The Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts to a small set of institutional grantees, with a strong emphasis on New York-based higher‑education and health institutions (notably NYU Langone and NYU School of Law) while also supporting humanitarian relief and community foundations. Grants skew to general program support rather than project‑restricted funding, indicating trust in grantee leadership and a preference for capacity and core support.
High-dollar, concentrated giving to a few institutional recipients with repeated, multi-grant support; favors unrestricted/general program support over many small, targeted grants; primarily institutional and regionally anchored but with selective national/international gifts.
Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz Foundation’s recent giving is marked by six- and seven-figure general program support to a small set of institutional grantees, with NYU Langone Health and NYU School of Law appearing repeatedly at the top of the list. The pattern shows a preference for unrestricted or broadly usable support rather than tightly projectized awards, and the largest recent grants have gone to organizations with deep operating needs: $1,300,000 to NYU Langone Health in 2023 and $1,135,000 in 2024, alongside $1,050,000 to NYU School of Law in 2024. The foundation also backs other major educational and civic institutions, including Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, the University of Chicago, and the Legal Aid Society. Beyond legal education and academic medicine, its portfolio includes support for humanitarian relief, youth services, and community infrastructure through organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, Children's Aid Society, and Foundation for the Carolinas. Across the recent grant list, the center of gravity is institutional core support, often at a scale that signals long-term relationships with grantees and confidence in their leadership.
In academic medical center support, the foundation gave $1,300,000 to NYU Langone Health in 2023 and $1,135,000 in 2024, both for general program support. Legal education is another clear theme: NYU School of Law received $1,050,000 in 2024, $1,000,000 in 2023, and $160,000 in 2025, all listed as general program support. The foundation also funds broader legal capacity through grants such as $320,500 to the Legal Aid Society in 2025 and $150,000 to Legal Services Corporation in 2024. Outside New York, it supported the University of Chicago with $241,500 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2023, and University of Chicago Law School with $239,500 in 2025, again under general program support.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent list also includes much larger institutional awards in the six- and seven-figure range. The foundation is a regular funder with a 2025 latest 990 on file and $34,579,527 in assets against $20,323,800 in annual grants. Recipients appear across multiple years, especially NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Law, Prep for Prep, Legal Aid Society, and Children's Aid Society, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time gifts. Recent grants shown are predominantly general program support, consistent with unrestricted or core-capacity funding.
$9.1M
$34.7M
$8.6M
$9.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Law, International Rescue Committee, Foundation for the Carolinas, Children's Aid Society
Giving is heavily concentrated in New York: 60% of grants go to recipients in NY, and New York is also the top state by grant count. Recipient locations in the recent list are mostly New York City, including New York, NY; Brooklyn, NY; and Charlotte, NC appearing outside the state. The list also shows grants to Cambridge, MA and Chicago, IL. All grants in the country distribution are U.S.-based, with 279 grants to U.S. recipients.
The recent grant list centers on academic medicine, legal education, legal services, and community institutions. Named recipients include NYU Langone Health, NYU School of Law, Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, the Legal Aid Society, and the Legal Services Corporation, with most awards labeled general program support.
The stated distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger institutional grants, such as $1,300,000 to NYU Langone Health and $1,050,000 to NYU School of Law.
Yes. Sixty percent of grants go to recipients in New York, and New York is the top state by grant count. The recent list also includes recipients in Charlotte, NC; Cambridge, MA; and Chicago, IL, showing some giving outside New York.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly listed as general program support. That includes awards to NYU Langone Health, Foundation for the Carolinas, International Rescue Committee, and Children's Aid Society, which indicates a preference for broad operating or core support.
Yes. Several organizations recur across years, including NYU Langone Health in 2023, 2024, and 2025; NYU School of Law in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Prep for Prep in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and the Legal Aid Society in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,378,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK CITY PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NYU LANGONE HEALTH | NEW YORK, NY | $1,210,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NYU SCHOOL OF LAW | NEW YORK, NY | $602,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PREP FOR PREP | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $339,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $320,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| INNER-CITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $240,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HARVARD LAW SCHOOL | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $185,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $165,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE | NEWARK, DE | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FIREAID LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LAWYER'S COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PASADENA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | PASADENA, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS | WASHINGTON, DC | $91,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HER JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MOBILIZATION FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| YALE LAW SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $66,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DKMS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE EMANU-EL | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HOPE INC | PARSIPPANY, NJ | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NYU INSTITUTE FOR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE EMANU-EL NURSERY SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ASPHALT GREEN | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF RAMBAM MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PURSUIT TRANSFORMATION COMPANY INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY | NEW YORK, NY | $36,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $36,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FDNY FOUNDATION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC ART FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CONOCOPHILLIPS UNITED WAY | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BET TZEDEK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| REGIONAL PLAN ASSOCIATES | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LAW FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY | SAN JOSE, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S CANCER CAUSE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP (NYLAG) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT |
COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL
$1,378,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
NYU LANGONE HEALTH
$1,210,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
NYU SCHOOL OF LAW
$602,500GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
$185,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$165,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
FIREAID LA
$100,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
TEMPLE EMANU-EL
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
NYU INSTITUTE FOR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
TEMPLE EMANU-EL NURSERY SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$36,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
CONOCOPHILLIPS UNITED WAY
$30,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
REGIONAL PLAN ASSOCIATES
$25,000GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT