The Bay and Paul Foundations makes a small number of large, targeted awards focused on law and policy institutions, criminal justice reform, and capacity-building for arts organizations. Grants tend to be substantial, often provided as general operating or sustainability support, suggesting a preference for strategic, flexible funding to influential organizations rather than many small grants. The portfolio shows an interest in strengthening legal education and policy research, supporting organizations that accelerate justice outcomes, and enabling arts groups to manage leadership transitions and long-term development.
The Bay and Paul Foundations Inc. has made seven-figure awards to organizations working on policy, justice, Indigenous rights, and arts capacity. One of its largest recent grants went to New York University School of Law to support the general operations of its Institute for Policy Integrity, while another went to Project Expedite Justice for general and unrestricted support. The pattern is not broad, small-scale grantmaking; it is a portfolio of targeted, high-value awards that often support operating needs, sustainability, or organizational infrastructure. That same approach appears in arts funding. The foundation backed Gateways Music Festival Inc. with a grant for leadership transition and succession planning, including the creation of a robust development program. It also supported The New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden for the Performing Arts: Jerome Robbins Dance Division with funding to build capacity over three years. The Bay and Paul Foundations Inc. also funds Indigenous-led organizations and policy work, including International Indian Treaty Council Inc. and Cultural Survival Inc., showing a consistent interest in legal, policy, and institutional support rather than short-term project-only grants.
A major theme is legal and policy infrastructure. The foundation gave $1,400,000 to New York University School of Law for the general operations of its Institute for Policy Integrity, and $1,050,670 to the Law College Association of the University of Arizona for general and unrestricted support. It also funds justice-oriented work. Project Expedite Justice received $1,200,000 in general and unrestricted support, and the Global Investigative Journalism Network received $750,000 for general support. Indigenous rights and climate-related policy are another clear area. The International Indian Treaty Council Inc received $1,000,000 for general and unrestricted support and another $310,000 to continue leadership efforts around inclusion of Indigenous peoples' rights in the 30x30 plan. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians received $677,242 to support National and International Tribal climate adaptation planning camps. In the arts, support includes $325,000 to Gina Gibney Dance Inc for the Moving Toward Justice program.
$3K
$0
$35
$8K
Most grants fall between $10K and $200K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Top 7 recipient countries by grant volume for Bay and Paul Foundations.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 215 | $31.6M | 93.5% |
| 2 | France |
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Concentrated giving: very few, high-dollar grants that are often unrestricted or for organizational sustainability; funding is split across law/policy, justice reform, and arts rather than broadly distributed.
Notable grantees: New York University - School of Law (Institute for Policy Integrity), Project Expedite Justice, Gateways Music Festival Inc, Law College Association of the University of Arizona
The Bay and Paul Foundations Inc. gives large grants, with a typical size profile of $9,750 at the 25th percentile, a $50,000 median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards frequently reach the high end of that range or beyond, including multiple seven-figure grants. The portfolio shows repeat support to some organizations across years, such as the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the College of the Menominee Nation, and the International Indian Treaty Council Inc. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and funds individuals, but the recent grants shown here are institutional awards, often described as general, unrestricted, operating, or capacity-building support.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, which accounts for 93.5% of grants in the country distribution. New York appears frequently in the recent list, including recipients in New York, Rochester, and Brooklyn. Other repeated recipient locations include Tucson and San Francisco, with additional awards in places such as Silver Spring, Alexandria, and Portland. Outside the U.S., the country distribution includes France, Côte d'Ivoire, Eswatini, Gambia, and the UK, each appearing in small numbers.
The recent grants favor law and policy institutions, criminal justice work, Indigenous rights and climate policy organizations, and arts groups needing capacity or leadership-transition support. Examples in the grant list include a law school institute, a justice organization, tribal policy groups, and performing arts institutions.
The grant-size distribution centers on larger awards: the 25th percentile is $9,750, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000. The recent grants list also includes several awards at $1,000,000 or more.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years or with multiple awards, including the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the College of the Menominee Nation, and the International Indian Treaty Council Inc. That suggests the foundation sometimes supports ongoing work rather than only one-time projects.
The grant country distribution is heavily U.S.-based, with 214 grants in the United States, or 93.5% of the total shown. New York is the top state by grant count, and the recent grantee list also includes recipients in Arizona, California, Washington, and Virginia.
General and unrestricted support appears often, alongside operating support, capacity building, and multi-year or sustainability-oriented grants. Examples include general support for institutional work, capacity-building for staffing and fund development, and a three-year capacity initiative for a performing arts division.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 4 |
| $325K |
1.7% |
| 3 | Chile | 3 | $310K | 1.3% |
| 4 | South Africa | 3 | $175K | 1.3% |
| 5 | Switzerland | 2 | $550K | 0.9% |
| 6 | Germany | 2 | $180K | 0.9% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 1 | $300K | 0.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,020 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $31,785 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PROJECT EXPEDITE JUSTICE | KAILUA KONA, HI | $1,200,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| LAW COLLEGE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZO | TUCSON, AZ | $1,050,670 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $1,000,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCIL INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $760,000 | 2024 | General Support/Wharton ESG Lab |
| GLOBAL INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM NETWORK | SILVER SPRING, MD | $750,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS | PORTLAND, OR | $677,242 | 2024 | to support annual National and International Tribal climate adaptation planning camps in 2022, 2023, and 2024 |
| GRIST MAGAZINE INC | SEATTLE, WA | $610,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| EMERGE 125 INC | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CULTURAL SURVIVAL INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $550,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE BROOKLYN QUEENS CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | BROOKLYN, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY FDN INC | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $445,742 | 2024 | For the internship program and international activities of its institute for tribal environmental professionals |
| PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY | SILVER SPRING, MD | $440,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CENTER FOR CLIMATE AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS | ARLINGTON, VA | $440,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CENTER FOR RESOURCE SOLUTIONS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $440,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| AMERICAN INDIAN HIGHER EDUCATION CONSORTIUM | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $360,000 | 2024 | Summer Internship Program |
| THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $340,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| COLLEGE OF THE MENOMINEE NATION | KESHENA, WI | $335,000 | 2024 | To support the general operations of its "Sustainability Development Institute" |
| THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR LENOX AND TILDEN | NEW YORK, NY | $330,000 | 2024 | for the Performing Arts: Jerome Robbins Dance Division to build capacity in its education coordinator's work over three years by (i) supporting the Dance Division Intergenerational Residency Program and (ii) funding contracted dance teaching artists to enhance the Dance Division Studio expertise in a range of dance styles |
| INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCIL INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $310,000 | 2024 | To continue its leadership efforts to ensure the inclusion of indigenous peoples' rights in the 30x30 plan |
| REMATRIATION INC | SYRACUSE, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| SUNDOG THEATER INC | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE INC | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE LAUNDROMAT PROJECT INC | BROOKYLN, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | To support infrastructure development and general operations, BedSty programs, and artistic development |
| BROOKLYN ARTS EXCHANGE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CLEMMONS FAMILY FARM | CHARLOTTE, VT | $300,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| LAW COLLEGE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZO | TUCSON, AZ | $285,000 | 2024 | Proposal for Indigenous People and Protected Areas Study and Media Campaign |
| COOL CULTURE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | to support implementation of its three-year capacity building initiative to deepen program impact and further incorporate social justice core values throughout the organization |
| ST LUKES CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | Support of OSL's music education and community engagement programs |
| MAPLE MICRODEVELOPMENT | EUGENE, OR | $240,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $220,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| EG JUSTICE | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $200,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $200,000 | 2024 | University of Michigan's School for the Environment and Sustainability programs |
| HOOK ARTS MEDIA INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| GATEWAYS MUSIC FESTIVAL INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL PROJECT | POTTSTOWN, PA | $185,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| ASOCIACION AMBIENTAL BUDI ANUMKA - BUDI ANUMKA ENV | TEODORA SCHMIDT, RE | $180,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $180,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $175,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| GINA GIBNEY DANCE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $175,000 | 2024 | Moving Toward Justice (MTJ) program |
| US SIF FOUNDATION LTD | WASHINGTON, DC | $165,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| FIRST PEOPLES FUND | RAPID CITY, SD | $150,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC INC | NEW YORK, NY | $135,000 | 2024 | To support preparation for and development of a strategic plan and its implementation |
| ASSOCIATION SHERPA | PARIS | $130,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE SIGNALS NETWORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $115,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDRENS RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $115,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
PROJECT EXPEDITE JUSTICE
$1,200,000General & Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$1,000,000General & Unrestricted
INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCIL INC
$1,000,000General & Unrestricted
General Support/Wharton ESG Lab
to support annual National and International Tribal climate adaptation planning camps in 2022, 2023, and 2024
For the internship program and international activities of its institute for tribal environmental professionals
General & Unrestricted
CENTER FOR RESOURCE SOLUTIONS
$440,000General & Unrestricted
COLLEGE OF THE MENOMINEE NATION
$335,000To support the general operations of its "Sustainability Development Institute"
for the Performing Arts: Jerome Robbins Dance Division to build capacity in its education coordinator's work over three years by (i) supporting the Dance Division Intergenerational Residency Program and (ii) funding contracted dance teaching artists to enhance the Dance Division Studio expertise in a range of dance styles
To continue its leadership efforts to ensure the inclusion of indigenous peoples' rights in the 30x30 plan
SUNDOG THEATER INC
$300,000General & Unrestricted
FRIENDS OF ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE INC
$300,000General & Unrestricted
To support infrastructure development and general operations, BedSty programs, and artistic development
Proposal for Indigenous People and Protected Areas Study and Media Campaign
to support implementation of its three-year capacity building initiative to deepen program impact and further incorporate social justice core values throughout the organization
Support of OSL's music education and community engagement programs
MAPLE MICRODEVELOPMENT
$240,000General & Unrestricted
EG JUSTICE
$200,000General & Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$200,000University of Michigan's School for the Environment and Sustainability programs
HOOK ARTS MEDIA INC
$200,000General & Unrestricted
CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL PROJECT
$185,000General & Unrestricted
ASOCIACION AMBIENTAL BUDI ANUMKA - BUDI ANUMKA ENV
$180,000General & Unrestricted
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA INC
$180,000General & Unrestricted
US SIF FOUNDATION LTD
$165,000General & Unrestricted
BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC INC
$135,000To support preparation for and development of a strategic plan and its implementation
ASSOCIATION SHERPA
$130,000General & Unrestricted
THE SIGNALS NETWORK INC
$115,000General & Unrestricted