The Nathan Seter Foundation concentrates its giving on Orthodox Jewish institutions, primarily providing large, unrestricted operating support to Yeshiva University and organizations that fund rabbinic services for the Israel Defense Forces. Grants are few in number but high in dollar amount, indicating a strategic preference for sustaining institutions central to Modern Orthodox Jewish life and Israeli religious support. The foundation tends to renew support for the same beneficiaries rather than dispersing many small awards.
Highly concentrated giving: very few (4) large grants totaling ~$1.3M, repeat funding to the same organizations, primarily unrestricted gifts aimed at core institutional support rather than project-specific grants.
The Nathan Seter Foundation C/o Milbank Tweed Hadley & Mccloy LLP centers much of its giving on Orthodox Jewish institutions, with especially large unrestricted awards to Yeshiva University and organizations supporting rabbinic services connected to the Israel Defense Forces. The pattern is not broad or diffuse: the foundation repeatedly backs a small set of institutions with flexible operating support rather than tightly restricted project grants. Among the largest recent grants was $625,000 to Yu in New York for unrestricted use. The foundation also made a $254,995 unrestricted grant to American Friends of Idf Rabbinate in New York, followed by another $186,000 unrestricted award to the same organization in 2025. That repetition points to sustained support for recipients serving core religious and communal functions within Modern Orthodox and Israeli religious life. Other recipients show a similar institutional profile. Grants to Nli, Pef Israel Endowment Funds Inc, Mir Yerushalayim, United Hatzalah, Chai Lifeline, Ramaz, and Darchei Torah indicate a preference for established Jewish organizations, many of them based in New York or nearby New Jersey communities. The foundation’s giving is selective, relationship-based, and oriented toward organizational continuity.
A clear theme is Modern Orthodox Jewish higher education. In 2023, the foundation gave $250,000 to Yeshiva University for unrestricted use, and in 2025 it gave $625,000 to Yu for unrestricted use. Another recurring area is support connected to the Israel Defense Forces rabbinate. The foundation awarded $254,995 in 2023 to American Friends of Idf Rabbinate and followed with $186,000 in 2025, both unrestricted. It also supports Jewish communal and service organizations with open-ended funding. Examples include $100,000 to United Hatzalah in 2023 and another $100,000 in 2025, plus $54,000 to Chai Lifeline in 2025 and $37,800 to the same organization in 2023. These grants suggest interest in institutions that provide emergency response, care, and community services.
Typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent grant list shows several much larger awards. The foundation’s profile suggests a relationship-driven pattern: the same recipients appear across more than one year, including American Friends of Idf Rabbinate, United Hatzalah, Chai Lifeline, Mir Yerushalayim, Mjh, and Yilc. Grants are made as unrestricted support, with no indication of program-restricted awards, and the foundation funds organizations rather than individuals.
$2M
$22.9M
$2.7M
$2.1M
Most grants fall between $3K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 4% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Yeshiva University (YU), American Friends of IDF Rabbinate
The foundation gives nationally, but its recipient base is heavily concentrated in the New York area. New York, NY appears repeatedly, alongside Brooklyn, Cedarhurst, Far Rockaway, and Rochester. New Jersey locations also show up often, including Lakewood, Jackson, Englewood, and Monsey. Outside the Northeast, recent grants reached Baltimore, MD. All recent grants in the supplied data went to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants focus on Orthodox Jewish institutions and related communal organizations. Recipients include Yeshiva University, American Friends of Idf Rabbinate, United Hatzalah, Chai Lifeline, Ramaz, Darchei Torah, and Mir Yerushalayim, with grants typically labeled for unrestricted use.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly unrestricted. Examples in the data are labeled “unrestricted use of recipient” for awards to Yu, American Friends of Idf Rabbinate, Nli, Pef Israel Endowment Funds Inc, and United Hatzalah.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including American Friends of Idf Rabbinate, United Hatzalah, Chai Lifeline, Mir Yerushalayim, Mjh, Yilc, and Nli. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The grants are national, but the recipient list is concentrated in New York and nearby New Jersey communities. New York, NY, Brooklyn, Cedarhurst, Far Rockaway, Lakewood, Jackson, Englewood, and Monsey all appear in the recent grants data.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YU | NEW YORK, NY | $625,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF IDF RABBINATE | NEW YORK, NY | $186,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| NLI | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN COMMITTE SZ | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| UNITED HATZALAH | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| YILC | CEDARHURST, NY | $90,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| CHAI LIFELINE | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $54,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| THE LAMM LEGACY PROJECT INC | ENGLEWOOD, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YE | JACKSON, NJ | $36,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| MJH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| NYU UROLOGY RESEARCH FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| SSEJ | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| SSY | HEWLETT, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| BBY | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| MIR YERUSHALAYIM | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| YFR | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| REISHIT YERUSHALAYIM | MARLBORO, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| DARCHEI TORAH | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| CONGREGATION BS | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| REGENTS OF CALIFORNIA - RESEARCH | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| RCCS | BROOKLYN, NY | $13,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SHALVA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| PBA WIDOWS 7 CHILDREN FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| WESTCHESTER DAY SCHOOL | MAMARONECK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| YGFT | WOODMERE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| JPC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| ACHIEZER | LAWRENCE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| HALB | WOODMERE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| SELF HELP | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| RAMBAM | LAWRENCE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MATAN | MONSEY, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| TAG | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HH | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| FDNY FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| CONNECT ISRAEL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| ATIME | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,400 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| CITY LORE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| TY | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| SIACH YITZCHOK | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| GLAUCOMA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS TT | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| ANCHOR MENTORING | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $3,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| CYCLE FOR SURVIVAL | NEW YORK, NY | $3,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| BEIT HATALMUD | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| KEREN OR INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
| IAG | SPRINGHOUSE, PA | $1,800 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT |
YU
$625,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF IDF RABBINATE
$186,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
NLI
$125,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
AMERICAN COMMITTE SZ
$100,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
YILC
$90,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
CHAI LIFELINE
$54,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
THE LAMM LEGACY PROJECT INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YE
$36,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
MJH
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
NYU UROLOGY RESEARCH FUND
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
SSY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
BBY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
MIR YERUSHALAYIM
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
YFR
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
REISHIT YERUSHALAYIM
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
DARCHEI TORAH
$25,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
CONGREGATION BS
$20,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
REGENTS OF CALIFORNIA - RESEARCH
$15,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SHALVA
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
PBA WIDOWS 7 CHILDREN FUND
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
WESTCHESTER DAY SCHOOL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
YGFT
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
JPC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
ACHIEZER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
HALB
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
SELF HELP
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
RAMBAM
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
TAG
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HH
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
CONNECT ISRAEL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
TY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
SIACH YITZCHOK
$5,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
GLAUCOMA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FUND
$5,000UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
AMERICAN FRIENDS TT
$3,600UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
ANCHOR MENTORING
$3,600UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
CYCLE FOR SURVIVAL
$3,600UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
BEIT HATALMUD
$3,600UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$2,500UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT
IAG
$1,800UNRESTRICTED USE OF RECIPIENT