The Lazarus Charitable Trust concentrates its philanthropic dollars on a small number of large awards, chiefly supporting contemporary visual arts institutions in New York City and selectively funding medical education/research. Two recipient institutions — the New Museum (multiple large gifts) and the Icahn School of Medicine — receive the bulk of grants, reflecting a preference for major institutional operating or program support rather than many small awards. The portfolio is arts-heavy (approximately two‑thirds of giving) with targeted, high-dollar commitments.
The Lazarus Charitable Trust Co Joan Lazarus centers much of its philanthropy on contemporary visual arts institutions in New York City, where the New Museum appears repeatedly across recent grants, including a $620,000 award in 2025 and additional support in 2024 and 2023. The trust also makes selective gifts in medical education and research, with Icahn School of Medicine receiving two large awards in the recent record. That pairing gives the foundation a clear profile: concentrated institutional support rather than a broad spread of small grants. Recent grant activity shows a mix of major operating or program support and smaller charitable gifts. Alongside its largest museum and medical awards, the trust also funded several other arts and community institutions, including the National Museum American Jewish History, Hunter College, and the Norton Museum of Art. The pattern suggests an interest in established organizations that serve public audiences, students, researchers, and museum visitors. The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around modest checks at the lower end of the recent record, but its giving is shaped by a few much larger commitments that carry most of the dollars.
Contemporary art is the clearest thread in the trust’s recent grantmaking. The New Museum of Contemporary Art received $620,000 in 2025, following $105,000 in 2024, $140,140 in 2023, and $35,000 in 2023. Park Ave Armory also appeared in the record with a $5,000 gift in 2024. Medical education and research is the other major area. Icahn School of Medicine received $293,771 in 2023 and $129,286 in 2024, indicating sustained institutional support. Beyond those two core areas, the trust also backed other cultural and educational institutions, including $50,000 to Hunter College in 2023 and $25,000 to The Weitzman National Museum in 2024. Community-focused organizations such as Northside Center and Housing Plus Solutions also appear in the recent grants list, showing that the portfolio is not limited to arts and medicine alone.
Recent grant sizes range from a p25 of $1,000 to a median of $2,000 and a p75 of $5,000, so most awards are relatively small even though a few major grants drive the total. The trust’s record also shows repeat support: the New Museum, Icahn School of Medicine, Northside Center, Hunter College, Norton Museum of Art, Boulder Museum, The Lord’s Place, and Town Palm Beach United Way all received more than one grant across the recent period. The organization is a charitable trust, not a fund that makes program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals.
$701K
$693K
$197K
$714K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a very small number of repeat institutional grantees; emphasis on multi‑year or multiple large grants rather than broad distribution of small grants.
Notable grantees: New Museum of Contemporary Art (New Museum), New Museum — exhibition/program support (multiple grants), Icahn School of Medicine (Icahn/Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)
Grants go primarily to U.S. recipients, with 108 grants recorded in the country distribution. New York City is the main recipient hub, with awards to organizations such as the New Museum, Icahn School of Medicine, Hunter College, Northside Center, Housing Plus Solutions, Facing History, Rosie's Broadway Kids, and Park Ave Armory. Florida is the top state by grant count, and the recent record includes West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Boca Raton recipients such as The Lord’s Place, Town Palm Beach United Way, Norton Museum of Art, and Boca Ballet. Smaller numbers also appear in Philadelphia and Boulder.
The recent record points to contemporary visual arts institutions in New York City and medical education or research. The New Museum received multiple large grants, and Icahn School of Medicine received two major awards. Other recent gifts reached museums, colleges, and community organizations.
Yes. The New Museum, Icahn School of Medicine, Northside Center, Hunter College, Norton Museum of Art, Boulder Museum, The Lord’s Place, and Town Palm Beach United Way all appear more than once in the recent grants list.
The grant-size distribution is small at the middle of the portfolio: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,000, and p75 is $5,000. The recent record also includes a few much larger awards, which account for a significant share of total dollars.
Most grants go to U.S. recipients, and New York City is the main recipient hub in the recent list. Florida is the top state by grant count, with recipients in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Boca Raton appearing repeatedly.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $375,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BOULDER MUSEUM | BOULDER, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ROSIE'S BROADWAY KIDS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| THE LORD'S PLACE | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| Housing Plus Solutions Inc | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| UJA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,350 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| TOWN PALM BEACH UNITED WAY | PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| 92ND STREET Y | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| RAYMOND F KRAVIS CENTER | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| WEST MILFORD ANIMAL SHELTER SOCIETY | WEST MILFORD, NJ | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CARP | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $600 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| whittney museum | new york, NY | $156 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $150 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | new york, NY | $100 | 2026 | charitable |
| US CROQUET ASSOCIATION | west palm beach, FL | $75 | 2026 | charitable |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $620,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BOULDER MUSEUM | BOULDER, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHSIDE CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HUNTER COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $6,762 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| Manhattan Theatre Club | new york, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| Housing Plus Solutions Inc | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PARK AVE ARMORY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| 92ND STREET Y | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE LORD'S PLACE | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| US HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN KIDNEY FOUND | ROCKVILLE, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| RAYMOND F KRAVIS CENTER | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HANLEY FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ARTISTRY ARMORY ART CENTER | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS ISRAEL MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ROSIE'S BROADWAY KIDS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE LOTUS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | new york, NY | $310 | 2025 | charitable |
| CARP | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $300 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LEVITT FOUNDATION | new york, NY | $250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| whittney museum | new york, NY | $156 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $129,286 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $105,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHSIDE CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| The Weitzman National Museum | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BOULDER MUSEUM | BOULDER, CO | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE LORD'S PLACE | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| Housing Plus Solutions Inc | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
BOULDER MUSEUM
$5,000CHARITABLE
ROSIE'S BROADWAY KIDS
$5,000CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
92ND STREET Y
$1,000CHARITABLE
RAYMOND F KRAVIS CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
WEST MILFORD ANIMAL SHELTER SOCIETY
$1,000CHARITABLE
CARP
$600CHARITABLE
whittney museum
$156CHARITABLE
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
$150CHARITABLE
US CROQUET ASSOCIATION
$75charitable
BOULDER MUSEUM
$25,000CHARITABLE
NORTHSIDE CENTER
$15,000CHARITABLE
HUNTER COLLEGE
$6,762CHARITABLE
PARK AVE ARMORY
$2,500CHARITABLE
NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$2,500CHARITABLE
92ND STREET Y
$2,500CHARITABLE
US HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$2,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN KIDNEY FOUND
$2,000CHARITABLE
RAYMOND F KRAVIS CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
HANLEY FOUNDATION
$1,000CHARITABLE
ARTISTRY ARMORY ART CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN FRIENDS ISRAEL MUSEUM
$1,000CHARITABLE
ROSIE'S BROADWAY KIDS
$1,000CHARITABLE
THE LOTUS FOUNDATION
$500CHARITABLE
CARP
$300CHARITABLE
LEVITT FOUNDATION
$250CHARITABLE
whittney museum
$156CHARITABLE
ICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$129,286CHARITABLE
NORTHSIDE CENTER
$25,000CHARITABLE
The Weitzman National Museum
$25,000CHARITABLE
BOULDER MUSEUM
$15,000CHARITABLE