The mission of the Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation is to enhance the quality of life of New Yorkers, particularly the aging and the disadvantaged. The Foundation focuses on organizations and programs within the five boroughs of New York City in the areas of Aging, Arts, Education and Social Services.
The Jean & Louis Dreyfus Foundation Inc. centers grantmaking on New York City organizations serving older adults, students, artists, and people facing social service needs, with a clear preference for direct-service work inside the five boroughs. Its active programs cover Aging, Arts, Education, and Social Services, and the foundation accepts unsolicited applications across those areas. Recent awards show repeated support for the same organizations over multiple years, including Sunnyside Community Service, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and East Harlem Tutorial Program. The pattern is not limited to a single issue area: aging services, arts access, educational support, and basic-needs programs all appear in the recent grants list. The foundation’s grantmaking is defined by recurring support rather than isolated one-off gifts. Several recipients appear in more than one year, and some are funded under more than one program label, such as Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island and The River Fund. Its stated priorities emphasize organizations and programs that meet identified community needs and demonstrate impact, with an emphasis on New York City-based nonprofits. The overall picture is of a local funder that combines program-specific grants with a consistent focus on community-based service delivery.
In aging services, the foundation has supported programs that help older New Yorkers remain in place and connected to community life. Grants have gone to Project Renewal for aging support and to Volunteers of Legal Service for aging-related work. In arts funding, the foundation backs performing arts and cultural institutions, with an emphasis on music and access to the arts. Recent awards include $20,000 to Third Street Music School for arts grants and $20,000 to Free Arts NYC for arts grants. Education funding focuses on New York City students and youth development. Zone 126 received $20,000 for education and youth, and East Harlem Tutorial Program received multiple education-and-youth grants across recent years. Social services support spans homelessness, food security, and legal services. The River Fund received repeated social services grants, and Breaking Ground received support for social services work.
$813K
$13.7M
$1.7M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $15K and $18K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$18K
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Typical awards cluster tightly around $15,000 to $18,000, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $18,000. The recent grants list also shows repeated $20,000 awards, with a few amounts above that level in aging support. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund and does not make program-related investments. Grants may be one-time or renewed up to three consecutive years, which is reflected in multiple recipients appearing in successive years. Unsolicited applications are accepted across the active grant programs.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 98% of grants go to recipients in New York, and all recorded recipient countries are in the US. Within New York City, awards appear across the boroughs and nearby neighborhoods, including Sunnyside, Brooklyn, Queens, Richmond Hill, East Harlem, and Manhattan-based organizations in New York City. The top giving state is New York, matching the foundation’s five-borough focus.
It funds New York City–based nonprofit organizations working in Aging, Arts, Education, and Social Services. The stated preference is for direct-service organizations and programs that meet identified community needs and demonstrate impact.
Typical grant size is tightly grouped: p25 is $15,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $18,000. The recent grants list also includes many $20,000 awards.
Yes. All active grant programs list unsolicited applications as accepted, including Education, Arts, Social Services, Aging, and General Grantmaking.
Yes. The active programs specify New York City geography, and 98% of grants go to recipients in New York. The foundation’s general grantmaking covers the five boroughs of New York City.
Yes. Several programs say grants may be one-time or renewed up to three consecutive years, and the recent grants list shows repeat support for organizations such as Sunnyside Community Service, Brooklyn Academy of Music, East Harlem Tutorial Program, and The River Fund.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRICK COLLECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR SERVICES | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE | SUNNYSIDE, NY | $31,800 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| LITERACY ACADEMY COLLECTIVE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| THE WNET GROUP | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| MINT THEATER COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| HOLY APOSTLES SOUP KITCHEN | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| LAWYERS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT | LA MESA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| IRONDALE ARTS ENSEMBLE PROJECT | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| WHEDCO | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| DANCING CLASSROOMS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| 52ND STREET PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| HARLEM ACADEMY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| PROJECT FIND | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| THE BRIDGE FUND OF NY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| STUDENT LEADERSHIP NETWORK | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| SERVICE PROGRAM FOR OLDER PEOPLE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| PETS ARE WONDERFUL SUPPORT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| THE GO PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| HOMEWARD NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| COMMUNITY ACCESS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| EXALT YOUTH | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| CHANCES FOR CHILDREN | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| ARTS CONNECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| YM & YWHA OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTSINWOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY | BROOKLYN, NY | $13,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| VISITING NEIGHBORS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| XAVIER MISSION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| ASSOCIATION TO BENEFIT CHILDREN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| RIVERSTONE SENIOR LIFE SERVICES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| RED HOOK ART PROJECT | BROOKLYN, NY | $8,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| L'AMORE DELLA MUSICA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| CAPE ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL | CAPE ELIZABETH, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| BLOOD CANCER UNITED | CRANFORD, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
| COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANTS |
| FRESH AIR FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH |
| SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE | SUNNYSIDE, NY | $31,800 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR AGING |
| THE RIVER FUND | RICHMOND HILL, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS |
FRICK COLLECTION
$100,000ARTS GRANTS
PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR SERVICES
$50,000GRANTS FOR AGING
SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE
$31,800GRANTS FOR AGING
LITERACY ACADEMY COLLECTIVE
$25,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH
THE WNET GROUP
$25,000ARTS GRANTS
HOLY APOSTLES SOUP KITCHEN
$20,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
LAWYERS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
$20,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
IRONDALE ARTS ENSEMBLE PROJECT
$15,000ARTS GRANTS
52ND STREET PROJECT
$15,000ARTS GRANTS
NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
$15,000ARTS GRANTS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK
$15,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
PROJECT FIND
$15,000GRANTS FOR AGING
THE BRIDGE FUND OF NY
$15,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
HOMEWARD NYC
$15,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
THEATER FOR A NEW AUDIENCE
$15,000ARTS GRANTS
BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS
$15,000ARTS GRANTS
CHANCES FOR CHILDREN
$15,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN
$15,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH
YM & YWHA OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTSINWOOD
$15,000GRANTS FOR AGING
UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT
$15,000GRANTS FOR AGING
VISITING NEIGHBORS
$10,000GRANTS FOR AGING
RIVERSTONE SENIOR LIFE SERVICES
$10,000GRANTS FOR AGING
RED HOOK ART PROJECT
$8,000ARTS GRANTS
L'AMORE DELLA MUSICA
$5,000ARTS GRANTS
CAPE ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH
BLOOD CANCER UNITED
$5,000SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS
FRESH AIR FUND
$5,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH
SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE
$31,800GRANTS FOR AGING