The Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and learning as well as cultural/educational institutions in New York. Major recipients include international Jewish relief (American Jewish World Services), federated Jewish philanthropy (United Jewish Appeal), and Jewish theological education, alongside significant support for library services in New York. Grants are overwhelmingly unrestricted, suggesting trust in grantee leadership to allocate funds where most needed.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving across a very small number of recipients: a handful of large unrestricted grants (several at $50k–$125k). The foundation repeats support for core Jewish organizations (AJWS received multiple grants) and favors broad, flexible funding rather than many small or project-restricted awards.
A $155,000 unrestricted grant to Eugene O'neill Theatre is the clearest sign of how the Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation gives: flexible support to exempt-purpose organizations, with a strong tilt toward Jewish communal life, learning, and New York cultural institutions. The foundation’s recent grants include recurring support for American Jewish World Services, Jewish Theological Seminary, United Jewish Appeal, Westchester Jewish Center, and New York-based arts groups. That mix shows a funder willing to back both Jewish institutions and adjacent cultural or educational nonprofits rather than limiting itself to one narrow category. The grant list also suggests continuity across years. American Jewish World Services appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Jewish Theological Seminary, Eugene O'neill Theatre, and Westchester Jewish Center each receive multiple awards across the same period. Most grants are unrestricted and aimed at the organizations’ exempt-purpose activities, indicating a preference for general support rather than project-specific funding. The pattern is especially centered on New York recipients, but it also reaches a small set of organizations outside the state, including groups in New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
Jewish communal support is a core part of the foundation’s giving. In 2023 it gave $50,000 to United Jewish Appeal in Brooklyn for unrestricted support, and in 2025 it gave $35,000 to United Jewish Appeal - Federation in New York for the same purpose. Jewish education is another visible thread. The foundation awarded $50,000 in 2023 and again in 2024 and 2025 to The Jewish Theological Seminar in New York, all as unrestricted support of exempt-purpose activity. Columbia University also appears in the recent grants list, with $15,000 in 2024 to Columbia University and $10,000 in 2025 to Trustees of Columbia University. Its cultural giving includes New York arts institutions. Eugene O'neill Theatre received $33,351 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2023, while St Ann's Warehouse received $36,400 in 2024 and $21,400 in 2025.
Typical grants are in the mid-thousands to low five figures, with a p25 of $4,260, a median of $9,550, and a p75 of $19,701. The list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to ongoing support rather than isolated one-time grants. The foundation appears to operate with a flexible, discretionary style: grants are described as unrestricted support of exempt-purpose activities, and the foundation does not fund individuals or program-related investments. Its giving profile is consistent with a private foundation making general support grants to tax-exempt organizations.
$526K
$80K
$526K
$529K
Most grants fall between $4K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Notable grantees: American Jewish World Services, Jewish Theological Seminary, United Jewish Appeal, New York Library Association
The Stephen & Ruth Hendel Foundation gives primarily in New York: 80% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and New York is also the top state by grant count. New York City shows up repeatedly through recipients in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including New York-based arts, Jewish, and educational organizations. Outside New York, grants also land in Mamaroneck, Guilderland, Etna, New Haven, Beverly Hills, Silver Spring, and Washington, DC. All recent grants in the dataset go to US recipients.
Recent grants go to Jewish communal organizations, Jewish education institutions, libraries, and New York arts groups. Examples include United Jewish Appeal, The Jewish Theological Seminar, New York Library Association, Eugene O'neill Theatre, and St Ann's Warehouse. The grants are described as unrestricted support of the organizations’ exempt-purpose activities.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly unrestricted. The grant descriptions repeatedly say “unrestricted support of the organizations exempt purpose,” which indicates general support rather than project-specific funding. That pattern appears across multiple years and recipients.
Yes. American Jewish World Services appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Jewish Theological Seminar appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Westchester Jewish Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Eugene O'neill Theatre and St Ann's Warehouse also show more than one grant.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $4,260 at the 25th percentile, $9,550 at the median, and $19,701 at the 75th percentile. That places most grants in a small-to-mid-sized range, even though a few awards are larger.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 80% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recent recipient list also includes cities such as New York, Brooklyn, Mamaroneck, and Guilderland in New York State.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $155,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINAR | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NXT HVN INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK LIVE ARTS FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL - FEDERATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICES | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTCHESTER JEWISH CENTER | MAMARONECK, NY | $33,800 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR JEWISH CULTURE & CREATIVITY | BEVERLY HILL, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ST ANN'S WAREHOUSE | BROOKLYN, NY | $21,400 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| TECTONIC THEATRE PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE PLAY PRODUCTION COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP | NEW YORK, NY | $9,550 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK STAGE AND FILM | NEW YORK, NY | $5,558 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DANCE LAB NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| KALEIDOSCOPE DESERT | MORONGO VALLEY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LISMORE ROAD | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK CITY CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $4,090 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ARLEKIN PLAYERS THEATRE | NEEDHAM, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE ORCHARD PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $2,200 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| SCHOOL OF AMERICAN BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE NEW GROUP | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| YOUNG DANCE COLLECTIVE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FIASCO THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PARSONS DANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,200 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE WINNIPESAUKE PLAYHOUSE | MEREDITH, NH | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HARLEM STAGE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NATIONAL YIDDISH THEATRE | MANHATTAN, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITY PARKS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NFA FOUNDATION INC | NORWICH, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MASTER VOICES | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE PUBLIC THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MCC THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION | GUILDERLAND, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICES | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ST ANN'S WAREHOUSE | BROOKLYN, NY | $36,400 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $33,351 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE PLAY COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $21,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTCHESTER JEWISH CENTER | MAMARONECK, NY | $19,701 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WATER WELL TRUST | NEW YORK, NY | $11,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BATONGA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HENRY S HOPE FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE CELL THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THEATRE COMMUNICATION GROUP | NEW YORK, NY | $8,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HYPOKRIT FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $7,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ARTS NOVA THEATER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $7,400 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| YOUNG DANCE COLLECTIVE INC | BROOKLY, NY | $6,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE |
EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE
$155,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINAR
$50,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
NXT HVN INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW YORK LIVE ARTS FUND
$35,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTCHESTER JEWISH CENTER
$33,800UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
CENTER FOR JEWISH CULTURE & CREATIVITY
$25,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
TECTONIC THEATRE PROJECT INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE PLAY PRODUCTION COMPANY INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW YORK STAGE AND FILM
$5,558UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
DANCE LAB NEW YORK
$5,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
KALEIDOSCOPE DESERT
$5,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE ORCHARD PROJECT
$2,200UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
YOUNG DANCE COLLECTIVE INC
$2,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
FIASCO THEATER
$2,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
PARSONS DANCE
$1,200UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE WINNIPESAUKE PLAYHOUSE
$1,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
NATIONAL YIDDISH THEATRE
$1,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
NFA FOUNDATION INC
$1,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE PUBLIC THEATRE
$1,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW YORK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
$75,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$50,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE
$33,351UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE PLAY COMPANY
$21,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTCHESTER JEWISH CENTER
$19,701UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$15,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
WATER WELL TRUST
$11,500UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
HENRY S HOPE FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE CELL THEATER
$10,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
THEATRE COMMUNICATION GROUP
$8,500UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
HYPOKRIT FOUNDATION
$7,500UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
ARTS NOVA THEATER INC
$7,400UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE
YOUNG DANCE COLLECTIVE INC
$6,000UNRESTRICTRED SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT PURPOSE