The Risor Foundation concentrates its giving on K–12 independent day schools, making targeted gifts to local private schools rather than broad educational causes. Its grants are directed to a small number of institutions, indicating a preference for supporting specific schools—likely for program or operating support—within its regional area.
Highly concentrated: very few grants (two recorded) that are relatively large for a small private foundation, focused on repeat types of recipients rather than a broad portfolio.
The Risor Foundation’s giving is anchored by a clear preference for K–12 independent day schools and other education-related institutions. Its largest recent grant went to Gill St Bernards School in Gladstone, New Jersey, at $25,000 in 2024, followed by $18,365 to The Peck School in Morristown in 2023. Alongside school support, the foundation has also funded education-linked organizations such as Focus New Jersey, Dickinson College, Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools, Children’s Scholarship Fund, and Edchoice. The pattern is not limited to schools. The foundation has also directed grants to conservation groups, policy organizations, health and welfare nonprofits, and community-serving institutions. Recent awards include support for New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Land Conservation of New Jersey, The French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, and Scarborough Land Trust, showing that environmental and land conservation sit within its broader portfolio. Other grants have reached groups working in public health, suicide prevention, and direct community support. The Risor Foundation’s grantmaking looks selective and institution-focused, with repeated gifts to a small set of grantees over multiple years rather than a wide spread of one-time awards.
Education is the foundation’s clearest focus. In 2024, it gave $25,000 to Gill St Bernards School for education, and in 2023 it granted $18,365 to The Peck School for the same category. It also supported Dickinson College with $10,000 in 2024 and $2,500 in 2023, indicating continued attention to educational institutions. The foundation also funds conservation and land stewardship. Recent awards include $10,000 to New Jersey Conservation Foundation in 2024 for environment and another $10,000 to the same organization in 2023 for conservation. Additional environmental gifts went to The Land Conservation of New Jersey, Lundale Farm, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, The French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, and Scarborough Land Trust. Beyond those areas, the foundation has made smaller grants to organizations in policy and public-service fields, including James Wilson Institute, Institute for Humane Studies, and The Woodson Center.
Recent gifts cluster around smaller awards: the typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,500 at the median, and $2,500 at the 75th percentile. That points to a pattern where many grants are modest, with occasional larger school awards. The record also shows repeat support to the same organizations across years, including Gill St Bernards School, Dickinson College, Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Turner Syndrome Society of the United States, Mascoma Community Health Center, and New Jersey Conservation Foundation. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$159K
$2M
$132K
$136K
Most grants fall between $1K and $3K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$3K
About 48% of grants go to recipients in VA.
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Notable grantees: Gill St. Bernard's School, The Peck School
The Risor Foundation gives primarily in the United States, and 48% of grants go to recipients in New Jersey. Its New Jersey awards include Gladstone, Morristown, Far Hills, Boonton, Clinton, and Asbury Park. Outside New Jersey, grants have gone to recipients in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, New York, Indiana, Texas, Maine, and New Hampshire. Virginia stands out as the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Its grants go mainly to independent K–12 day schools and education-related organizations, with additional support for conservation, policy, health and welfare, and community-serving nonprofits. Recent recipients include schools, land trusts, suicide prevention, and direct-service organizations.
The grant size profile is small to mid-sized: $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,500 at the median, and $2,500 at the 75th percentile. A few school grants are larger, such as the $25,000 award to Gill St Bernards School.
Yes. The record shows repeat grants to multiple organizations across 2023 and 2024, including New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Dickinson College, Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Turner Syndrome Society of the United States, and Mascoma Community Health Center.
New Jersey receives 48% of the foundation’s grants, and the recipient city list includes Gladstone, Morristown, Far Hills, Boonton, Clinton, and Asbury Park. Virginia is the top state by grant count overall, even though the foundation is headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Recent environmental and conservation grants went to New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Land Conservation of New Jersey, Lundale Farm, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, The French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, and Scarborough Land Trust.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GILL ST BERNARDS SCHOOL | GLADSTONE, NJ | $25,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| DICKINSON COLLEGE | CARLISLE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | FAR HILLS, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| FOCUS NEW JERSEY (FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS) | NEW CANAAN, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| ST LUKE'S CHURCH | GLADSTONE, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| LUNDALE FARM | KIMBERTON, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| EDCHOICE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $2,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL-PHILADELPHIA PA REGION | KING OF PRUSSIA, PA | $2,500 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| THE FRENCH AND PICKERING CREEKS CONSERVATION TRUST | DEVAULT, PA | $2,500 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| TURNER SYNDROME SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES | HOUSTON, TX | $2,500 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| JAMES WILSON INSTITUTE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $2,500 | 2024 | POLICY |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES | ARLINGTON, VA | $2,500 | 2024 | POLICY |
| CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| SCARBOROUGH LAND TRUST | SCARBOROUGH, ME | $2,500 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| THE WOODSON CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2024 | POLICY |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS - COASTAL & NORTHERN NJ REGION | ASBURY PARK, NJ | $2,500 | 2024 | HUMANITARIANCOMMUNITY |
| FREEDOM HOUSE | CLINTON, NJ | $2,500 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY | BOONTON, NJ | $2,500 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| MASCOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | CANAAN, NH | $1,250 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| FRIENDS OF THE CLARENCE DILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY | BEDMINSTER, NJ | $1,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| MAKE-A-WISH NEW JERSEY | MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ | $1,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| MUSIC IN THE SOMERSET HILLS | BERNARDSVILLE, NJ | $1,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| RARITAN HEADWATERS | GLADSTONE, NJ | $1,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $1,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| LIFECAMP | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $250 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | NEW VERNON, NJ | $250 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| THE PECK SCHOOL | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $18,365 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | FAR HILLS, NJ | $10,000 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
| THE LAND CONSERVATION OF NEW JERSEY | BOONTON, NJ | $5,000 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS | NEW CANAAN, CT | $3,500 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| GILL ST BERNARDS SCHOOL | GLADSTONE, NJ | $2,500 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
| DICKINSON COLLEGE | CARLISLE, PA | $2,500 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS BOARDING SCHOOLS | NEW CANAAN, CT | $1,500 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| TURNER SYNDROME SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES | HOUSTON, TX | $1,250 | 2023 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| MASCOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | CANAAN, NH | $1,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
| EDCHOICE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $250 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| WOODSON CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $250 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES | ARLINGTON, VA | $250 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
| MAKE-A-WISH NEW JERSEY | MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ | $250 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
| TURNER SYNDROME FOUNDATION | HOLMDEL, NJ | $250 | 2023 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $250 | 2023 | COMMUNITY |
| GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | NEW VERNON, NJ | $250 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
GILL ST BERNARDS SCHOOL
$25,000EDUCATION
DICKINSON COLLEGE
$10,000EDUCATION
NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$10,000ENVIRONMENT
FOCUS NEW JERSEY (FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS)
$10,000EDUCATION
ST LUKE'S CHURCH
$10,000COMMUNITY
LUNDALE FARM
$5,000ENVIRONMENT
EDCHOICE
EDUCATION
BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL-PHILADELPHIA PA REGION
$2,500HUMANITARIAN
THE FRENCH AND PICKERING CREEKS CONSERVATION TRUST
$2,500ENVIRONMENT
TURNER SYNDROME SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
$2,500HEALTH AND WELFARE
JAMES WILSON INSTITUTE
$2,500POLICY
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
$2,500HEALTH AND WELFARE
INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES
$2,500POLICY
CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$2,500EDUCATION
SCARBOROUGH LAND TRUST
$2,500ENVIRONMENT
THE WOODSON CENTER
$2,500POLICY
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS - COASTAL & NORTHERN NJ REGION
$2,500HUMANITARIANCOMMUNITY
FREEDOM HOUSE
$2,500HEALTH AND WELFARE
THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY
$2,500ENVIRONMENT
MASCOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
$1,250HEALTH AND WELFARE
FRIENDS OF THE CLARENCE DILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY
$1,000COMMUNITY
MAKE-A-WISH NEW JERSEY
$1,000HUMANITARIAN
MUSIC IN THE SOMERSET HILLS
$1,000COMMUNITY
RARITAN HEADWATERS
$1,000ENVIRONMENT
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY
$1,000COMMUNITY
LIFECAMP
$250HUMANITARIAN
GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
$250ENVIRONMENT
THE PECK SCHOOL
$18,365EDUCATION
NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$10,000CONSERVATION
THE LAND CONSERVATION OF NEW JERSEY
$5,000CONSERVATION
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS
$3,500EDUCATION
GILL ST BERNARDS SCHOOL
$2,500EDUCATION
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
$2,500COMMUNITY
DICKINSON COLLEGE
$2,500EDUCATION
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS BOARDING SCHOOLS
$1,500EDUCATION
TURNER SYNDROME SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
$1,250HEALTH AND WELFARE
MASCOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
$1,000COMMUNITY
EDCHOICE
$250EDUCATION
WOODSON CENTER
$250COMMUNITY
INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES
$250COMMUNITY
MAKE-A-WISH NEW JERSEY
$250COMMUNITY
TURNER SYNDROME FOUNDATION
$250HEALTH AND WELFARE
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY
$250COMMUNITY
GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
$250CONSERVATION