About Vidda Foundation
The Vidda Foundation concentrates its philanthropic support exclusively on higher education scholarship funding, directing all recorded grants to Columbia University's School of General Studies. Its giving appears focused on enabling access to Columbia for nontraditional, returning, and otherwise nontraditional undergraduate students through scholarship support. The foundation has funded this single institution repeatedly rather than distributing grants across multiple organizations.
Focus Areas
Undergraduate scholarships for nontraditional and returning students at Columbia University School of General StudiesFinancial aid to increase access to Ivy League higher education in New York CityScholarship support targeting adult learners, veterans, and students with nontraditional academic paths
Who They Fund
NYC youtholder adults / homebound seniorsCOVID-impacted New YorkersNYC small business owners / entrepreneursstudents / scholarship recipients
About Vidda Foundation
The Vidda Foundation’s recorded grantmaking is built around a single college: Columbia University School of General Studies. In 2024 and 2023, it made repeated scholarship grants there, including several $65,000 awards tied to Vidda Scholarships and Scholarships. That pattern points to a sustained commitment to undergraduate access for nontraditional and returning students rather than a broad portfolio of many grantees. Beyond Columbia, the foundation’s recent giving shows a strong New York City orientation across education, arts, human services, and conservation. The American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art each appear with support for educational programming, conservation, or related general support, while Theater for The New City received operating support and street theater funding. Human services and public-health organizations also appear in the record, including Planned Parenthood, Safe Horizon, and Fountain House. The foundation’s grants are mostly in New York, and the recipient list includes both citywide institutions and a few upstate or regional groups such as Scenic Hudson and Constitution Marsh-National Audubon Soc.
What Vidda Foundation Funds
Education is the clearest thread in The Vidda Foundation’s record. Columbia University School of General Studies received $65,000 grants for Vidda Scholarships in 2024 and Scholarships in 2023, showing direct support for undergraduate access. The foundation also backs museum-based learning and conservation work. The American Museum of Natural History received $30,000 for educational programming in 2024 and general support in 2023, while the Metropolitan Museum of Art received $30,000 for education and paintings conservation in 2023 and educational and conservation programs in 2024. In the human services area, Fountain House received $20,000 for scholarships in 2023 and $20,000 for educational programming in 2024. Scenic Hudson also appears with operating support, indicating some support for conservation-related organizations beyond New York City. Arts and community performance show up through Theater for The New City, which received operating support and street theater funding.
How Vidda Foundation Gives
The Vidda Foundation’s typical grant size is tightly clustered: p25 is $10,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. Its recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations over multiple years, especially Columbia University School of General Studies, American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Theater for The New City, Fountain House, Planned Parenthood, Scenic Hudson, and Safe Horizon. That pattern suggests an invitation-based, relationship-driven approach rather than open solicitation. The foundation is a private, non-operating foundation, and its active grantmaking descriptions say it does not accept unsolicited letters of interest.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$401K
Total Assets
$8.9M
Total Revenue
$431K
Total Expenses
$508K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
Geographic Reach
Local3 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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