The Lui and Wan Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts to higher-education institutions and cultural organizations, with a strong emphasis on medical education/research at NYU and capital support for performing arts and music facilities. Grants are often substantial and program- or capital-focused (scholarships, endowed professorships, facility renovations), and they favor established universities and arts institutions, primarily in the northeastern U.S. The foundation also makes repeat multi-grant relationships, notably with NYU medical entities.
A $500,000 scholarship fund at NYU School of Medicine sits at the center of the Lui and Wan Foundation’s recent giving, and the pattern extends into medical research, endowed faculty support, and arts infrastructure. The foundation has made repeated large awards to NYU medical entities, including another $500,000 scholarship grant in 2024 and a $397,500 professorship for research at NYU Langone Medical Center. That medical emphasis is paired with major capital support in the arts, such as a $250,000 music hall renovation at Kinhaven Music School and a $100,000 performing arts center renovation at Brown University. The foundation’s grantmaking is selective and institution-focused, with gifts aimed at scholarships, professorships, renovation projects, and program support rather than broad, open-ended operating support. Recent awards also reach community arts and college-preparation organizations in New York, showing a mix of higher-education, cultural, and student-support priorities. Across the sample provided, the foundation favors established institutions and multi-year relationships, especially in medical education and research.
Medical education and research are a core theme. The foundation gave $500,000 to NYU School of Medicine for a scholarship fund in 2025, and another $397,500 to NYU Langone Medical Center for a professorship for research in 2024. It also awarded $100,000 to NYU School of Medicine in 2023 for the same scholarship fund category. Arts support is another clear strand. In 2024, it gave $250,000 to Kinhaven Music School Inc for a music hall renovation, and $105,000 to Columbia University for an acting program. Brown University received $100,000 in 2024 for a performing arts center renovation. Smaller awards show support for student preparation and arts access. Speyer Legacy School received $35,000 for an after school program, while the Chinese American Planning Council received grants for college bound student guidance.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-to-large range, with p25 at $30,000, a median of $100,000, and p75 at $250,000. The recent record shows both repeat support and one-off awards: NYU School of Medicine appears in multiple years, including 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Alliance Development of Theatre Art received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it also funds individuals. Awards in the sample are primarily program, scholarship, or capital grants rather than unrestricted operating support.
$595K
$8.3M
$702K
$644K
Most grants fall between $30K and $250K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of institutional grantees with repeat funding (especially NYU); primarily one-off or capital/program-specific awards rather than many small or grassroots grants.
Notable grantees: NYU School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, Kinhaven Music School, Columbia University, Brown University
Giving is concentrated in the Northeast, especially New York. Seventeen of 17 recent grants went to U.S. recipients, and 77% of grants were to organizations in the HQ state of New York. New York City recipients include NYU School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, Columbia University, Speyer Legacy School, Alliance Development of Theatre Art, and the Chinese American Planning Council. Outside New York, recent grants reached Maplewood, New Jersey; Providence, Rhode Island; and Los Angeles, California.
The foundation mainly funds higher-education institutions, medical education and research organizations, and arts groups. Recent awards include scholarships at NYU School of Medicine, a professorship for research at NYU Langone Medical Center, and capital support for music and performing arts facilities at Kinhaven Music School and Brown University.
Typical grants are substantial. The provided distribution shows p25 at $30,000, a median grant of $100,000, and p75 at $250,000. Recent examples range from $6,000 and $10,000 to several $500,000 awards.
Yes. NYU School of Medicine appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with scholarship funding, and Alliance Development of Theatre Art received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for scholarships. NYU Langone Medical Center also received a research professorship grant in 2024.
Most grants go to New York recipients. The data shows 77% of grants were awarded to organizations in New York, and New York City recipients include NYU School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, Columbia University, Speyer Legacy School, and the Chinese American Planning Council.
The arts support includes both capital and program funding. Recent examples include a $250,000 music hall renovation at Kinhaven Music School, a $100,000 performing arts center renovation at Brown University, a $105,000 acting program at Columbia University, and scholarships for Alliance Development of Theatre Art.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| SPEYER LEGACY SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FUTURE ROOTS INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | PUBLISHING ARTS |
| CHINESE AMERICAN PLANNING COUCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE BOUND STUDENT GUIDANCE |
| CHINESE AMERICAN PLANNING COUCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE BOUND STUDENT GUIDANCE |
| NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $397,500 | 2024 | PROFESSORSHIP FOR RESEARCH |
| KINHAVEN MUSIC SCHOOL INC | MAPLEWOOD, NJ | $250,000 | 2024 | MUSIC HALL RENOVATION |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $105,000 | 2024 | ACTING PROGRAM |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $100,000 | 2024 | PERFROMING ART CENTER RENOVATION |
| ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHINESE AMERICAN PLANNING COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2023 | COLLEGE BOUND STUDENT GUIDANCE |
NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$500,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$500,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART
$35,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS
PUBLISHING ARTS
NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$500,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER
$397,500PROFESSORSHIP FOR RESEARCH
KINHAVEN MUSIC SCHOOL INC
$250,000MUSIC HALL RENOVATION
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$105,000ACTING PROGRAM
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$100,000PERFROMING ART CENTER RENOVATION
ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$100,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ALLIANCE DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE ART
$30,000SCHOLARSHIPS