The Howard and Amy Finkelstein Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and advocacy, supporting both local community infrastructure and national Jewish advocacy organizations. Grants are relatively few but sizeable, directed at institutions that pool or deploy Jewish philanthropy (donor-advised/community fund), local federation activity, and policy/advocacy work on behalf of Jewish interests.
Concentrated giving: a small number of medium-to-large unrestricted/charitable grants focused on Jewish communal infrastructure and advocacy rather than many small gifts; appears to favor both local (regional federation) and national (advocacy/umbrella) recipients.
Howard and Amy Finkelstein Foundation Inc. centers its recent grantmaking on Jewish communal institutions and advocacy groups, with the largest 2024 gift going to Jewish Communal Fund in New York for $100,000. That grant sits alongside support for local federation activity and policy-oriented Jewish organizations, showing a pattern of funding groups that channel philanthropy or represent Jewish interests in public life. The foundation also gave $55,000 to Uja Greenwich and $50,000 to American Jewish Committee, two gifts that point to both community infrastructure and national advocacy as recurring priorities. The portfolio also includes smaller awards to synagogues, Jewish family services, and related organizations, which suggests a mix of institutional support and community-based giving rather than a narrow program model. Recent recipients include Temple Sholom in Norwalk, Temple Judea in Manhasset, Friends of the Idf in New York, and Jewish Family Serv of Greenwich. Grants are mostly charitable support, and the funder’s recent activity shows a preference for established organizations that serve Jewish communities directly or advance Jewish public affairs.
One clear theme is donor-advised and communal philanthropy. In 2024, the foundation gave $100,000 to Jewish Communal Fund, indicating support for a vehicle that pools or deploys Jewish charitable capital. A second area is local Jewish federation work. The foundation awarded $55,000 to Uja Greenwich and also gave the same organization $25,000 in 2023, linking the funder to federation-level community support in Greenwich. Jewish advocacy and public affairs is another visible thread. American Jewish Committee received $50,000 in 2024, and Foundation for Defense of Democracies received $25,000 in 2023. Those gifts place public-policy and advocacy work within the foundation’s grantmaking mix. The portfolio also includes synagogue and family-service support, with grants to Temple Sholom, Temple Judea, and Jewish Family Serv of Greenwich.
Typical grants are modest for many recipients but the distribution is wide: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,025, and p75 is $21,250. That spread reflects a structure that combines frequent smaller awards with a few larger institutional grants. The recent record shows repeat support to the same organizations across years, including Uja Greenwich, Shatterproof, Admirals Cove Foundation, Temple Sholom, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation makes charitable grants and does not fund individuals or program-related investments. No open application process is shown in the data.
$816K
$2.2M
$97K
$822K
Most grants fall between $1K and $21K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$21K
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Notable grantees: Jewish Communal Fund, UJA Greenwich, American Jewish Committee
Giving is regional, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Connecticut appears most often among recipients, including Greenwich, Norwalk, Stamford, and other in-state locations. New York also receives substantial support, with grants to New York City, Manhasset, Rochester, Ardsley, and other locales; 35% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of New York. Other recipient cities include Philadelphia, Washington, Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Jupiter, Norwalk, Livingston, Holland, and Stamford, showing a spread across the Northeast and beyond.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on Jewish communal institutions, Jewish advocacy groups, synagogues, family-service organizations, and related public-welfare recipients. The foundation also supports education and community-service organizations, but Jewish communal life and advocacy are the most visible through grants such as Jewish Communal Fund, Uja Greenwich, and American Jewish Committee.
Yes. The recent grants list includes multiple recipients across more than one year, including Uja Greenwich, Shatterproof, Admirals Cove Foundation, Temple Sholom, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-time awards.
The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $1,000, a median of $2,025, and a p75 of $21,250. Recent awards range from $1,000 gifts to larger six-figure support, with several mid-sized grants in the $25,000 to $55,000 range.
Recipients in Connecticut appear most often in the recent grant list, with cities including Greenwich, Norwalk, Stamford, and Norwalk-area organizations. New York recipients also make up a substantial share, and 35% of grants go to recipients in New York, the foundation’s HQ state.
Recent grantees include Jewish Communal Fund, Uja Greenwich, American Jewish Committee, Shatterproof, Temple Sholom, Temple Judea, Friends of the Idf, and Jewish Family Serv of Greenwich. The list also includes organizations in education, public welfare, and community services.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| ADMIRALS COVE FOUNDATION | JUPITER, FL | $39,200 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| SHATTERPROOF | NORWALK, CT | $36,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| FDN FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATE COMMUNITY |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE EDUCATION SERVICES |
| PATHWAYS INC | CORNING, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE FAMILY SERVICES |
| TEMPLE SHOLOM | NORWALK, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| MALTZ JUPITER THEATER INC | JUPITER, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| JAFCO | SUNRISE, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE FAMILY SERVICES |
| TEMPLE JUDEA | MANHASSET, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| FREE ARTS NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION |
| UJA GREENWICH | GREENWICH, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AM | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDF | NEW YORK, NY | $1,800 | 2026 | PROVIDE SERVICES TO VETERANS AND FAMILY |
| CT SCI CTR | HARTFORD, CT | $1,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION |
| STEVE'S CAMP AT HORIZON FARMS | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,200 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| CLUSTER INC | YONKERS, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVICE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| JCC MARIN | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| HANDS IN FOR YOUTH | WEST MILFORD, NJ | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| BALANCED | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| DANAS ANGELS RESEARCH TRUST | GREENWICH, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ADMIRALS COVE FOUNDATION | JUPITER, FL | $36,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC WELFARE |
| SHATTERPROOF | NORWALK, CT | $27,750 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEMPLE SHOLOM | NORWALK, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FDN FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDF | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UJA GREENWICH | GREENWICH, CT | $7,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEMPLE JUDEA | MANHASSET, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FREE ARTS NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AM | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JAFCO | SUNRISE, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE | LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MALTZ JUPITER THEATER INC | JUPITER, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GEMS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| DANAS ANGELS RESEARCH TRUST | GREENWICH, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ANIMAL DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP | ARDSLEY, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BALANCED | KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF UNIT 669 INC | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERV OF GREENWICH | GREENWICH, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HANDS IN FOR YOUTH | WEST MILFORD, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SWIM ACRISS AMERICA | CHARLOTTE, NC | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | MELVILLE, NY | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER | JUPITER, FL | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UJA GREENWICH | GREENWICH, CT | $55,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
SHATTERPROOF
$36,000PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
PATHWAYS INC
$20,000PROVIDE FAMILY SERVICES
TEMPLE SHOLOM
$20,000PROVIDE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
TEMPLE JUDEA
$5,000PROVIDE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
UJA GREENWICH
$5,000PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
FRIENDS OF THE IDF
$1,800PROVIDE SERVICES TO VETERANS AND FAMILY
CT SCI CTR
$1,500PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION
STEVE'S CAMP AT HORIZON FARMS
$1,200PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
CLUSTER INC
$1,000PROVICE COMMUNITY SERVICES
JCC MARIN
$1,000PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
HANDS IN FOR YOUTH
$1,000PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
DANAS ANGELS RESEARCH TRUST
$1,000PROVIDE FUNDS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
TEMPLE SHOLOM
$20,000CHARITABLE
FRIENDS OF THE IDF
$10,000CHARITABLE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$10,000CHARITABLE
UJA GREENWICH
$7,000CHARITABLE
TEMPLE JUDEA
$5,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$5,000CHARITABLE
MALTZ JUPITER THEATER INC
$2,500CHARITABLE
DANAS ANGELS RESEARCH TRUST
$2,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF UNIT 669 INC
$1,000CHARITABLE
HANDS IN FOR YOUTH
$1,000CHARITABLE
SWIM ACRISS AMERICA
$500CHARITABLE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$100CHARITABLE
UJA GREENWICH
$55,000CHARITABLE