The Melissa and John V Ceriale Family Foundation concentrates large, strategic gifts to a small set of higher-education and medical institutions, with repeated multi-year support for Cornell-affiliated entities and prominent New York medical schools/hospitals. Their grants are primarily unrestricted/general charitable-purpose gifts that enable institutional priorities rather than project-specific funding, suggesting a preference for core support to trusted institutions.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a very small number of repeat grantees; several multi-grant relationships and donor-advised vehicle funding rather than many small or geographically dispersed grants.
Melissa and John V Ceriale Family Foundation Inc directs some of its largest gifts through Cornell-linked vehicles, including a $1,341,345 grant in 2025 to the John & Melissa S Ceriale Cornell University Foundation - Donor Advised Fund and seven-figure support in prior years to the same Cornell-affiliated structure. That pattern places higher education at the center of the foundation’s giving, alongside repeated support for major medical institutions in New York. The foundation’s recent grants also include substantial general-charitable-purpose gifts to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with awards of $258,150 in 2024, $245,000 in 2023, and $200,000 in 2025, showing multi-year continuity rather than isolated awards. Cornell University itself also appears as a direct recipient, with grants of $325,000 in 2024 and $300,000 in 2023. The overall portfolio suggests a preference for institutional support to established universities and medical centers, often through unrestricted or broadly usable grants that can support core priorities rather than a narrow project.
Higher education is a defining part of the foundation’s grantmaking. Cornell-linked entities received the largest awards in the data, and Cornell University also received direct support in 2023 and 2024, all labeled for general charitable purposes. Medical education and research are another clear area: Albert Einstein College of Medicine received multiple six-figure grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Montefiore Medical Center also appears as a recipient. Beyond those core areas, the foundation made smaller gifts to cultural and civic organizations such as the Metropolitan Opera Association Inc in New York City, Jazz at Aspen-snowmass in Aspen, and Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village. Those awards show that the foundation’s giving is not limited to academia and medicine, but those categories account for the most prominent institutional relationships in the recent record.
Typical grants are clustered at a modest institutional level: the 25th percentile and median are both $10,000, while the 75th percentile is $40,000. The distribution is therefore anchored by many smaller grants, even as a few very large gifts lift the average. Recurring support is a visible pattern, with the same recipients appearing across multiple years, including Cornell-affiliated entities, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, Jazz at Aspen-snowmass, and The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. The foundation is a private family foundation and does not fund individuals or program-related investments.
$1.8M
$13.8M
$341K
$2.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $40K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$40K
About 25% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: John & Melissa S Ceriale Cornell University Foundation (including donor-advised fund), Cornell University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center
The foundation gives nationally, but New York receives the most grants by count, reflecting a strong concentration in Ithaca and New York City institutions as well as Bronx-based medical recipients. Florida accounts for 20% of grants to recipients in the HQ state, with gifts in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach. Other recipient locations include Philadelphia, Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington, DC, Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Garrison, showing a broad U.S. footprint rather than a single-region pattern.
The largest recent awards go to higher-education and medical institutions, especially Cornell-linked entities and New York medical schools and hospitals. Cornell-affiliated organizations, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Cornell University, and Montefiore Medical Center all appear multiple times in the recent grants list, usually for general charitable purposes.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the John & Melissa S Ceriale Cornell University Foundation, Cornell University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, Jazz at Aspen-snowmass, and The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is centered on smaller institutional gifts: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $40,000. The recent record also includes much larger awards, including seven-figure support to Cornell-linked entities.
By recipient count, New York is the top state. The grants list includes Ithaca, the Bronx, and New York City among the most frequent recipient locations, while Florida also receives a meaningful share of grants, including recipients in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.
The foundation does not fund individuals, and the recent grants list shows a strong preference for general charitable purposes. That pattern is consistent with institutional support to universities, medical centers, and cultural organizations rather than individual aid.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN & MELISSA S CERIALE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - DONOR ADVISED FUND | ITHACA, NY | $1,341,345 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PALM BEACH CULTURAL INNOVATION CENTER INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THEIR STORIES FOUNDATION | POINT PLEASANT, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JAZZ AT ASPEN-SNOWMASS | ASPEN, CO | $21,250 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER | SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | $13,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $12,991 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UNITED WAY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GOOD NEIGHBORS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AGENCY INC | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PALM BEACH CIVIC ASSOCIATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BREAKING GROUND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| TIDES FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY INC | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THEATRE ASPEN | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE PALM BEACH POLICE AND FIRE FOUNDATION INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | BRONX, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ABILIS INC | GREENWICH, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JOHN & MELISSA S CERIALE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ITHACA, NY | $1,031,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $325,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $258,150 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | BRONX, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JAZZ AT ASPEN-SNOWMASS | ASPEN, CO | $27,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| COREGIVING | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS | PALM BEACH, FL | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PALM BEACH CIVIC ASSOCIATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BREAKING GROUND | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WASHINGTON INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ROTHKO CHAPEL | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THEATRE ASPEN | ASPEN, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PALM BEACH ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE | PALM BEACH, FL | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JOHN & MELISSA S CERIALE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ITHACA, NY | $1,003,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $245,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | BRONX, NY | $175,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UPENN MEDICINE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | SYRACUSE, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOL OF NEVADA INC | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY | GARRISON, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
JOHN & MELISSA S CERIALE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - DONOR ADVISED FUND
$1,341,345GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
PALM BEACH CULTURAL INNOVATION CENTER INC
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THEIR STORIES FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER
$13,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GOOD NEIGHBORS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AGENCY INC
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY INC
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER
$1,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JOHN & MELISSA S CERIALE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$1,031,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THE ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS
$25,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
PALM BEACH ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE
$2,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JOHN & MELISSA S CERIALE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$1,003,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
UPENN MEDICINE
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES