The Merle S Cahn Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of large gifts, primarily funding biomedical research and Israeli academic/scientific institutions. Recipients are typically established research centers and university-linked organizations; grants appear as sizable charitable donations and are often repeated to the same beneficiaries. The foundation’s portfolio blends disease-focused research (Alzheimer’s and cancer) with targeted support for Israeli science and higher education.
Concentrated, high-dollar philanthropy with few grants and repeated payments to the same established institutions rather than many small or exploratory awards.
The Merle S Cahn Foundation’s recent giving is defined by repeated $125,000 charitable donations to research and academic institutions, especially Cancer Research Institute, American Friends of Hebrew Universi, and Fischer Center for Alzheimer Resear. Those grants sit alongside another layer of larger support for Israeli science and Jewish communal organizations, including Am Committee for the Weizmann Inst and Valley of the Sun Jewish Community. The pattern points to a foundation that favors established organizations over a wide list of smaller recipients. Its portfolio blends biomedical research with support for Israeli academic and scientific institutions. Cancer research appears through the Cancer Research Institute and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, while Alzheimer’s research is represented by the Fischer Center for Alzheimer Resear. The foundation also makes charitable donations to organizations connected with Israel and Jewish public life, such as American Friends of Hebrew Universi, PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc, Workers Circle, and Hias. Across the recent grant list, the same organizations recur in consecutive years, which suggests a continuing relationship rather than isolated awards. Grants are described as charitable donations rather than project-specific awards, and the recipients are predominantly university-linked, research, or intermediary organizations.
Biomedical research is a clear theme. The foundation gave $125,000 to Cancer Research Institute in 2024 and $125,000 to Fischer Center for Alzheimer Resear in both 2023 and 2024. It also supported the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network with $5,000 in 2023 and again in 2024. Support for Israeli academic and scientific institutions appears in multiple grants. American Friends of Hebrew Universi received $125,000 in 2023 and 2024, while Am Committee for the Weizmann Inst received $80,000 in both years. Those grants align with the foundation’s broader pattern of backing university-linked and science-focused organizations. The foundation also funded Jewish communal and civic organizations. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community received $50,000 in 2023 and 2024, and Hias received $20,000 in both years. Additional grants went to T'ruah, New Israel Fund, and Workers Circle.
$675K
$7M
$576K
$792K
Most grants fall between $10K and $58K, with a median of $17K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$17K
75th Percentile
$58K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: American Friends of Hebrew University, Fischer Center for Alzheimer Research, Cancer Research Institute, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $16,500 at the median, and $57,500 at the 75th percentile, while the recent list also shows repeated $125,000 and $80,000 awards. The pattern is consistent with a small number of comparatively large charitable donations rather than many small grants. Recipients appear across multiple years, including 2023 and 2024, which indicates recurring support. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grants in the recent record are charitable donations rather than restricted program awards.
Grantmaking is national, with all recent grants in the US. New York, NY appears frequently and is the top recipient city in the recent list, including several research and Jewish organizational grantees. Other recipient cities include Scottsdale, AZ; Silver Springs, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC; Manhattan Beach, CA; and Encino, CA. Recipients in the HQ state of Wisconsin do not appear in the recent grants shown.
The recent grants point to biomedical research, Israeli academic and scientific institutions, and Jewish communal organizations. Examples in the data include Cancer Research Institute, Fischer Center for Alzheimer Resear, American Friends of Hebrew Universi, Am Committee for the Weizmann Inst, Hias, and Valley of the Sun Jewish Community.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including American Friends of Hebrew Universi, Cancer Research Institute, Fischer Center for Alzheimer Resear, Am Committee for the Weizmann Inst, Valley of the Sun Jewish Community, Hias, T'ruah, New Israel Fund, Workers Circle, and PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $16,500 at the median, and $57,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger $125,000 and $80,000 charitable donations.
No. The foundation is listed as not funding individuals and not making program-related investments.
The giving is national, and all recent grants in the data go to US recipients. New York, NY shows up most often among recipients, followed by places such as Scottsdale, AZ; Silver Springs, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC; Manhattan Beach, CA; and Encino, CA.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFHU | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FISHER CETNER FOR ALZHEIMER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FISHER CETNER FOR ALZHEIMERS | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AM COM WEIZMANN INST OF SC | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PARENTS CIRCLE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PARENTS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TRUAH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| T'RUAH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HIAS | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HIAS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ASSN JEWISH JDC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WORKERS CIRCLE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NPR FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ISRAEL PEF ENDOWMENTS FUNDS | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NPR FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WORKERS CIRCLE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ISRAEL PEF ENDOWMENTS FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GOOD PEOPLE FUND | MILBURN, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF ROOTS | ENCINO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ENCOUNTER PROGRAMS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GOOD PEOPLE FUND | MILBURN, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ENCOUNTER PROGRAMS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION N | MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF ROOTS | ENCINO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK | EL SEGUNDO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSI | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| FISCHER CENTER FOR ALZHEIMER RESEAR | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| AM COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INST | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| VALLEY OF THE SUN JEWISH COMMUNITY | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DIST COMMITTE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| HIAS | SILVER SPRINGS, MD | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PARENTS CIRCLE | NEW YORK, NY | $17,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| T'RUAH | NEW YORK, NY | $17,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $16,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| NPR FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| WORKERS CIRCLE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK | MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
| FRIENDS OF ROOTS | ENCINO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE DONATION |
AFHU
$125,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$125,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FISHER CETNER FOR ALZHEIMER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$125,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FISHER CETNER FOR ALZHEIMERS
$125,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PARENTS
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
TRUAH
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HIAS
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ASSN JEWISH JDC
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
WORKERS CIRCLE
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ISRAEL PEF ENDOWMENTS FUNDS
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
WORKERS CIRCLE
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF ROOTS
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION N
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF ROOTS
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSI
$125,000CHARITABLE DONATION
FISCHER CENTER FOR ALZHEIMER RESEAR
$125,000CHARITABLE DONATION
T'RUAH
$17,000CHARITABLE DONATION
WORKERS CIRCLE
$10,000CHARITABLE DONATION
FRIENDS OF ROOTS
$5,000CHARITABLE DONATION