The PLM Foundation (Philip L. Milstein Trustee) makes a small number of very large, NYC-focused grants to major institutions. Its giving prioritizes higher education in New York City, Jewish communal and philanthropic institutions, and public media/cultural outlets. The foundation favors established, institution-level support rather than many small community grants.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of flagship institutions; repeated support to the Jewish federation alongside one-off large gifts to prominent educational and media organizations within New York City.
Notable grantees: Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, Barnard College, United Jewish Appeal–Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York (UJA‑Federation), WNET
A defining feature of Plm Foundation Philip L Milstein Trustee is its willingness to make seven-figure commitments to a small set of New York institutions. The largest recent grant in the data was $1,000,000 to Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York in 2025, matched by a $1,000,000 grant to Barnard College in 2023. That pattern points to institution-level support rather than broad, small-dollar community giving. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s priorities cluster around New York higher education, Jewish communal philanthropy, and cultural organizations with major NYC reach. Columbia appears multiple times, including additional grants of $250,000, $97,250, $96,000, $50,000, and $25,000, while Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc appears at $250,000 and $45,000. Jewish institutions also receive repeated support, including United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc at $375,000 and $148,050, and the 92nd Street Y at $100,000. The portfolio also includes grants to American Israel Education Foundation Inc and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, showing a mix of local and national institutions tied to Jewish history, education, and civic life.
In higher education, the foundation backed Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York with grants of $1,000,000 in 2025, plus $250,000, $97,250, $96,000, $50,000, and $25,000 in other recent awards. Barnard College also received $1,000,000 in 2023 and $197,450 in 2023. For Jewish communal philanthropy, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc received $375,000 in 2025 and $148,050 in 2025, while United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of NY Inc received $500,000 twice in 2023. The 92nd Street Y received $100,000 in 2025. In arts and culture, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc was awarded $250,000 in 2023 and $250,000 in 2025, and Wnet received $750,000 in 2023. The foundation also made a $50,000 grant to Filmmakers Collaborative Inc in 2025.
Grant sizes skew large: the typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $197,450 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Columbia, Barnard, Lincoln Center, and the United Jewish Appeal federation entities. That suggests an ongoing institutional grant pattern rather than one-time awards. The funder is classified as a regular funder, makes no program-related investments, and does not fund individuals.
$2.7M
$1.6M
$2.3M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $197K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$197K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in New York: 90% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and New York is also the top state by grant count. New York City dominates the map, with multiple grants to recipients in New York, NY, including Columbia, Barnard, Lincoln Center, Wnet, and the 92nd Street Y. Outside the city, the recent list includes White Plains, Water Mill, Jericho, and a smaller number of grants beyond New York, including Washington, DC, Melrose, MA, Montgomery, AL, and Milwaukee, WI.
The recent grants point to three main areas: New York higher education, Jewish communal philanthropy, and arts or media institutions. Columbia University, Barnard College, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc, and Wnet all appear in the grant list.
Yes. Columbia appears multiple times across 2023 and 2025, Barnard College appears in both years, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc appears in both years, and the United Jewish Appeal federation entities also receive repeated support. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off.
The distribution is relatively large: p25 is $10,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $197,450. Several awards are far above the median, including seven-figure grants to Columbia University and Barnard College.
The foundation gives locally, and 90% of grants go to recipients in New York, its HQ state. New York City recipients account for much of the activity, especially organizations in New York, NY, with smaller numbers in White Plains, Water Mill, and Jericho.
No. While New York receives 90% of grants, the recent list also includes recipients in Washington, DC; Melrose, MA; Montgomery, AL; and Milwaukee, WI. The geographic scope is local, but not exclusive to New York.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL - FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $375,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL - FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $148,050 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| 92ND STREET Y | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $97,250 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $96,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| FILMMAKERS COLLABORATIVE INC | MELROSE, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| THE JED FOUNDATITON | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| MECOX BAY CONSERVANCY INC | WATER MILL, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| DREW HASSENBEIN FOUNDATION INC | JERICHO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| PALM BEACH ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| COLUMBIABARNARD HILLEL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | PHILADEPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF THE SCARSDALE LIBRARY INC | SCARSDALE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| NEIGHBORS LINK CORP | MOUNT KISCO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $47,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| SCARSDALE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS INC | SCARSDALE, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| THE JED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| THE JED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $1,500 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| OGDEN CAP ASSOCIATES LLC PASS-THRU K-1 | NEW YORK, NY | $39 | 2024 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| WNET | NEW YORK, NY | $750,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $197,450 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $46,250 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $45,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | PUBLIC CHARITY |
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$1,000,000PUBLIC CHARITY
PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$250,000PUBLIC CHARITY
PUBLIC CHARITY
92ND STREET Y
$100,000PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$97,250PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$96,000PUBLIC CHARITY
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$75,000PUBLIC CHARITY
FILMMAKERS COLLABORATIVE INC
$50,000PUBLIC CHARITY
THE JED FOUNDATITON
$50,000PUBLIC CHARITY
MECOX BAY CONSERVANCY INC
$25,000PUBLIC CHARITY
DREW HASSENBEIN FOUNDATION INC
$20,000PUBLIC CHARITY
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$10,000PUBLIC CHARITY
PALM BEACH ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE INC
$10,000PUBLIC CHARITY
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN INC
$10,000PUBLIC CHARITY
WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
$5,000PUBLIC CHARITY
FRIENDS OF THE SCARSDALE LIBRARY INC
$5,000PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$500,000PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$250,000PUBLIC CHARITY
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$75,000PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$47,000PUBLIC CHARITY
SCARSDALE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS INC
$10,000PUBLIC CHARITY
PUBLIC CHARITY
OGDEN CAP ASSOCIATES LLC PASS-THRU K-1
$39PUBLIC CHARITY
WNET
$750,000PUBLIC CHARITY
PUBLIC CHARITY
PUBLIC CHARITY
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$75,000PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$50,000PUBLIC CHARITY
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$25,000PUBLIC CHARITY