The foundation concentrates its giving on youth organizing and leadership development in New York City while also supporting a named medical scholarship program. Funding is focused and programmatic — large multi-year or repeat gifts to a small set of grantees rather than broad, dispersed giving. Its largest recipient is the New York Foundation (supporting the Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund), with a secondary emphasis on medical education through the Kornfeld Scholars program at Mount Sinai.
The Emily Davie and Joseph S Kornfeld Foundation’s largest recent commitment is a three-year pattern of $250,000 annual grants to the New York Foundation for the Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund. That recurring support sets the tone for a funder that backs youth organizing, civic engagement, arts education, and health-related initiatives through a small set of repeat relationships. In the recent grant list, the foundation also paired that youth-focused giving with a $200,000 grant to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for the Kornfeld Scholars Program, showing a second line of support rooted in medical education. Most of the foundation’s visible activity stays close to New York City and favors organizations that work directly with young people, community residents, or scholarship recipients. Grants are often directed to organizations already operating in the city’s civic, arts, and community sectors, including groups working on movement-building, after-school arts programming, and community-based planning. The pattern suggests a funder that prefers sustained institutional ties over broad one-time dispersion, with named programs serving as the main vehicles for support.
Youth organizing is a core theme. The foundation gave $250,000 in 2025 to the New York Foundation for the Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund, following the same amount in 2024 and 2023. Civic engagement is another clear strand: Demos a Network for Ideas and Action Ltd received $100,000 in 2024 for the Inclusive Democracy Project, indicating support for democratic participation and policy work. Arts education appears across several grants, including $100,000 in 2024 to Manhattan Class Company Inc (aka MCC Theater) for MCC Theater Education Programs and $60,000 in 2025 to Brooklyn Academy of Music Inc for education in-school residencies and after-school theater and dance workshops. The foundation also supports social impact arts programming, as shown by grants to St Luke’s Chamber Ensemble Inc for social impact programming.
Typical grants cluster in a fairly tight range: p25 is $30,000, median is $50,000, and p75 is $60,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially New York Foundation, Make the Road New York, Arab-american Family Support Center Inc, Artsconnection, Marquis Studios Ltd, St Luke’s Chamber Ensemble Inc, Henry Street Settlement, and Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. That pattern points to sustained partnerships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals as well as organizations. Several programs explicitly allow unsolicited applications, including General Grantmaking, Civic Engagement Grants, Arts Education Grants, and General Operating Support.
$1.4M
$27.6M
$3.4M
$1.9M
Most grants fall between $30K and $60K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$60K
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.
Concentrated, high-value grants to a very small number of organizations; repeat funding to a core grantee (New York Foundation) plus targeted single grants to institutional partners (Mount Sinai).
Notable grantees: New York Foundation (Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Kornfeld Scholars Program), Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund (programmatic focus)
Giving is overwhelmingly local. Of recent grants, 89% went to recipients in New York state, and the top giving state is NY. Most named grantees are in New York City neighborhoods such as New York, Brooklyn, and Jackson Heights. Examples include Jackson Heights-based Make the Road New York, Brooklyn-based Arab-american Family Support Center Inc, and New York-based organizations such as Demos a Network for Ideas and Action Ltd and the New York Foundation. All recent grants in the dataset went to US recipients.
The foundation’s named programs center on youth organizing and culture change, civic engagement, arts education, and health-related initiatives. Recent grants show those themes in practice through support for the Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund, the Inclusive Democracy Project, arts education programs, and the Kornfeld Scholars Program at Mount Sinai.
Yes. The recent grant list shows several repeat recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including the New York Foundation, Make the Road New York, Arab-american Family Support Center Inc, Artsconnection, Marquis Studios Ltd, St Luke’s Chamber Ensemble Inc, Henry Street Settlement, and Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.
Typical grants are relatively concentrated: the 25th percentile is $30,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $60,000. Recent awards also include larger commitments such as $250,000 and $200,000 for named multi-year programs.
Yes for several programs. The foundation’s General Grantmaking, Civic Engagement Grants, Arts Education Grants, and General Operating Support programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications.
Most giving goes to New York-based recipients. The foundation’s top giving state is NY, and 89% of grants in the dataset were awarded to recipients in that state, with many grants going to organizations in New York, Brooklyn, and Jackson Heights.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Emily Davie and Joseph S Kornfeld Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Proposal must focus on civic engagement or arts education. The foundation does not support capital or endowment campaigns. Applications must be complete and submitted electronically. First-time applicants should begin with a 2-3 page letter of introduction.
Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis; board meets three times a year to consider proposals.
Who can apply: Proposal must focus on Civic Engagement or Arts Education. The Foundation does not support capital or endowment campaigns. Applicants must submit complete proposals electronically and include requested financial documents (organizational budget, most recent audited financial report).
Deadline: Rolling submissions; board reviews proposals at three meetings per year.
Who can apply: Organizations must focus on civic engagement or arts education. The Foundation does not fund capital or endowment campaigns. Applicants must submit complete electronic proposals including organizational description, budgets, and most recent audited financial report (project proposals also require project budget and timeline).
Deadline: Rolling; board meets three times per year to consider proposals.
Who can apply: Proposals must focus on civic engagement and be complete and submitted electronically. The foundation provides funding for programs, projects, and general operating support, but does not support capital or endowment campaigns.
Deadline: Rolling basis; board meets three times a year to consider proposals.
Who can apply: Proposals must focus on arts education and be complete and submitted electronically. The foundation provides funding for programs, projects, and general operating support, but does not support capital or endowment campaigns.
Deadline: Rolling basis; board meets three times a year to consider proposals.
Who can apply: Proposal must focus on Civic Engagement or Arts Education and include required submission items: organizational description, project description, timeline, evaluation plan, organizational and project budgets, and most recent audited financial report. No capital or endowment support.
Deadline: Rolling submissions; board reviews proposals at three meetings per year.
Who can apply: Intended for organizations applying to the Foundation for the first time working in the Foundation's focus areas.
Deadline: Rolling
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | YOUTH ORGANIZING AND CULTURE CHANGE FUND (YOCCF) |
| ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST FUND |
| GIRL BE HEARD | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW YORK CITY ARTS IN EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMMING FOR 2023/24 AND 2024/25 |
| HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | ABRONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND AFTER-SCHOOL THEATER & DANCE WORKSHOPS |
| BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (AKA BROOKLYN MUSEUM) | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION DIVISION AND SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS |
| ARTSCONNECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MARQUIS STUDIOS LTD | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | MARQUIS STUDIOS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2024-26 |
| SEVENTH REGIMENT ARMORY CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY |
| MANHATTAN CLASS COMPANY INC (AKA MCC THEATER) | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | MCC THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| DEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY PROJECT |
| CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | UPPER MANHATTAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONNECT |
| ETHICAL CULTURE FIELDSTON SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | YOUNG DANCEMAKERS COMPANY |
| ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | INCORPORATION OF SDOH CONCEPTS |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | YOUTH ORGANIZING AND CULTURE CHANGE FUND (YOCCF) |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY PROJECT |
| MANHATTAN CLASS COMPANY INC (AKA MCC THEATER) | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | MCC THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST FUND |
| MARQUIS STUDIOS LTD | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | MARQUIS STUDIOS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2022-24 |
| ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKE'S SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMMING FOR 2023/24 AND 2024/25 |
| BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (AKA BROOKLYN MUSEUM) | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION DIVISION PROGRAMS |
| ARTSCONNECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | ABRONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | LOUISE JEFFERSON MAPPING PROJECT |
| CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM |
| BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | BROOKLYN READS AND (RE)CENTERING THEATRE LAUNCH, AND ARTS & JUSTICE |
| GIRL BE HEARD | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GIRL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES |
| NEW YORK CITY ARTS IN EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2024 | ARTS EDUCATOR EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT |
| SEVENTH REGIMENT ARMORY CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY |
| ETHICAL CULTURE FIELDSTON SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | YOUNG DANCEMAKERS COMPANY |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR TEN TEAMS PROJECT OF INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | YOUTH ORGANIZING AND CULTURE CHANGE FUND (YOCCF) |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2023 | KORNFELD SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| MARQUIS STUDIOS LTD | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2023 | MARQUIS STUDIOS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2022-24 |
| ARTSCONNECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2023 | ABRONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (AKA BROOKLYN MUSEUM) | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION DIVISION PROGRAMS |
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$250,000YOUTH ORGANIZING AND CULTURE CHANGE FUND (YOCCF)
ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER INC
$110,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK
$110,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$100,000NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST FUND
GIRL BE HEARD
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING
NEW YORK CITY ARTS IN EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC
$60,000SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMMING FOR 2023/24 AND 2024/25
HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT
$60,000ABRONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC INC
$60,000EDUCATION IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND AFTER-SCHOOL THEATER & DANCE WORKSHOPS
BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (AKA BROOKLYN MUSEUM)
$60,000EDUCATION DIVISION AND SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS
ARTSCONNECTION
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MARQUIS STUDIOS LTD
$60,000MARQUIS STUDIOS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2024-26
SEVENTH REGIMENT ARMORY CONSERVANCY INC
$60,000ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY
MANHATTAN CLASS COMPANY INC (AKA MCC THEATER)
$60,000MCC THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
DEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD
$50,000INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY PROJECT
CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY
$50,000CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM
NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC
$50,000UPPER MANHATTAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONNECT
ETHICAL CULTURE FIELDSTON SCHOOL
$30,000YOUNG DANCEMAKERS COMPANY
ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC
$25,000EDUCATION PROGRAMS
CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT
$25,000INCORPORATION OF SDOH CONCEPTS
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$250,000YOUTH ORGANIZING AND CULTURE CHANGE FUND (YOCCF)
MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
DEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD
$100,000INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY PROJECT
MANHATTAN CLASS COMPANY INC (AKA MCC THEATER)
$100,000MCC THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER INC
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$75,000NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST FUND
MARQUIS STUDIOS LTD
$60,000MARQUIS STUDIOS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2022-24
ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC
$60,000ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKE'S SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMMING FOR 2023/24 AND 2024/25
BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (AKA BROOKLYN MUSEUM)
$60,000EDUCATION DIVISION PROGRAMS
ARTSCONNECTION
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT
$60,000ABRONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY
$50,000LOUISE JEFFERSON MAPPING PROJECT
CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY
$50,000CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM
BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC INC
$50,000BROOKLYN READS AND (RE)CENTERING THEATRE LAUNCH, AND ARTS & JUSTICE
GIRL BE HEARD
$50,000GIRL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES
NEW YORK CITY ARTS IN EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE
$40,000ARTS EDUCATOR EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT
SEVENTH REGIMENT ARMORY CONSERVANCY INC
$40,000EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY
ETHICAL CULTURE FIELDSTON SCHOOL
$30,000YOUNG DANCEMAKERS COMPANY
CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC
$25,000SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT
$25,000SUPPORT FOR TEN TEAMS PROJECT OF INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$250,000YOUTH ORGANIZING AND CULTURE CHANGE FUND (YOCCF)
ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
$200,000KORNFELD SCHOLARS PROGRAM
MARQUIS STUDIOS LTD
$60,000MARQUIS STUDIOS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 2022-24
ARTSCONNECTION
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER INC
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT
$60,000ABRONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
BROOKLYN INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (AKA BROOKLYN MUSEUM)
$50,000EDUCATION DIVISION PROGRAMS