The George and Wendy David Fund concentrates its giving on scientific and biomedical research, with a particularly strong commitment to marine science and oceanographic research alongside targeted support for hospital-based cancer research and university scholarships. The foundation makes a small number of large grants, often repeating support to the same institutions, suggesting sustained, relationship-driven philanthropy rather than broad, one-off giving. Grants are research- and institution-focused rather than general operating support to small community groups.
The George and Wendy David Fund’s largest recent grants go to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, including $1,000,000 in 2024 and another $1,000,000 in 2025 for further understanding of the ocean and its interaction with the earth as a whole. That pattern sits at the center of a grantmaking profile built around scientific and biomedical research, with related support for marine science, hospital-based cancer research, and university scholarships. The fund’s recent gifts also show repeated backing for the same institutions over multiple years, especially Woods Hole and Weill Cornell Medicine, which points to sustained institutional relationships rather than one-time awards. Alongside research, the fund makes selective gifts to museums, preservation groups, and cultural institutions, including organizations in Newport and New York. Most grants are made at institutional scale, with amounts ranging from five-figure support to seven-figure commitments. The recipient mix is entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants list, and the giving pattern is regional rather than national in scope. Across the portfolio, the foundation favors research, preservation, and higher-education organizations over individual or grassroots recipients.
Marine science is the clearest theme in the George and Wendy David Fund’s giving. In 2023, it gave $750,000 to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the study of marine science and engineering, and the same institution received additional funding for understanding the ocean and its interaction with the earth as a whole. Biomedical research is another recurring area: Weill Cornell Medicine received $200,000 in 2024 and another $200,000 in 2025 to support research goals in urologic oncology. Higher education appears through $200,000 to New York University in 2025 for scholarships, following a $30,000 scholarship grant in 2023. The fund also backs scientific programming at Lycée Français de New York, with grants for the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Program and Cold Spring Harbor DNA Lab in 2024 and 2025.
Grant sizes cluster around larger institutional awards. The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,015 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, with several grants reaching $1,000,000. The pattern is relationship-driven: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution appears in multiple years, as do Weill Cornell Medicine, New York University, Newport Historical Society, and Newport Country Club Preservation Foundation. The fund does not make grants to individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent grant list suggests direct grants to institutions, including research centers, universities, museums, and preservation organizations.
$1.6M
$2.1M
$348K
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants with repeat multi-year support to flagship research institutions (dominant funding to Woods Hole), plus sizeable directed gifts to medical centers and universities.
Notable grantees: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Weill Cornell Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York University
Recent grants are concentrated in a small set of Northeast cities, led by Woods Hole, MA and New York, NY, with additional awards in Newport, RI. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, and 0% of grants in the recent list go to Connecticut recipients. All recent grants shown are domestic, with 31 U.S. grants and no non-U.S. recipients. Within the list, New York City recipients appear most often, including Manhattan and the Bronx, while Newport organizations account for a smaller but visible share of the portfolio.
Its recent grants go to research institutions, universities, museums, preservation groups, a symphony orchestra, and conservation organizations. Examples include Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York University, Newport Historical Society, and Wildlife Conservation Society.
The typical recent grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,015 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes much larger awards, including two $1,000,000 grants to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Yes. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Weill Cornell Medicine appears in 2024 and 2025; New York University appears in 2023 and 2025; and Newport Historical Society appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Massachusetts is the top state by grant count. The recent grants list also shows a strong concentration in New York and Rhode Island, with recipients in Woods Hole, New York City, Newport, and the Bronx.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE. |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT RESEARCH GOALS IN UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY. |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEWPORT, RI | $85,000 | 2025 | TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY. |
| PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY SOCIETY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE AN INTERNATIONNALY PREEMINENT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN NEW YORK. |
| LYCEE FRANCAIS DE NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $21,000 | 2025 | LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY PROGRAM & COLD SPRING HARBOR DNA LAB |
| NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | NEWPORT, RI | $17,000 | 2025 | THE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDMARKED CLUB HOUSE. |
| CENTAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE PARK'S DAILY CARE AND MAINTENANCE |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE. |
| NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $230,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF NYU LANGONE HEALTH. |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT RESEARCH GOALS IN UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY. |
| NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEWPORT, RI | $50,000 | 2024 | TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY. |
| LYCEE FRANCAIS DE NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $45,200 | 2024 | LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY PROGRAM & COLD SPRING HARBOR DNA LAB |
| THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY | NEWPORT, RI | $15,015 | 2024 | PROJECT PERSERVERANCE |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | FUNDING TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. |
| THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $750,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR THE STUDY OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $750,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR THE STUDY OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $250,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE. |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $250,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE. |
| NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF THE CENTER AMPUTATION RECONSTRUCTION. |
| NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF NYU LANGONE HEALTH. |
| NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF NYU LANGONE HEALTH. |
| NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF THE CENTER AMPUTATION RECONSTRUCTION. |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE MUSEUM |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE MUSEUM |
| THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY | NEWPORT, RI | $20,015 | 2023 | PROJECT PERSERVERANCE |
| THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY | NEWPORT, RI | $20,015 | 2023 | PROJECT PERSERVERANCE |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | FUNDING TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. |
| NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | NEWPORT, RI | $10,000 | 2023 | THE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDMARKED CLUB HOUSE. |
| NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM & LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | FUNDING TO CONSERVE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND DEVELOP EXHIBITIONS |
| NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM & LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | FUNDING TO CONSERVE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND DEVELOP EXHIBITIONS |
| NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | NEWPORT, RI | $10,000 | 2023 | THE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDMARKED CLUB HOUSE. |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | FUNDING TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. |
| CENTAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR THE PARK'S DAILY CARE AND MAINTENANCE |
| CENTAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR THE PARK'S DAILY CARE AND MAINTENANCE |
| FORE BATTEN FOUNDATION | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $8,400 | 2023 | FUNDING PROJECTS RANGING FROM THERAPIES FOR A CURE TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF DAILY LIFE FOR BATTEN FAMILIES. |
| FORE BATTEN FOUNDATION | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $8,400 | 2023 | FUNDING PROJECTS RANGING FROM THERAPIES FOR A CURE TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF DAILY LIFE FOR BATTEN FAMILIES. |
| ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $7,500 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE CARNEGIE CLUB. |
| ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $7,500 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE CARNEGIE CLUB. |
| NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEWPORT, RI | $5,000 | 2023 | TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY. |
| NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEWPORT, RI | $5,000 | 2023 | TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY. |
| SAIL TO PREVAIL | NEWPORT, RI | $5,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO DEVELOP INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS FOR DISABLE INDIVIDUALS |
| SAIL TO PREVAIL | NEWPORT, RI | $5,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO DEVELOP INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS FOR DISABLE INDIVIDUALS |
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
$1,000,000FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE.
WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE
$200,000SUPPORT RESEARCH GOALS IN UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY.
TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY.
TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE AN INTERNATIONNALY PREEMINENT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN NEW YORK.
LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY PROGRAM & COLD SPRING HARBOR DNA LAB
NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$17,000THE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDMARKED CLUB HOUSE.
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
$1,000,000FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE.
NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER
$230,000SUPPORT OF NYU LANGONE HEALTH.
WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE
$200,000SUPPORT RESEARCH GOALS IN UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY.
TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY.
LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY PROGRAM & COLD SPRING HARBOR DNA LAB
THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY
$15,015PROJECT PERSERVERANCE
FUNDING TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FUNDING FOR THE STUDY OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.
FUNDING FOR THE STUDY OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.
FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE.
FUNDING FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE EARTH AS A WHOLE.
NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000SUPPORT OF THE CENTER AMPUTATION RECONSTRUCTION.
NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000SUPPORT OF NYU LANGONE HEALTH.
NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000SUPPORT OF NYU LANGONE HEALTH.
NYU LAGONE MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000SUPPORT OF THE CENTER AMPUTATION RECONSTRUCTION.
FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE MUSEUM
FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE MUSEUM
THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY
$20,015PROJECT PERSERVERANCE
THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY
$20,015PROJECT PERSERVERANCE
FUNDING TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$10,000THE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDMARKED CLUB HOUSE.
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM & LIBRARY
$10,000FUNDING TO CONSERVE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND DEVELOP EXHIBITIONS
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM & LIBRARY
$10,000FUNDING TO CONSERVE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AND DEVELOP EXHIBITIONS
NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$10,000THE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDMARKED CLUB HOUSE.
FUNDING TO SAVE WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
FORE BATTEN FOUNDATION
$8,400FUNDING PROJECTS RANGING FROM THERAPIES FOR A CURE TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF DAILY LIFE FOR BATTEN FAMILIES.
FORE BATTEN FOUNDATION
$8,400FUNDING PROJECTS RANGING FROM THERAPIES FOR A CURE TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF DAILY LIFE FOR BATTEN FAMILIES.
ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$7,500SUPPORT THE CARNEGIE CLUB.
ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$7,500SUPPORT THE CARNEGIE CLUB.
TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY.
TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND OBJECTS PERTAINING TO NEWPORT'S HISTORY.
SAIL TO PREVAIL
$5,000FUNDING FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO DEVELOP INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS FOR DISABLE INDIVIDUALS
SAIL TO PREVAIL
$5,000FUNDING FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO DEVELOP INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS FOR DISABLE INDIVIDUALS