The Nat R & Martha M Knaster Charitable Trust concentrates its giving on Jewish life and education, support for higher-education programs and scholarships, and humanitarian relief/rights organizations. Grants frequently fund synagogues, Hillel chapters, major Jewish institutions (both US-based and Israel-focused), and campus or museum arts initiatives, alongside crisis relief (notably Ukraine) and civil-rights/anti‑defamation work. The foundation appears to mix mission-focused philanthropy with local community support and periodic larger gifts to established institutional partners.
Nat R & Martha M Knaster Charitable Trust shows a clear pattern of backing Jewish life, Jewish education, and campus-based support. The largest recent gift in the file is a $54,000 grant to Hillel of Broward & Palm Beach, split between unrestricted support and a leasehold improvement capital fund. Other sizable grants point to the same priorities: repeated funding for American Friends of the Hebrew University, including lab construction at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer and support for computational medicine, plus scholarships and student funds at colleges such as Baruch College and the University of Tennessee. The trust also supports synagogues and Jewish congregations, including Brotherhood Synagogue and Congregation Micah, alongside civil-rights and anti-hate organizations such as the Brennan Center for Justice and the Anti-Defamation League. Humanitarian grants appear in the record as well, including support for HIAS Ukraine relief and Hope for Justice. The result is a portfolio that combines institutional Jewish giving, higher-education support, and targeted relief or rights-related grants, often through named funds and recurring institutional relationships.
A central theme is Jewish campus life and institutions. The trust gave $54,000 to Hillel of Broward & Palm Beach for unrestricted support and a leasehold improvement capital fund, and it also made grants to Davidson College for the Shapiro Family Fund for Jewish Life at Davidson College. Higher education is another recurring lane: Baruch College Fund received grants for the Aaron Shapiro Scholarship Fund for students at Baruch College, while the University of Tennessee Foundation received support for the Haslam College of Business and its facility expense fund for a new business school building. The foundation also supports Jewish academic and research work, including American Friends of the Hebrew University for lab construction at the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer and for computational medicine. In the civic and humanitarian space, it funded the Brennan Center for Justice and HIAS for Ukraine relief.
Typical grants cluster around a modest mid-five-figure range, with p25 at $2,500, a median of $5,000, and p75 of $10,000. The file also shows a few larger awards, including $30,000, $25,000, and $54,000 grants, but most gifts remain below $10,000. Recipients appear across multiple years: American Friends of the Hebrew University, Baruch College Fund, Brennan Center for Justice, Golden Hornet Project Inc, Brotherhood Synagogue, and others recur in the record. The trust funds both unrestricted operating support and designated projects, including scholarships, capital improvements, facility expenses, and program support. It also makes grants to individuals, and its grantmaking is domestic rather than international in the recipient data provided.
$400K
$3M
$278K
$469K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 12% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Predominantly multiple small-to-midsize grants with several repeat grantees; concentrated thematic giving (Jewish life/education and humanitarian relief) combined with occasional larger institutional gifts. The trust often provides both unrestricted operating support and targeted program gifts across a stable set of beneficiaries rather than one-off, widely distributed donations.
Notable grantees: American Friends of the Hebrew University, Hillel of Broward & Palm Beach (and other Hillel chapters), UJA Federation of New York, Brennan Center for Justice, World Central Kitchen
Grant dollars are spread nationally, with New York receiving the largest share of grants by count. New York City recipients include American Friends of the Hebrew University, Baruch College Fund, Brennan Center for Justice, Uja Federation of New York, and Brotherhood Synagogue. Other notable recipient locations include Boca Raton, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Davidson, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; Medford, Massachusetts; and Silver Spring, Maryland. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the file, with 141 grants recorded to U.S. recipients.
The trust most often funds Jewish life and education, higher-education scholarships and campus programs, and humanitarian or rights-related work. Recent grants include Hillel of Broward & Palm Beach, Baruch College Fund, American Friends of the Hebrew University, and the Anti-Defamation League.
The grant-size profile centers on smaller awards: p25 is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent file also includes larger grants such as $25,000, $30,000, and a $54,000 award.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including American Friends of the Hebrew University, Baruch College Fund, Brennan Center for Justice, Golden Hornet Project Inc, Brotherhood Synagogue, Davidson College, and the University of Tennessee Foundation.
The trust uses a mix of unrestricted support and designated gifts. Recent grants include unrestricted awards, scholarship funds, lab construction, computational medicine, leasehold improvement capital, facility expense support for a new business school building, and Ukraine relief.
By recipient count, New York leads the distribution. Named New York recipients in the recent file include American Friends of the Hebrew University, Baruch College Fund, Brennan Center for Justice, Uja Federation of New York, and Brotherhood Synagogue.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HILLEL OF BROWARD & PALM BEACH | BOCA RATON, FL | $54,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED $14,000LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL FUND $40,000 |
| BARUCH COLLEGE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | AARON SHAPIRO SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR STUDENTS AT BARUCH COLLEGE |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $23,000 | 2026 | HASLAM FACILITY EXPENSE FUND FOR NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL BUILDING AT UNVERSITY OF TENNESSEE |
| UJA FEDERATION OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN NY $20,000 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE | DAVIDSON, NC | $20,000 | 2026 | SHAPIRO FAMILY FUND FOR JEWISH LIFE AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR LEAD PROGRAM -BOARD RECRUITMENT AND LEADERSHIP AT AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $17,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED $15,000FOR UNRESTRICTED USES BY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE $2,500 |
| CONGREGATION MICAH | BRENTWOOD, TN | $17,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GOLDEN HORNET PROJECT INC | AUSTIN, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HOPE FOR JUSTICE INC | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PI KAPPA ALPHA FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $12,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED $10,000NOW CAMPAIGN BETA PI CHAPTER $2,500 |
| BROTHERHOOD SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MCALLEN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HIAS | SILVER SPRING, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | UKRAINE RELIEF |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR MANDEL TERRACE AT THE TRUMAN INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FAU FOUNDATION | BOCA RATON, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR THE GUTTERMAN FAMILY FUND AT FAU TO SUPORT ITS WORK ON HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION |
| SHARE OUR STRENGTH (NO KID HUNGRY NYC) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,500 | 2026 | FOOD RELIEF NEW YORK CITY |
| WE SANDERS FOUNDATION INC | TIBURON, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HILLEL | ANN ARBOR, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | COMPUTATIONAL MEDICINE AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSTY (HU) $5,000 |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | ALBERT LEA, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | UKRAINE RELIEF |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | PARKINSON DISEASE RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | WE ARE ONE PROGRAM AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY-TO PROMOTE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES |
| ARTS GARAGE | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE SOUP KITCHEN | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| KENYA EDUCATION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JAFCO | SUNRISE, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BRONXVILLE BALLET NOT FOR SALE | BRONXVILLE, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TREEHOUSE SHAKERS INC | FOREST HILLS, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $2,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE FUND FOR HASLAM BUSINESS SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE |
| WBGO PUBLIC RADIO | NEWARK, NJ | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JUVENILE LAW CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED TO PI KAPPA ALPHA GIFT FUND |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | COMPUTATIONAL MEDICINE AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSTY (HU) |
| HILLEL OF BROWARD & PALM BEACH | BOCA RATON, FL | $33,400 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED $10,000LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENT FUND $23,400 |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDF | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | AMBULANCE PURCHASE FOR USE IN ISRAEL $20,000HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR EMERGENCY FUND $10,000 |
| BARUCH COLLEGE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | AARON SHAPIRO SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR STUDENTS AT BARUCH COLLEGE |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $23,000 | 2025 | HASLAM FACILITY EXPENSE FUND FOR NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL BUILDING AT UNVERSITY OF TENNESSEE |
| UJA FEDERATION OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $22,500 | 2025 | FOR EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN NY $12,500UJA NY ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | FOR LEAD PROGRAM -BOARD RECRUITMENT AND LEADERSHIP AT AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED $10,000ISRAEL CRISIS FUND $10,000 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE | DAVIDSON, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | SHAPIRO FAMILY FUND FOR JEWISH LIFE AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE |
UNRESTRICTED $14,000LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL FUND $40,000
AARON SHAPIRO SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR STUDENTS AT BARUCH COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION
$23,000HASLAM FACILITY EXPENSE FUND FOR NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL BUILDING AT UNVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
DAVIDSON COLLEGE
$20,000SHAPIRO FAMILY FUND FOR JEWISH LIFE AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$20,000FOR LEAD PROGRAM -BOARD RECRUITMENT AND LEADERSHIP AT AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
UNRESTRICTED $15,000FOR UNRESTRICTED USES BY SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE $2,500
CONGREGATION MICAH
$17,000UNRESTRICTED
GOLDEN HORNET PROJECT INC
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
HOPE FOR JUSTICE INC
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED $10,000NOW CAMPAIGN BETA PI CHAPTER $2,500
BROTHERHOOD SYNAGOGUE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
HIAS
$10,000UKRAINE RELIEF
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$10,000FOR MANDEL TERRACE AT THE TRUMAN INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
FAU FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR THE GUTTERMAN FAMILY FUND AT FAU TO SUPORT ITS WORK ON HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
SHARE OUR STRENGTH (NO KID HUNGRY NYC)
$7,500FOOD RELIEF NEW YORK CITY
WE SANDERS FOUNDATION INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HILLEL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$5,000COMPUTATIONAL MEDICINE AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSTY (HU) $5,000
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
$5,000UKRAINE RELIEF
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$5,000WE ARE ONE PROGRAM AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY-TO PROMOTE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ARTS GARAGE
$3,000UNRESTRICTED
BRONXVILLE BALLET NOT FOR SALE
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
TREEHOUSE SHAKERS INC
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION
$2,000COLLEGE FUND FOR HASLAM BUSINESS SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
WBGO PUBLIC RADIO
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$35,000COMPUTATIONAL MEDICINE AT THE HEBREW UNIVERSTY (HU)
UNRESTRICTED $10,000LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENT FUND $23,400
FRIENDS OF THE IDF
$30,000AMBULANCE PURCHASE FOR USE IN ISRAEL $20,000HAMAS-ISRAEL WAR EMERGENCY FUND $10,000
AARON SHAPIRO SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR STUDENTS AT BARUCH COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION
$23,000HASLAM FACILITY EXPENSE FUND FOR NEW BUSINESS SCHOOL BUILDING AT UNVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
FOR EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM IN NY $12,500UJA NY ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND $10,000
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$20,000FOR LEAD PROGRAM -BOARD RECRUITMENT AND LEADERSHIP AT AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
UNRESTRICTED $10,000ISRAEL CRISIS FUND $10,000
DAVIDSON COLLEGE
$20,000SHAPIRO FAMILY FUND FOR JEWISH LIFE AT DAVIDSON COLLEGE