The Ricky Sandler Family Foundation concentrates philanthropy on education across multiple levels and on Jewish/Israel-related causes. Its largest commitments are to established higher-education institutions, with recurring multi-grant support, while also funding selective independent K–12 education and youth programs tied to Israel and the Jewish community. Grants are granted to well-known, institutional recipients rather than grassroots startups.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants with repeat multi-grant relationships to a small set of established institutional grantees; geographically focused on U.S. higher education and New York/Jewish-Israel causes.
Recurring seven-figure gifts to the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Duke University define Ricky Sandler Family Foundation c/o Eminence Partners’ recent giving. Those commitments sit alongside steady support for Jewish communal institutions in New York and Israel-linked education programs, showing a pattern that favors established organizations over experimental start-ups. The foundation’s largest grants in the file are all general support, and they recur across multiple years rather than appearing as one-off awards. Education is the clearest thread, but it appears in several forms: higher education, independent K–12 schooling, and youth development connected to Jewish and Israel-related life. The foundation backed The Hewitt School in New York in multiple years, while also funding Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation and YUD Foundation. Its grant list also includes support for UJA Federation of New York, American Jewish Committee, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Central Synagogue, and Chabad-affiliated organizations. Across the portfolio, the pattern is institution-centered and flexible, with general support used repeatedly as the funding vehicle.
In higher education, the foundation gave $975,000 to University of Wisconsin Foundation in 2025 for general support, and it also supported Duke University with a $550,000 grant in 2025 for general support. A separate $50,000 grant went to Chabad of Duke in 2023, showing that Duke-related giving reaches beyond the university itself. Jewish communal support is another major theme. The foundation awarded UJA Federation of New York $250,000 in 2025 for general support, and it also gave $86,000 to American Jewish Committee in 2023. Community-based synagogue support appears as well, including $36,000 to Central Synagogue in 2025. In youth and education-related work, the foundation gave $225,000 to Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation in 2025, following earlier grants of $100,000 in 2023 and 2024, and it supported The Hewitt School with $200,000 in 2025.
Typical grant size falls at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $18,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent file also contains much larger institutional awards. The record shows repeated giving to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, especially for University of Wisconsin Foundation, Duke University, UJA Federation of New York, and The Hewitt School. The foundation gives general support rather than project-restricted awards in the recent grants listed. It is a private family foundation c/o Eminence Partners, and the file does not show an application process.
$2.5M
$4.7M
$5.3M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: University of Wisconsin Foundation, Duke University, UJA Federation of New York, The Hewitt School, Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation
Giving is national, but New York receives the largest share of grants by count, with 53% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipients include New York, NY; Madison, WI; Durham, NC; Deerfield Beach, FL; and Brooklyn, NY. The file also shows support to organizations in Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California. All grants in the recipient-country distribution went to U.S. organizations.
The recent grants lean toward established institutions in education and Jewish life. Examples include University of Wisconsin Foundation, Duke University, UJA Federation of New York, The Hewitt School, Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation, and Central Synagogue. The listed awards are all general support.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years: University of Wisconsin Foundation received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Duke University in 2023, 2024, and 2025; UJA Federation of New York in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The Hewitt School in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution puts the 25th percentile at $5,000, the median at $18,000, and the 75th percentile at $50,000. The recent file also includes larger awards such as $975,000 to University of Wisconsin Foundation and $550,000 to Duke University.
New York is the top state by grant count, with 53% of grants going to recipients in NY. Recent New York recipients include UJA Federation of New York, The Hewitt School, Central Synagogue, Harlem RBI Inc (dba DREAM), and Robin Hood Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | MADISON, WI | $975,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Duke University | DURHAM, NC | $550,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UJA Federation of New York | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation | Deerfield Beach, FL | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The Hewitt School | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YUD Foundation | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Chabad at Duke Ug Inc | DURHAM, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Prostate Cancer Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Central Synagogue | New York, NY | $36,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BOCA RATON, FL | $18,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Koenig Childhood Cancer Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Thomas A Costello Legacy Foundation | Chaska, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Seeds for Peace | New York, NY | $3,600 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| South Fork Bakery | Sag Harbor, NY | $1,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Navy Seal Foundation | Virginia Beach, VA | $1,800 | 2025 | General Support |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | MADISON, WI | $925,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Duke University | DURHAM, NC | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UJA Federation of New York | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The Hewitt School | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation | Deerfield Beach, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces | NEW YORK, NY | $51,400 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UW Athletics | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Chabad of Duke | DURHAM, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Harlem RBI Inc (dba DREAM) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Varsity Collective Charitable Fund | Madison, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Our Place | Brooklyn, NY | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Brothers for Life (Hope for Heroism) | Seattle, WA | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Room to Grow | Bronx, NY | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| American Jewish Committee | New York, NY | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Challenged Athletes Foundation | San Diego, CA | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Emily Krzyzewski Family Life Center Inc | Durham, NC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY | BOCA RATON, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Adloph & Rose Lewis Jewish Community Center | Boca Raton, FL | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The DeGregorio Family Foundation Inc | Pleasantville, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| American Friends of NATAL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The Thomas A Costello Legacy Foundation | Chaska, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Seeds for Peace | New York, NY | $3,600 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| New York Junior League | NEW YORK, NY | $1,800 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| South Fork Bakery | Sag Harbor, NY | $1,800 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Council 1869 | Garden City, NY | $1,800 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The National Italian American Foundation | Washington, DC | $1,800 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | MADISON, WI | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UJA Federation of New York | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The Hewitt School | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Duke University | DURHAM, NC | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Israel Tennis & Education Centers Foundation | Deerfield Beach, FL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| American Jewish Committee | New York, NY | $86,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Chabad of Duke | DURHAM, NC | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Central Synagogue | NEW YORK, NY | $36,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
YUD Foundation
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Chabad at Duke Ug Inc
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Central Synagogue
$36,000General Support
Koenig Childhood Cancer Foundation Inc
$10,000General Support
The Thomas A Costello Legacy Foundation
$5,000General Support
Seeds for Peace
$3,600GENERAL SUPPORT
South Fork Bakery
$1,800GENERAL SUPPORT
UW Athletics
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Chabad of Duke
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Brothers for Life (Hope for Heroism)
$18,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Adloph & Rose Lewis Jewish Community Center
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
The Thomas A Costello Legacy Foundation
$5,000General Support
Seeds for Peace
$3,600GENERAL SUPPORT
New York Junior League
$1,800GENERAL SUPPORT
South Fork Bakery
$1,800GENERAL SUPPORT
Council 1869
$1,800GENERAL SUPPORT
Chabad of Duke
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Central Synagogue
$36,000GENERAL SUPPORT
The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT