The Rosenwald Foundation concentrates philanthropic support on major cultural institutions and elite higher-education institutions, primarily in New York. Their giving favors large, unrestricted or endowment/capital-style awards to flagship organizations in arts (museums and orchestras) and select colleges and universities. With only four grants making up their reported giving, the foundation appears oriented toward high-impact gifts to well-established institutions rather than broad-based community funding.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants to prominent institutions; repeat or multi-year relationships are likely given size and institutional type, focused on flagship cultural and educational organizations rather than many small grantees.
A repeated pattern of large general-support grants to major cultural and educational institutions defines The Edward John & Patricia Rosenwald Foundation’s giving. In 2025, the foundation’s largest reported grant was $518,735 to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of several awards to the museum across multiple years. The same pattern appears in higher education: Vassar College received $501,000 in 2024, while New York University received $325,000 in 2024 and $130,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports major civic and Jewish communal organizations, including United Jewish Appeal Federation, which received $250,000 in 2025 and additional general-support grants in earlier years. Its recent grants show a preference for established institutions rather than project-specific funding, with awards labeled general support across the list. The portfolio also includes select policy, public-space, and health-related organizations such as Central Park Conservancy, Council on Foreign Relations, and The Michael J Fox Foundation. Taken together, the record points to a foundation that directs substantial unrestricted support to organizations with broad institutional reach, especially in New York and a small set of other major U.S. cities.
In arts funding, the foundation backed The Society of the Four Arts Inc with a $191,667 grant in 2025, alongside support for major New York cultural institutions elsewhere in the record. For public space and civic life, Central Park Conservancy Inc received $167,667 in 2025 after a $166,667 grant in 2024, both marked general support. Higher education is another clear area: Dartmouth College received $240,000 in 2024, adding to a longer pattern of support for colleges and universities. The foundation also supports organizations focused on public policy and national issues, including a $167,000 grant in 2024 and a $166,000 grant in 2025 to Center for a New American Security Inc, both for general support.
Typical grants cluster around mid-sized institutional support: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $25,000, and p75 is $80,000. The recent record also includes substantially larger awards in the hundreds of thousands, indicating a mix of routine grants and higher-capacity gifts. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York University, Central Park Conservancy Inc, Center for a New American Security Inc, United Jewish Appeal Federation, Robin Hood Foundation, Columbia University, and The Michael J Fox Foundation, which suggests recurring relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation gives to organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2.9M
$79K
$2.9M
$3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $80K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$80K
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Notable grantees: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Vassar College, New York University, The Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York (New York Philharmonic)
Grantmaking is concentrated in the United States, with every recent grant in the dataset going to U.S. recipients. New York dominates the map of giving, including many awards to organizations in New York, NY and a cluster elsewhere in the state such as Poughkeepsie. Outside New York, the foundation also gives in Washington, DC, Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, FL, Hanover, NH, and Foxboro and Boynton Beach, MA and FL respectively. By count, Massachusetts is the top state for recipient locations.
The recent grants show support for major art museums, universities, performing arts organizations, civic institutions, and select policy and Jewish communal organizations. Examples in the record include cultural, higher-education, public-space, and general community support grants, almost all labeled general support.
The foundation’s reported distribution is p25 $10,000, median $25,000, and p75 $80,000. The recent list also includes larger institutional gifts in the $100,000 to $500,000+ range.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York University, Central Park Conservancy Inc, Center for a New American Security Inc, United Jewish Appeal Federation, Robin Hood Foundation, Columbia University, and The Michael J Fox Foundation.
By recipient location count, Massachusetts is the top state, while the majority of grants also go to organizations in New York state. The recipient-city list includes New York, Poughkeepsie, Washington, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Hanover, Foxboro, and Boynton Beach.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates it funds organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $523,735 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $225,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $191,667 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $166,666 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $155,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GATES GLOBAL POLICY CENTER | NEWINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR A NEW AMERICAN SECURITY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $67,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAN FRANCISCO CHANTICLEER INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK JUNIOR TENNIS LEAGUE INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ARETE MENTAL WELL-BEING AND HUMAN POTENTIAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD TRADE CENTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DAY ONE EARLY LEARNING COMMUNITY | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PINE RIDGE GIRLS SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | PHILIDELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ASSOCIATION FOR FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION | KING OF PRUSSIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PUBLICOLOR INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY INC | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SOUP KITCHEN INC | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST LUKE SCHOOL | WHITESTONE, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW 42 STUDIOS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GIFT OF LIFE MARROW REGISTRY INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WEST NYACK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITIZENS UNION FOUNDATION INC OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST | CEDARHURST, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ASIA FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHSIDE CENTER FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ADIRONDACK COUNCIL INC | ELIZABETHTOWN, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PITCH YOUR PEERS | AMAGANSETT, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHNS UNIVERSITY | QUEENS, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE INC | LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FL | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GATES GLOBAL POLICY CENTER
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
SAN FRANCISCO CHANTICLEER INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
ARETE MENTAL WELL-BEING AND HUMAN POTENTIAL INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DAY ONE EARLY LEARNING COMMUNITY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PINE RIDGE GIRLS SCHOOL
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST LUKE SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW 42 STUDIOS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITIZENS UNION FOUNDATION INC OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE ASIA FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PITCH YOUR PEERS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHNS UNIVERSITY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT