The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation makes a small number of large, targeted grants focused on creating endowed fellowships and sustaining research/educational programs. Its giving blends support for legal and biomedical research fellowships in elite U.S. universities with strategic Jewish and Israel-focused philanthropy, including funding for conferences and endowed funds that support communal leadership. Grants are often unrestricted or added to endowments, suggesting a long-term, institution-building orientation.
The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc is based in Wilmington, DE. It reported $15,025,576 in annual grants and $60,903,594 in total assets on its latest 990 filing, for tax year 2025. Its grantmaking is concentrated in endowed fellowships, research support, and targeted educational or communal initiatives. Recent grants show a pattern of large, institution-specific awards, including $3,000,000 to Trustees of Columbia University (New York, NY) to establish the Herbert & Nell Singer Social Justice Fellowship Endowment fund, $2,000,000 to Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel (Jerusalem) for the annual Herbert M. Singer International Conference, and $1,000,000 to Rockefeller University (New York, NY) for the Herbert & Nell Singer Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc also made a $1,050,000 unrestricted grant to Chordoma Foundation (Durham, NC), indicating support for rare disease research. Other large awards included $1,000,000 to Jewish Communal Fund (New York, NY) to create the Herbert M. Singer president's fund and $245,396 to Connecticut Bar Foundation Inc (Hartford, CT) for the HNSF/CT Bar Foundation Fellowship Program. The foundation funds individuals and uses a national geographic scope.
Recent grantmaking spans social justice legal fellowships, biomedical research, Israel-focused policy research, Jewish communal endowments, and youth or education programs. Notable grants include $3,000,000 to Trustees of Columbia University (New York, NY) for the Herbert & Nell Singer Social Justice Fellowship Endowment fund, $1,000,000 to Rockefeller University (New York, NY) for the Herbert & Nell Singer Postdoctoral Fellowship, and $2,000,000 to Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel (Jerusalem) for the annual Herbert M. Singer International Conference. The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc also gave $1,050,000 to Chordoma Foundation (Durham, NC) for general and unrestricted support, and $100,000 to Building One Community Corp (Stamford, CT) for immigration legal services.
The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc makes a small number of relatively large grants. Its typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards show substantially larger strategic grants, often directed to endowments or named fellowship funds. Grants are frequently unrestricted or tied to program expansion, fellowship support, or conference underwriting. It funds individuals and is classified as a regular funder. The data do not provide an application process or grant frequency beyond the recent grant list.
$14.2M
$50.6M
$4.6M
$14.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CT.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 232 | $27.2M | 99.6% |
| 2 | Israel |
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Highly concentrated: very few, large grants that are often endowed or multi-year in nature; mix of repeat institutional philanthropy to elite research/academic institutions and targeted gifts to Jewish/Israel-related organizations.
Notable grantees: Trustees of Columbia University (Herbert & Nell Singer Social Justice Fellowship Endowment), Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel (Herbert M. Singer International Conference), Rockefeller University (Herbert & Nell Singer Postdoctoral Fellowship), Chordoma Foundation (general support for rare cancer research), Jewish Communal Fund (endowed Herbert M. Singer president's fund)
The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc is national in scope. By grant count, it gives most often in Connecticut, followed by New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, with additional grants in North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, and New Hampshire. Its recipient country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based: 188 grants in the United States and 1 in Israel. No grants were given to recipients in Delaware, its headquarters state.
The provided data do not describe an application process or whether The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc accepts unsolicited applications. Recent grants show direct awards to universities, foundations, and nonprofit organizations, including named fellowship funds and conference support.
Recent grantmaking includes endowed social justice fellowships, postdoctoral biomedical research fellowships, Israel-focused policy research and conferences, Jewish communal endowments, immigration legal services, youth justice work, and rare disease research. Examples include Columbia University, Rockefeller University, Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel, and Chordoma Foundation.
Its typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include much larger awards, such as $3,000,000 to Trustees of Columbia University and $2,000,000 to Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel.
It gives nationally. By grant count, Connecticut is the top state, followed by New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The recipient country distribution shows 188 grants in the United States and 1 grant in Israel.
Recent grantees include Trustees of Columbia University (New York, NY), Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel (Jerusalem), Chordoma Foundation (Durham, NC), Jewish Communal Fund (New York, NY), Rockefeller University (New York, NY), and Connecticut Bar Foundation Inc (Hartford, CT).
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $2M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000,000 | 2026 | To endow, and support in perpetuity, the Herbert Singer award for collaborative innovation fund |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500,000 | 2026 | Herbert Singer Award fund for collaborative innovation |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY CORP | STAMFORD, CT | $1,000,000 | 2026 | for the purchase of Building One Community's building |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2026 | Improvement to Nell Singer Lilac Walk fund |
| CONNECTICUT BAR FOUNDATION INC | HARTFORD, CT | $155,816 | 2026 | Singer Public Service Fellowship fund |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC | SHELTON, CT | $150,000 | 2026 | The Thomas Merton Center |
| CLICC INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $107,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY CORP | STAMFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | B1C's Immigration Legal Services (ILS) fund |
| DOMUS KIDS INC | STAMFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | Domus' Juvenile Review Board (JRB) Program |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | Taub Center for Social Policy Studies-Israel |
| THE OPEN DOOR SHELTER INC | NORWALK, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | Emergency fund |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC | SHELTON, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | Merton Family Center |
| PERSON TO PERSON INC | DARIEN, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | to provide food for the food pantry and food trucks |
| FOOD BANK OF LOWER FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC | STAMFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW COVENANT CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | to provide food for the kitchen and pantry |
| HARBOR CAMPS INC | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BEACON VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORP | BEACON, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $30,000 | 2026 | Shaffer Public Service Fellowship-Law School fund |
| ONEGOAL | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2026 | One Goal Massachusetts fund |
| MERCY UNIVERSITY | DOBBS FERRY, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CNR Serviam Endowed Scholarship Fund |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION INC | STAMFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | General Unrestricted Support for AmeriCares Free Clinics |
| CHANGE SUMMER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SHATTUCK CHILD CARE CENTER INC | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY CORP | STAMFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | Legal Services fund |
| CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT INC | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FOOD RESCUE US INC | STAMFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| EMPOWER SPINAL CORD INJURY INCORPORATED | WALTHAM, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CENTER FOR NEW AMERICAN SECURITY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ECSU FOUNDATION INC | WILLIMANTIC, CT | $7,500 | 2026 | Presidential Strategic Initiatives Fund |
| THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS INC | CHICOPEE, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CAMP BELKNAP | MIRROR LAKE, NH | $7,500 | 2026 | Leaders Scholarship Fund |
| JACKIE ROBINSON PARK OF FAME INC | STAMFORD, CT | $7,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HADASSAH THE WOMENS ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERIC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| DENVER BOTANIC GARDEN INC | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FUTURE 5 INC | STAMFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE STAMFORD EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES INC | STAMFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF STAMFORD INC | STAMFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| STAMFORD MUSEUM AND NATURE CENTER INCORPORATED | STAMFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE HERREN PROJECT | PORTSMOUTH, RI | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION INC | STAMFORD, CT | $4,000 | 2026 | AmeriCares Free Clinic - Staff National Conference fund |
| INSPIRICA INC | STAMFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SAINT JOSEPH PARENTING CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL | PINE RIDGE, SD | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE ELM PROJECT INC | STAMFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000,000 | 2025 | To benefit the Law School by establishing the Herbert & Nell Singer Social Justice Fellowship Endowment fund |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | To add funds to an existing Endowment Fund entitled The Herbert & Nell Singer Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | To create an endowed fund to be named The Herbert M. Singer president's fund |
| CONNECTICUT BAR FOUNDATION INC | HARTFORD, CT | $170,438 | 2025 | HNSF/CT Bar Foundation Fellowship Program |
| MOSES-WEITZMAN HEALTH SYSTEM INC | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $150,000 | 2025 | Heal Our Youth Program |
| HOPE FOR HAITI INC | NAPLES, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | Improving Educational Outcomes in Southern Haiti |
To endow, and support in perpetuity, the Herbert Singer award for collaborative innovation fund
Herbert Singer Award fund for collaborative innovation
for the purchase of Building One Community's building
CONNECTICUT BAR FOUNDATION INC
$155,816Singer Public Service Fellowship fund
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC
$150,000The Thomas Merton Center
CLICC INC
$107,500General & Unrestricted
Taub Center for Social Policy Studies-Israel
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INC
$50,000Merton Family Center
HARBOR CAMPS INC
$40,000General & Unrestricted
BEACON VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORP
$35,000General & Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$30,000Shaffer Public Service Fellowship-Law School fund
ONEGOAL
$25,000One Goal Massachusetts fund
MERCY UNIVERSITY
$25,000CNR Serviam Endowed Scholarship Fund
General Unrestricted Support for AmeriCares Free Clinics
SHATTUCK CHILD CARE CENTER INC
$15,000General & Unrestricted
CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
EMPOWER SPINAL CORD INJURY INCORPORATED
$10,000General & Unrestricted
YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CAMP BELKNAP
$7,500Leaders Scholarship Fund
JACKIE ROBINSON PARK OF FAME INC
$7,500General & Unrestricted
HADASSAH THE WOMENS ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERIC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
FUTURE 5 INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
THE STAMFORD EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
AmeriCares Free Clinic - Staff National Conference fund
INSPIRICA INC
$2,500General & Unrestricted
RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL
$2,500General & Unrestricted
THE ELM PROJECT INC
$2,500General & Unrestricted
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$3,000,000To benefit the Law School by establishing the Herbert & Nell Singer Social Justice Fellowship Endowment fund
To add funds to an existing Endowment Fund entitled The Herbert & Nell Singer Postdoctoral Fellowship
To create an endowed fund to be named The Herbert M. Singer president's fund
CONNECTICUT BAR FOUNDATION INC
$170,438HNSF/CT Bar Foundation Fellowship Program
MOSES-WEITZMAN HEALTH SYSTEM INC
$150,000Heal Our Youth Program