The Fairholme Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on a single cultural institution, providing large unrestricted gifts to support contemporary visual arts in South Florida. All recorded giving is directed to the Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation, suggesting the foundation functions as a principal backer of one flagship arts organization and prioritizes sustaining its general operations and programs.
Highly concentrated giving: few large grants exclusively to one repeat grantee; multi-grant support that appears to be unrestricted/general purpose funding for a single flagship institution.
The Fairholme Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated, very large general-purpose support to Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc., including $12,050,000 in 2023 and two additional eight-figure grants in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs a single cultural institution at a scale unusual for a private foundation profile, with unrestricted support appearing to be the central mode of philanthropy. The foundation’s portfolio also shows that its giving is not limited to the arts: in 2025 it made a $1,000,000 grant to Mount Sinai Medical Center and a $250,000 grant to Florida State University, while smaller gifts reached schools, synagogues, museums, and community organizations. Recipient locations cluster heavily in South Florida, especially around Coral Gables and Miami, but the grant list also includes organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Across the latest grants on file, the foundation’s pattern is broad in beneficiary type but narrow in the way it concentrates dollars, with large general-purpose awards standing out against a long tail of smaller gifts.
Contemporary visual arts remain the clearest through line in the foundation’s giving. In 2025, it gave $75,000 to ICA Miami for general purpose, and $50,000 to the Whitney Museum of American Art for general purpose, placing visual-arts institutions alongside its much larger support for Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc. Education appears as another area of interest. The foundation gave $250,000 to Florida State University, $100,000 to Gulliver Schools, and $350,000 and $250,000 grants to Beaver Country Day School for general purpose. Health and community support also appear in the recent grants list: Mount Sinai Medical Center received $1,000,000, the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Ctr received $50,000, and Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation received $25,000. Religious and neighborhood institutions are present too, including Temple Judea, Friendship Circle Miami, and Chabad of Panama City.
The Fairholme Foundation’s typical grant size is $3,250 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $105,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent list includes several grants far above that range. The same recipients appear across multiple years, including Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc., Beaver Country Day School, Friendship Circle Miami, and Temple Judea, which indicates repeat support rather than a strictly one-time pattern. The foundation gives through general-purpose awards, with no signs in the provided data of program-related investments or individual grants. The available record does not show an application process or unsolicited-grant model.
$11.8M
$244.3M
$1.8M
$11.8M
Most grants fall between $3K and $105K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$105K
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Notable grantees: Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc
Giving is concentrated in Florida, which accounts for 67% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Coral Gables and Miami are frequent recipient cities, with additional Florida grants in Miami Beach, Pinecrest, Tallahassee, Overtown Miami, Panama City, Panama City Beach, and Defuniak Springs. Outside Florida, recent recipients include New York, New York; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; and Edgewater, Maryland. All recorded grants in the provided distribution went to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants list includes a concentrated arts partner, along with schools, medical institutions, religious organizations, museums, and community groups. Examples include Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc., Florida State University, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Temple Judea, ICA Miami, and Friendship Circle Miami.
The typical grant size is $3,250 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $105,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger gifts, such as $12,050,000, $10,400,000, $10,000,000, and $1,000,000.
Yes. Florida is the top state by grant count, and 67% of grants go to recipients in Florida. Recent Florida recipients include Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida State University in Tallahassee, and Gulliver Schools in Pinecrest.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support to several organizations across 2023 and 2025, including Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation Inc., Beaver Country Day School, Friendship Circle Miami, and Temple Judea. That suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-off awards.
No. The provided data says the foundation funds individuals is false and makes program-related investments is false.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC | SOUTH MIAMI, FL | $10,400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC | CORAL GABLES, FL | $10,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY | TALLAHASSE, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GOG FOUNDATION | EDGEWATER, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GULLIVER SCHOOLS | PINECREST, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WORLDWIDE FRIENDS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WNET | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WORLDWIDE FRIENDS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ICA MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SYLVESTER CANCER CTR | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TEMPLE JUDEA | CORAL GABLES, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LOTUS ENDOWMENT FUND INC | OVERTOWN MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BAY LAW ENFORCEMENT | PANAMA CITY, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TEMPLE JUDEA | CORAL GABLES, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WALTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW WORLD SYMPHONY | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHABAD OF PANAMA CITY | PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NOKUSE EDUCATION INC | FREEPORT, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEIT RUTH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BAY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | PANAMA CITY, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BREAKTHROUGH MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $18,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UMASS HILLEL | AMHERST, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEIT RUTH | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - STUDENT | CORAL GABLES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC | MILLBURN, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CARING FOR MIAMI | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICS | CORAL GABLES, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TEMPLE JUDEA | CORAL GABLES, FL | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | CORAL GABLES, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $150 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC | CORAL GABLES, FL | $12,050,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $350,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $110,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TEMPLE JUDEA | CORAL GABLES, FL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BREAKTHROUGH MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $18,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - STUDENT | CORAL GABLES, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - ATHLETICS | CORAL GABLES, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC | MILBURN, NJ | $500 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER | GRASSY KEY, FL | $500 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $100 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRIDGEHAMPTON FIRE DEPARTMENT | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $100 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC
$10,400,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC
$10,000,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
$1,000,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE
GOG FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WNET
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ICA MIAMI
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TEMPLE JUDEA
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BAY LAW ENFORCEMENT
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TEMPLE JUDEA
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHABAD OF PANAMA CITY
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BEIT RUTH
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UMASS HILLEL
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BEIT RUTH
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - STUDENT
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CARING FOR MIAMI
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICS
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE
TEMPLE JUDEA
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY
$150GENERAL PURPOSE
BERKOWITZ CONTEMPORARY FOUNDATION INC
$12,050,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TEMPLE JUDEA
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - STUDENT
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - ATHLETICS
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
OPPORTUNITY PROJECT INC
$500GENERAL PURPOSE
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
$100GENERAL PURPOSE
BRIDGEHAMPTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
$100GENERAL PURPOSE