The Derald H. Ruttenberg Foundation concentrates its giving on elite higher-education institutions and major medical centers, primarily supporting university-based research, medical education, and related public charities. Grants are large, targeted awards to a small number of prominent organizations, with an occasional investment in arts/journalism in New York City.
The largest recent grant in the record went to Asosiacion Conservacion Osa (Friends of the Osa), a sign that The Derald H Ruttenberg Foundation’s giving is not limited to medicine and higher education. The foundation also makes repeated large awards to academic medical centers and research universities, including Yale University, Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, and NYU Langone Medical Center. Its grant record shows a pattern of targeted institutional support rather than broad, open-ended giving, with awards often tied to specific public charities and university-affiliated programs. Alongside health and higher-education grants, the foundation has also supported New York cultural and civic organizations such as Brooklyn Rail Inc., Public Theater, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That mix places the foundation between biomedical philanthropy and select New York City public-interest and arts organizations. Recent grants range from six-figure awards to smaller five-figure gifts, and the recipient list is concentrated among established institutions rather than individuals or program-related investments. The latest filing year on record is 2025, and the foundation’s recent activity includes multiple grants to the same organizations across different years, especially in the medical and university sectors.
Biomedical research and clinical programs are a central part of the foundation’s portfolio. In 2024, it gave $126,760 to Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, and in 2025 it added $49,730 and $25,526 to the same institution. University support is another recurring theme. Yale University received $167,409 in 2024, while Brown University received $100,009 that same year. Columbia University also appears in the recent record with $25,221 in 2025 and $23,706 in 2024. The foundation also backs New York arts and public-interest organizations. It gave $100,000 to Brooklyn Rail Inc. in 2024, $36,197 to Public Theater in 2025, and $30,360 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2024. Health-related operating support extends beyond research. Hospital for Special Surgery received $100,735 in 2025, and Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation received $25,035 in 2025.
The typical grant profile is mid-sized, with a p25 of $415, a median of $2,500, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent record also includes several awards well above that range, which indicates a split between smaller grants and large institutional commitments. The foundation is not a funder of individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grant history shows repeat recipients across multiple years, especially in medical and university settings, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time support. The giving appears to be foundation-based institutional philanthropy rather than an open application program.
$2.6M
$4M
$2M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $415 and $10K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$415
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$10K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated: few, relatively large grants directed to established institutions; repeat emphasis on major universities and medical centers rather than many small community-based awards.
Notable grantees: Yale University, Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, Brown University, Brooklyn Rail Inc
Grant recipients are almost entirely in the United States, with 100% of grants going to U.S. organizations. New York is the top state by grant count, and 54% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent New York recipients include New York, Bronx, Brooklyn, Southampton, and Rhinebeck. Outside New York, recent grants reached New Haven, Providence, and Washington, DC, showing a regional footprint anchored in the Northeast and Washington area.
The recent record centers on academic medical centers, medical schools, research universities, and selected public charities. Examples include Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, Yale University, Brown University, and Brooklyn Rail Inc.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and the available record shows grants going to public charities and university-affiliated institutions rather than people.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest relative to its largest awards: p25 is $415, the median is $2,500, and p75 is $10,000. The recent file also includes several six-figure grants, so the distribution is uneven.
New York is the top state by grant count, with 54% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent New York recipients span New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Southampton, and Rhinebeck.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent record, including Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, Columbia University, Robin Hood Foundation, Facing History and Ourselves, and Asosiacion Conservacion Osa (Friends of the Osa).
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $1,004,187 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (WCS) | BRONX, NY | $319,570 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $101,376 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ASPEN INSTITUTE | ASPEN, CO | $101,376 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| MOUNT SINAI ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,486 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,289 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| HOPEWELL FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,165 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE (THE) | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,028 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ZIGGY'S REFUGE FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY | PROVIDENCE, NC | $27,468 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WILD TOMORROW FUND (WTF) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,799 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE (THE) | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,750 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| STUDENT LEADERSHIP NETWORK | NEW YORK, NY | $25,597 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| CLAL-NAT'L JEWISH CENTER FOR LEARNING & LEADERSHIP | NEW YORK, NY | $25,597 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| CITY REPORT (THE) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,544 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,503 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| CITY REPORT (THE) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,473 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WILD TOMORROW FUND (WTF) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,432 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $25,403 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $25,398 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| MOUNT SINAI ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,386 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| NORTHERN DUTCHESS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | RHINEBECK, NY | $25,263 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $25,044 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| TORY BURCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,754 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ASOSIACION CONSERVACION OSA (FRIENDS OF THE OSA) | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,751 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $20,654 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WNYCWQXR NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $20,550 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| PETA- PEOPLE FOR ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS | NORFOLK, VA | $20,459 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| DOE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $20,322 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| PREP FOR PREP | NEW YORK, NY | $20,256 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,144 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| 13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE INC | CLINTON CORNERS, NY | $15,975 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (WCS) | BRONX, NY | $15,789 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ARTHURS ACRES ANIMAL SANCTUARY | PARKSVILLE, NY | $15,623 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| 13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE INC | CLINTON CORNERS, NY | $15,246 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| FAUNA & FLORA USA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,182 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $15,044 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ZIGGY'S REFUGE FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY | PROVIDENCE, NC | $13,677 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ANIMAL HAVEN | NEW YORK, NY | $11,110 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,941 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ARTHURS ACRES ANIMAL SANCTUARY | PARKSVILLE, NY | $10,754 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $10,606 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| SAVE THE CHIMPS INC | FORT PIERCE, FL | $10,496 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES | BOSTON, MA | $10,467 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $10,377 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| GEORGE ADAMSON & TONY FITZJOHN WILDLIFE TRUST (THE) | MALIBU, CA | $10,334 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| ARTHURS ACRES ANIMAL SANCTUARY | PARKSVILLE, NY | $10,320 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| WILD TOMORROW FUND (WTF) | NEW YORK, NY | $10,302 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $10,300 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| GLAAD | PASADENA, CA | $10,239 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,154 | 2026 | PUBLIC CHARITIES |
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$1,004,187PUBLIC CHARITIES
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$101,376PUBLIC CHARITIES
ASPEN INSTITUTE
$101,376PUBLIC CHARITIES
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$50,289PUBLIC CHARITIES
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
$25,503PUBLIC CHARITIES
NORTHERN DUTCHESS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$25,263PUBLIC CHARITIES
TORY BURCH FOUNDATION
$20,754PUBLIC CHARITIES
WNYCWQXR NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
$20,550PUBLIC CHARITIES
13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE INC
$15,975PUBLIC CHARITIES
ARTHURS ACRES ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$15,623PUBLIC CHARITIES
13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE INC
$15,246PUBLIC CHARITIES
ZIGGY'S REFUGE FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$13,677PUBLIC CHARITIES
ARTHURS ACRES ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$10,754PUBLIC CHARITIES
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$10,606PUBLIC CHARITIES
SAVE THE CHIMPS INC
$10,496PUBLIC CHARITIES
FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
$10,467PUBLIC CHARITIES
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$10,377PUBLIC CHARITIES
GEORGE ADAMSON & TONY FITZJOHN WILDLIFE TRUST (THE)
$10,334PUBLIC CHARITIES
ARTHURS ACRES ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$10,320PUBLIC CHARITIES
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$10,300PUBLIC CHARITIES
GLAAD
$10,239PUBLIC CHARITIES