE MUSEUM | GREENWICH, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY PARK, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| PALM BEACH POLICE FIRE FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| COMBINED ORGANIZATION OF POLICE | GREENWICH, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| LA SCUOLA D'ITALIA NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NATIONAL JUDICIAL COLLEGE | RENO, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NJIT SAL CAPRIGLIONE SCHOLARSHIP FU | NEWARK, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| EARL MONROE NEW RENAISSANCE SCHOOL | BRONX, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| DON BOSCO COMMUNITY CENTER | PORT CHESTER, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CAMPUS SCHOOL AT BOSTON COLLEGE | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN NEVA | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| ARTOWN | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM |
BOSTON COLLEGE
$1,350,000PLAZA FUND -CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000BUSINESS SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
$1,000,000MANHATTANVILLE BUILDING FUND
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$750,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
BRUNSWICK SCHOOL
$400,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
HOSP FOR SPECIAL SURGERY-F CAMMISA
$250,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NYU LANGONE HEALTH
$250,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
STATUE OF LIBERTY ELLIS ISLAND FDN
$225,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NY HOTEL TRADES COUNCIL HOTEL ASSN
$200,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
SACRED HEART GREENWICH
$200,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
GREENWICH HOSPITAL
$150,000EMERGENCY DEPT
COLUMBIA UNIV SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDI
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CEN
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
HORATIO ALGER ASSN OF DISTINGUISHED
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NEW YORK CITY POLICE FOUNDATION
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
FORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$100,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
VALTARESE FOUNDATION
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY
$100,000ANNUAL TRIBUTE DINNER
AMERICAN ITALIAN CANCER CENTER
$75,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
FAMILY CENTERS
$75,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIV
$50,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ST JOHN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
THE URSULINE SCHOOL
$50,000ANNUAL FUND
GREENWICH LIBRARY
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$50,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
BOYS GIRLS CLUB
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATIO
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
GREGORIAN UNIV FOUNDATION
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL
$50,000ANNUAL FUND
BRONX ZOO
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
CANTERBURY SCHOOL
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
FOUNDATION FOR ITALIAN ART CULTURE
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
BRUCE MUSEUM
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PALM BEACH POLICE FIRE FOUNDATION
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
COMBINED ORGANIZATION OF POLICE
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
LA SCUOLA D'ITALIA NEW YORK
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NATIONAL JUDICIAL COLLEGE
$25,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NJIT SAL CAPRIGLIONE SCHOLARSHIP FU
$20,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
EARL MONROE NEW RENAISSANCE SCHOOL
$20,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
DON BOSCO COMMUNITY CENTER
$15,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
CAMPUS SCHOOL AT BOSTON COLLEGE
$10,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN NEVA
$10,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
ARTOWN
$10,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART
$10,000SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM