The Sidney J. Weinberg Jr. Foundation makes a small number of very large, unrestricted gifts to prominent New York institutions, with a clear emphasis on higher education and biomedical research, major urban green space stewardship, and performing arts. Grants are often designated as general-purpose support or to sustain fellowship/research programs, indicating a preference for institutional strengthening at elite organizations. The foundation’s giving is highly NYC‑centric and concentrated among repeat grantees and flagship cultural and medical institutions.
The Sidney J Weinberg Jr Foundation shows a clear preference for large, unrestricted gifts to major New York institutions, with repeated support for Columbia University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Central Park Conservancy. Its recent awards also reach into the performing arts through American Friends of Les Arts Florissants and the Julliard School, alongside support for library and research programs. The pattern is institutional rather than project-heavy: grants are often labeled general purpose, or tied to fellowships, research, and core operations. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs organizations that sit at the center of higher education, medical care, cultural preservation, and urban public space. Columbia University received both a $2,330,000 general-purpose grant in 2024 and a $730,000 award for the Italian Academy’s postdoctoral fellowship program in 2023. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center appears in three consecutive years, including a $1,000,000 grant in 2025. The foundation’s support also extends to institutions such as the New York Public Library, the Library of America, and Friends of the High Line.
In higher education and research, the foundation gave $730,000 to Columbia University - the Italian Academy for its Post Doctorate Fellowship Program, and $230,000 to the New York Public Library for Short-Term Research Fellowships Program. Those grants point to support for scholarly training and research access. The performing arts are another consistent theme. American Friends of Les Arts Florissants received $720,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general purpose support, while the Chamber Music Society received $125,000 to support production of chamber music. The Julliard School also appears with a $475,000 grant in 2024. For urban green space, the foundation supported Friends of the High Line with $225,000 for support park functions, and Central Park Conservancy with $170,200 in 2024 for general purpose support. Library of America also appears twice, including a $150,000 grant to preserve the nation’s literary heritage by publishing.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $27,500 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows a much larger upper tier, including several seven-figure awards and multiple grants in the hundreds of thousands. The foundation is strongly repeat-oriented: Columbia University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Central Park Conservancy, American Friends of Les Arts Florissants, The Julliard School, Library of America, and Friends of the High Line all appear more than once in the recent grants list. The organization is a private foundation; it also funds individuals, and the recent grants are mostly general-purpose institutional awards or named fellowship/research programs.
$5.8M
$21.1M
$4.2M
$6.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $150K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$150K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small set of elite institutions; gifts are often repeat or multi-part commitments and typically provided as general-purpose or program support rather than many small grassroots grants.
Notable grantees: Columbia University (including The Italian Academy), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Central Park Conservancy, American Friends of Les Arts Florissants
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 96 recent grants going to U.S. recipients. New York is the top state by grant count, and 59% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. New York City institutions dominate the list, including recipients in New York, NY and New York City, NY such as Columbia University, Central Park Conservancy, and the New York Public Library. Outside New York, recent awards also went to Boston, MA; Wareham, MA; and Sunnyvale, CA.
The recent grants list is concentrated in higher education and biomedical research, urban parks and public space, and performing arts. Examples include Columbia University for research and fellowships, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for general support, Central Park Conservancy for general purpose support, and American Friends of Les Arts Florissants for general purpose support.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Columbia University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Central Park Conservancy, American Friends of Les Arts Florissants, The Julliard School, Library of America, and Friends of the High Line. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The typical grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $27,500 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger gifts, such as $2,330,000 to Columbia University and $2,125,000 to Central Park Conservancy.
It gives primarily in New York. New York is the top state by grant count, and 59% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent grantees are heavily concentrated in New York City institutions, including organizations in New York, NY and New York City, NY.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. In the recent grants list, much of the support goes to institutions, but some awards are specifically tied to fellowship programs, such as Columbia University - the Italian Academy’s Post Doctorate Fellowship Program and the New York Public Library’s Short-Term Research Fellowships Program.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LES ARTS FLORISSANTS | NEW YORK, NY | $720,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JULLIARD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $475,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $280,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TOBEY HOSPITAL | WAREHAM, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $160,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LIBRARY OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE | NEW YORK, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LAKEVILLE JOURNAL FOUNDATION | LAKEVILLE, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FAMILY CENTERS | GREENWICH, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BUZZARDS BAY COALITION | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OPENING ACT | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NATURAL AREAS CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE ENGLISH CONCERT IN AMERICA INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SIPPICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MARION, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF FONDATION DE FRANCE INC | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE LATIN SCHOOL | ALBANY, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PROSPECT PARK ALLIANCE | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Genevieve Spruill - Food Bank of NYC | New York, NY | $8,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SIPPICAN LANDS TRUST | MARION, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PEER HEALTH EXCHANGE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TABOR ACADEMY | MARION, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST GABRIEL EPHISCOPAL CHURCH | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | New York, NY | $2,330,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | New York, NY | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| American Friends of Les Arts Florissants | New York, NY | $720,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Julliard School | New York, NY | $475,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Library of America | New York, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Southcoast Health - Tobey Hospital | Wareham, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| New York Public Library | New York, NY | $220,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Central Park Conservancy | New York, NY | $170,200 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Friends of High Line | New York, NE | $100,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Family Centers | Greenwich, CT | $75,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Latin Fund | Trenton, NJ | $65,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Buzzard Bay Coalition | New Bedford, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| New Yorkers for Parks | New York, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| World Monument Fund | New York, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| The Metropolitan Opera | New York, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Opening Act | Brooklyn, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| Prospect Park Alliance | Brooklyn, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
| National Area Conservancy | New York, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | General Purpose |
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING
$1,000,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JULLIARD SCHOOL
$475,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$280,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TOBEY HOSPITAL
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME
$160,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LIBRARY OF AMERICA
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LAKEVILLE JOURNAL FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE ENGLISH CONCERT IN AMERICA INC
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SIPPICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRIENDS OF FONDATION DE FRANCE INC
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE LATIN SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRIENDS OF UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
Genevieve Spruill - Food Bank of NYC
$8,500GENERAL PURPOSE
SIPPICAN LANDS TRUST
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PEER HEALTH EXCHANGE INC
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST GABRIEL EPHISCOPAL CHURCH
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$2,330,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$1,000,000GENERAL PURPOSE
Julliard School
$475,000General Purpose
Library of America
$250,000General Purpose
Southcoast Health - Tobey Hospital
$250,000General Purpose
Latin Fund
$65,000General Purpose
World Monument Fund
$50,000General Purpose
National Area Conservancy
$15,000General Purpose