The Laurans A & Arlene H Mendelson Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on cultural institutions and medical research, with a strong local focus in Miami. The foundation is a major supporter of contemporary visual arts (notably the Institute of Contemporary Art) while also making large gifts to health-related research and Jewish community/Israel-support causes. Its grants are sizable and targeted rather than broadly distributed, indicating preference for a few high-impact recipients.
A $1,209,452 grant to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami is the clearest sign of how Laurans a & Arlene H Mendelson Charitable Foundation Inc. gives: targeted, institution-level support for a small set of recipients rather than broad dispersal. The foundation also backed the same museum with $450,000 in 2024 and $230,000 in 2023, showing a repeated commitment to contemporary visual arts. Across its recent grants, the foundation pairs that cultural support with health and community giving, including seven-figure and six-figure gifts to Baptist Health South Florida and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, plus sizable support for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and United Way of Miami Dade. The pattern points to a funder that uses large grants to reinforce a few named organizations working in arts, medical research, social services, and Jewish life. Smaller awards extend that mix to public television, opera, campus Jewish life, and Jewish studies, but the largest dollars remain concentrated in a handful of institutions with long-running relationships.
In contemporary visual arts, the foundation’s biggest recent gifts went to Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami, including $1,209,452 in 2025, $450,000 in 2024, and $230,000 in 2023, all for support of the arts. In health-related work, it gave $200,000 to Baptist Health South Florida for cancer research and another $200,000 to Um Miller School of Medicine for medical research in 2025. Jewish community and Israel-related giving is another clear thread: Greater Miami Jewish Federation received $200,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025 for support of Israel. The foundation also funded Jewish life and education through The Birthright Israel Foundation, Kraft Center for Jewish Life, Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, and American Jewish Committee.
Typical grants are highly skewed: the 25th percentile is $100, the median is $2,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,071. That spread shows a mix of very small awards and a smaller number of much larger commitments. Recurring support is common, with several recipients appearing across multiple years, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, United Way of Miami Dade, Baptist Health South Florida, South Florida PBS, Florida Grand Opera, and Greater Miami Jewish Federation. The foundation funds organizations directly and appears to use project-specific grants rather than unrestricted individual support; it does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments.
$2.1M
$180K
$18K
$2.1M
Most grants fall between $100 and $10K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$100
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a small number of recurring local institutions — repeat multi-year support for a flagship arts organization plus single large gifts to medical and Jewish/community causes.
Notable grantees: Institute of Contemporary Art (Miami), UM Miller School of Medicine, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Baptist Health South Florida
Grantmaking is national, but it is heavily weighted toward Florida: 37% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Miami dominates the recipient map, with multiple grants to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, United Way of Miami Dade, Florida Grand Opera, South Florida PBS, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Coral Gables also appears through Baptist Health South Florida. Outside Florida, grants reached New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, but every listed grant recipient was in the United States.
The foundation gives to contemporary visual arts institutions, medical and cancer research organizations, Jewish community and campus Jewish life groups, social service providers, and public media. Recent grants include support for the arts at Institute of Contemporary Art, cancer research at Baptist Health South Florida, and support of Israel through Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
Its grant size distribution is wide but centered on modest awards: the 25th percentile is $100, the median is $2,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,071. That means many grants are small, while a few large gifts account for much of the funding volume.
Yes. Miami is the main recipient city in the recent grants list, with support going to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, United Way of Miami Dade, Florida Grand Opera, South Florida PBS, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Coral Gables also appears through Baptist Health South Florida.
Yes. Recent grants include $200,000 and $100,000 to Greater Miami Jewish Federation for support of Israel, $25,000 to The Birthright Israel Foundation for support for Jewish life, and gifts to Kraft Center for Jewish Life, Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, and American Jewish Committee.
Yes. The recent grants show repeat support for several organizations over multiple years, including Institute of Contemporary Art, Baptist Health South Florida, United Way of Miami Dade, South Florida PBS, Florida Grand Opera, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and American Jewish Committee.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORY ART | MIAMI, FL | $1,209,452 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE ARTS |
| BAPTIST HEALTH SO FLA | CORAL GABLES, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| UM MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | MIAMI, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| FLORIDA GRAND OPERA | MIAMI, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF OPERA IN FLORIDA |
| GREATER MIAMI JEWISH FEDERATION | MIAMI, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF ISRAEL |
| UNITED WAY OF MIAMI DADE | MIAMI, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SOUTH FLORIDA PBS | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION |
| KRAFT CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | JEWISH STUDIES |
| AMER FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CTN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| AMER FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | NEWARK, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR ISRAEL |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | MIAMI, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR JEWISH ACTIVITIES |
| INSTITURE FOR JEWISH STUDIES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PURSUIT OF JEWISH STUDIES |
| DANIELS MUSIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | MUSIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS |
| AMER COMMITTEE FOR WEIZMANN INSTIT | NEW YPORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE | WADHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | MIAMI, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | ACTIVITIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL | MIAMI, FL | $3,760 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF JEWISH ACTIVITIES |
| SHIR HADESH SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | JEWISH EDUCATION |
| ST JUDES | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH-CHILDREN |
| ALZEIMERS ASSOCIATION | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH FOR ALZEIMERS DISEASE |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, VA | $150 | 2025 | LEADERS FOR AMERICA |
| IFCJ | CHICAGO, IL | $150 | 2025 | WORKING FOR PEACE AND HARMONY |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | TAMPA, FL | $100 | 2025 | FUND CANCER RESEARCH |
| NATI'L FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEAR | ROCKVILLE, MD | $100 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100 | 2025 | HOSPITAL SUPPORT FOR WOMEN |
| SUSAN G KOMEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $100 | 2025 | BREAST CANCER SUPPORT |
| WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS | NEW YORK, NY | $100 | 2025 | FIGHT AGAINST ANTI SEMITISM |
| ASPCA | NEW YORK, NY | $100 | 2025 | ANIMAL PROTECTION AND RIGHTS |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $100 | 2025 | RESEARCH FOR HEART DISEASE |
| OPERATION SMILE | TOPEKA, KS | $25 | 2025 | DENTAL FOR CHILDREN |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE CANCER RESEARCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $20 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORY ART | MIAMI, FL | $450,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF THE ARTS |
| GREATER MIAMI JEWISH FEDERATION | MIAMI, FL | $200,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF ISRAEL |
| UNITED WAY OF MIAMI DADE | MIAMI, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF SOCIAL SERVICES |
| BAPTIST HEALTH SO FLA | CORAL GABLES, FL | $55,000 | 2024 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| FLORIDA GRAND OPERA | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF OPERA IN FLORIDA |
| SOUTH FLORIDA PBS | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION |
| THE BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR JEWISH LIFE |
| AMER FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CTN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,086 | 2024 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE | WADHINGTON, DC | $10,026 | 2024 | SUPPORT JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | MIAMI, FL | $10,026 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR JEWISH ACTIVITIES |
| DANIELS MUSIC FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | MUSIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS |
| AMER COMMITTEE FOR WEIZMANN INSTIT | NEW YPORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PROGRAMS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| INSTITURE FOR JEWISH STUDIES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PURSUIT OF JEWISH STUDIES |
| AMER FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | NEWARK, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR ISRAEL |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL | MIAMI, FL | $3,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF JEWISH ACTIVITIES |
| SHIR HADASH SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION FOR JEWISH CHILDREN |
| AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND | ROCKVILLE, MD | $306 | 2024 | SEARCH FOR CURES TO KIDNEY DISEASE |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | TAMPA, FL | $200 | 2024 | FUND CANCER RESEARCH |
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORY ART
$1,209,452SUPPORT OF THE ARTS
UM MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI DADE
SUPPORT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
SOUTH FLORIDA PBS
$50,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION
KRAFT CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE
$25,000JEWISH STUDIES
AMER FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CTN
$10,000CANCER RESEARCH
AMER FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM
$10,000MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR ISRAEL
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$10,000SUPPORT FOR JEWISH ACTIVITIES
INSTITURE FOR JEWISH STUDIES
$10,000PURSUIT OF JEWISH STUDIES
FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE
$10,000SUPPORT JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$6,000ACTIVITIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
TEMPLE ISRAEL
$3,760SUPPORT OF JEWISH ACTIVITIES
SHIR HADESH SCHOOL
$1,000JEWISH EDUCATION
ST JUDES
$1,000CANCER RESEARCH-CHILDREN
ALZEIMERS ASSOCIATION
$1,000RESEARCH FOR ALZEIMERS DISEASE
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING
$500CANCER RESEARCH
IFCJ
$150WORKING FOR PEACE AND HARMONY
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$100FUND CANCER RESEARCH
NATI'L FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEAR
$100CANCER RESEARCH
BRIGHAM AND WOMENS HOSPITAL
$100HOSPITAL SUPPORT FOR WOMEN
SUSAN G KOMEN
$100BREAST CANCER SUPPORT
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$100RESEARCH FOR HEART DISEASE
AMERICAN INSTITUTE CANCER RESEARCH
$20CANCER RESEARCH
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORY ART
$450,000SUPPORT OF THE ARTS
UNITED WAY OF MIAMI DADE
$100,000SUPPORT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
SOUTH FLORIDA PBS
$50,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION
AMER FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CTN
$10,086CANCER RESEARCH
FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE
$10,026SUPPORT JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$10,026SUPPORT FOR JEWISH ACTIVITIES
INSTITURE FOR JEWISH STUDIES
$10,000PURSUIT OF JEWISH STUDIES
AMER FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM
$10,000MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR ISRAEL
TEMPLE ISRAEL
$3,000SUPPORT OF JEWISH ACTIVITIES
SHIR HADASH SCHOOL
$1,000EDUCATION FOR JEWISH CHILDREN
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$200FUND CANCER RESEARCH