The Lefrak Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of large, flagship institutions in New York City, with a particular emphasis on major performing arts support alongside commitments to Jewish communal life and leading medical centers. Most dollars flow to a single arts beneficiary (the New York Philharmonic), with additional sizable grants to large, established nonprofits rather than many small local groups.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants with repeat funding to flagship organizations (notably multiple grants to the New York Philharmonic), favoring established institutions over broad, distributed grassroots support.
Notable grantees: New York Philharmonic, New York‑Presbyterian Fund, UJA‑Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York
Richard & Karen Lefrak Charitable Foundation Inc directs most of its recent grant dollars to a small cluster of large institutions, with the New York Philharmonic receiving three of the biggest awards in the file: $3,000,000 in 2024, $2,100,000 in 2023, and $2,050,000 in 2025. That pattern points to sustained support for flagship organizations rather than broad-based, many-grantee giving. Across the recent grants list, the foundation also backs major New York civic and philanthropic institutions. New York Presbyterian Fund Inc received $1,000,000 in 2025, and Uja-federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc received $500,000 in 2025. Those grants sit alongside sizable support for institutions in performing arts, Jewish communal life, medical care, higher education, and research. The recent record shows repeated funding to several named organizations over multiple years, including The Jfk Center for the Performing Arts, American Museum of Natural History, The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Hope for Depression Research Foundation, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The mix suggests a foundation that favors established nonprofits with large-scale programs and strong institutional reach.
Performing arts is a clear through line. The foundation gave $3,000,000 to New York Philharmonic in 2024, and the same organization also received $2,100,000 in 2023 and $2,050,000 in 2025. Medical and research institutions are another major thread. New York Presbyterian Fund Inc received $1,000,000 in 2025, while Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center received $100,000 in 2025 and $20,000 in 2024. Jewish communal and anti-antisemitism work also appears in the record. Uja-federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc received $500,000 in 2025, and Foundation to Combat Anti-semitism Inc received $200,000 in 2025. Education and cultural institutions round out the portfolio, including $250,000 to Amherst College in 2024 and $200,000 to Barnard College in 2025.
Recent grant sizes range from $10,000 at the 25th percentile to $20,000 at the median and $43,750 at the 75th percentile, though the file also includes several very large institutional awards above that range. The same organizations appear across multiple years, including New York Philharmonic, The Jfk Center for the Performing Arts, American Museum of Natural History, The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Hope for Depression Research Foundation, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and The Miami Symphony Orchestra. The foundation is a private charitable foundation; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The data provided does not describe an application process.
$5M
$8M
$2.2M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $44K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$44K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly domestic: 56 grants went to U.S. recipients, or 100.0% of the listed country distribution. New York City dominates the recipient map, with multiple grants to organizations in New York, NY, including the New York Philharmonic, New York Presbyterian Fund Inc, Uja-federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc, and Barnard College. Other recurring recipient cities include Washington, DC, Miami, FL, Amherst, MA, and Coconut Grove, FL. A smaller set of grants also went to Southampton, NY and Foxborough, MA.
The recent record centers on major performing arts institutions, Jewish communal organizations, medical and research nonprofits, and selected colleges and cultural institutions. Named recipients include the New York Philharmonic, Uja-federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc, New York Presbyterian Fund Inc, Amherst College, and American Museum of Natural History.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $10,000, a median of $20,000, and a 75th percentile of $43,750. The list also contains several much larger awards, including multimillion-dollar support for the New York Philharmonic.
The giving is national, but the recipient list is heavily concentrated in New York City. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, and the most frequent recipient state is New York, with additional grants in Washington, DC, Florida, Massachusetts, and Delaware not appearing among the recipients.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the New York Philharmonic, The Jfk Center for the Performing Arts, American Museum of Natural History, The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Hope for Depression Research Foundation, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and The Miami Symphony Orchestra.
The foundation does not fund individuals. The data also identifies it as a private charitable foundation, which is consistent with grantmaking to organizations rather than to people.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,050,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| UJA-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| FOUNDATION TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM INC | FOXBOROUGH, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER | MIAMI, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| RANSOM EVERGLADES SCHOOL INC | COCONUT GROVE, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE JFK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MIAMI, FL | $35,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| SCOA INC DBA SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE | SOUTH HADLEY, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| AKC MUSEUM OF THE DOG | NEW YORK, NY | $3,480 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| CHELSEA MUSIC FESTIVAL | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE JFK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER | MIAMI, FL | $20,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MIAMI, FL | $20,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE | SOUTH HADLEY, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,100,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE JFK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER | MIAMI, FL | $20,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MIAMI, FL | $20,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL |
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
$2,050,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC
$1,000,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
FOUNDATION TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM INC
$200,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
$100,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$35,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE
$10,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$5,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
CHELSEA MUSIC FESTIVAL
$3,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
$3,000,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
AMHERST COLLEGE
$250,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$20,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$10,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$5,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE
$5,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
$2,100,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$20,000RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL
RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, AND EDUCATIONAL