The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation concentrates on major institutional gifts, primarily supporting higher education, Jewish religious and cultural institutions, and public policy research. Most grants are large, unrestricted or "general charitable purposes" awards to established organizations, and the foundation shows a preference for a small number of significant commitments rather than many small awards. Repeated multi-year support to institutions like Cornell and Brookings suggests an interest in long-term institutional impact and research/education capacity building.
A single 2025 grant of $8,886,240 to a listed set of recipients in New York signals the scale at which The Abby & David Cohen Family Foundation operates. The foundation pairs that very large award with a smaller set of substantial commitments to established institutions, especially in higher education, Jewish religious and cultural life, and public policy research. Cornell University appears repeatedly in the recent grants list, including $600,000 in 2025 and $300,000 awards in both 2024 and 2023, pointing to sustained support rather than one-time project funding. The Brookings Institute also received repeated support across multiple years, with $200,000 in 2024 and $125,000 in 2023. Alongside those academic and policy gifts, the foundation funds Jewish learning and preservation organizations such as Jewish Theological Seminary of America and the National Yiddish Book Center, indicating a portfolio that blends research, education, and cultural institutions. Most awards are listed under general charitable purposes or general support, which suggests flexibility in how recipients can use the funds.
In higher education, the foundation’s recent support includes $600,000 to Cornell University in 2025, after $300,000 grants in 2024 and 2023. Cornell Hillel also received two gifts, $50,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024, showing that the university relationship extends beyond the main campus grant. For Jewish religious education and cultural preservation, the foundation gave $136,000 to Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 2024 and $100,000 to the National Yiddish Book Center in 2024. It also supported YIVO Institute for Jewish Research with $3,000 in 2025. In public policy, The Brookings Institute received $200,000 in 2024 and $125,000 in 2023, while The Washington Institute for Near East Policy received $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The pattern points to a mix of academic, cultural, and policy institutions.
The typical grant size is $3,500 at the 25th percentile, $17,500 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent list also includes a very large 2025 award of $8,886,240. The foundation’s pattern is relationship-based: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Cornell University, The Brookings Institute, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Cornell Hillel, Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, and US/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Grants are generally made as general charitable purposes or general support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$5.7M
$6M
$402K
$5.7M
Most grants fall between $4K and $50K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a handful of established institutions; repeat grantee relationships (notably Cornell); preference for unrestricted/general-purpose awards rather than many small project grants.
Notable grantees: Cornell University, The Brookings Institution, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, National Yiddish Book Center, SEE ATTACHED LIST (single large aggregated grant recipient grouping)
Grant activity is heavily centered in New York, which accounts for 63% of grants. Recent recipients there include Cornell University in Ithaca, Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Metropolitan Opera Association Inc in New York City, and Cornell Hillel in Ithaca. Washington, DC is another recurring destination through the Brookings Institute, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Outside those hubs, Amherst, Massachusetts appears through the National Yiddish Book Center.
Recent grants show support for universities, Jewish religious and cultural institutions, and public policy organizations. Examples include Cornell University, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the National Yiddish Book Center, The Brookings Institute, and The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The foundation also makes general charitable purposes and general support grants.
The distribution centers on $3,500 at the 25th percentile, a $17,500 median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger institutional gifts, such as $136,000 to Jewish Theological Seminary of America and $600,000 to Cornell University.
Yes. Cornell University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Brookings Institute appears in 2023 and 2024; The Washington Institute for Near East Policy appears in 2024 and 2025. Cornell Hillel, Metropolitan Opera Association Inc, and the US/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum also receive multiple grants across years.
Most grants go to recipients in New York, which is the top state by grant count and receives 63% of grants. Recent New York recipients include Cornell University in Ithaca, Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Metropolitan Opera Association Inc in New York City, and Cornell Hillel in Ithaca.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals; its recent grants are directed to institutions such as Cornell University, The Brookings Institute, and the National Yiddish Book Center.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Opera Association Inc | New York, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Council on Foreign Relations Inc | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Metropolitan Opera Association Inc | New York, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| American Museum of Natural History | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Target Als Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| New York-Presbyterian Fund Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre Inc | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| YIVO Institute for Jewish Research | New York, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| American Friends of Israel Intelligence Heritage | Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| The Brookings Institute | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Jewish Theological Seminary of America | New York, NY | $136,000 | 2024 | General |
| National Yiddish Book Center | Amherst, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | General |
| The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Metropolitan Opera Association Inc | New York, NY | $35,000 | 2024 | General |
| Cornell Hillel | Ithaca, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NLI USA | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Central Fund of Israel | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | General |
| Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | General |
| American Friends of Israel Intelligence Heritage | Los Angeles, CA | $1,800 | 2024 | General |
| Friends of Yad Sarah | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | General |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| The Brookings Institute | Washington, DC | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Cornell Hillel | Ithaca, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NLI USA | New York, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Roundabout Theatre Company | New York, NY | $6,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WNET | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington DC | Washington, DC | $1,800 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club | Locust Valley, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| American Friends of Rabin Medical Center | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
Council on Foreign Relations Inc
$1,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Target Als Foundation Inc
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
American Friends of Israel Intelligence Heritage
$1,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
$136,000General
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Cornell Hillel
$25,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
American Friends of Israel Intelligence Heritage
$1,800General
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
$25,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
WNET
$2,500GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club
$1,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES