The Weiss Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropic dollars into a small number of high-dollar grants focused on expanding post-secondary opportunities for disadvantaged youth, supporting biomedical research into rare (“orphan”) diseases, and backstopping emergency/medical response in Israel. Although headquartered in Connecticut, its largest commitments are regionally targeted (notably Buffalo post‑secondary scholarship programs) and institutionally targeted (major university research centers and emergency medical NGOs).
Weiss Family Foundation’s largest recent commitments cluster around post-secondary access for at-risk children, with Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship receiving $2,088,791 in 2025 and $1,706,139 in 2023. That same emphasis on education shows up in smaller awards to Guilford Says Yes to Education and Horatio Alger, indicating a consistent interest in helping young people move into college and other post-secondary pathways. The foundation also directs meaningful support to biomedical work, including rare disease research and therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, alongside institution-level giving for children’s health and medical training. Another clear strand is emergency response in Israel, where grants to Friends of United Hatzalah and Batya - Friends of United Hatzalah support life-saving services. Beyond those core areas, the portfolio includes university athletics, music, museums, food support for children, and programs for guide dog training. The pattern is concentrated rather than broad, with several high-dollar awards and repeated support for a small set of institutions, especially in Philadelphia and New York.
In post-secondary access for at-risk youth, Weiss Family Foundation backed Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship with $2,088,791 in 2025 and earlier support of $1,706,139 in 2023. It also gave $230,000 to Guilford Says Yes to Education for programs promoting post-secondary education for at-risk children, showing that education access is a sustained theme rather than a one-off grant. In biomedical research, the foundation awarded $754,103 to the University of Pennsylvania for the Penn Center for Orphan Disease Research and Therapy and later added $200,000 for the dermatology program. It also supported the Perelman School of Medicine with $75,000. A separate line of giving supports emergency response in Israel, including $441,000 to Friends of United Hatzalah and $113,894 to Batya - Friends of United Hatzalah. Arts and cultural support appears as well through grants to The Metropolitan Opera and The Jewish Museum.
Typical grants sit at $22,500 at the 25th percentile, $75,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile, reflecting a portfolio that mixes mid-sized awards with several larger commitments. The foundation’s recent record also shows repeat support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship and the University of Pennsylvania. That points to an ongoing, relationship-based approach rather than isolated one-time grants. The foundation gives directly from a family foundation structure and also funds individuals, while making no program-related investments. The grant record provided does not show an application process, so the pattern is best read through the recurring awards and institution-focused support.
$3.5M
$98.5M
-$422K
$4.2M
Most grants fall between $23K and $200K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$23K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Highly concentrated giving: very few grants but large dollar amounts, including repeat funding to existing partners (Say Yes Buffalo). Preference for institutional partners (universities and established NGOs) over many small community grants.
Notable grantees: Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania (Penn Center for Orphan Disease Research and Therapy), Friends of United Hatzalah
Grantmaking is concentrated in the United States, with all 37 recent grants going to U.S. recipients. New York appears most often among recipient locations, including Buffalo, New York City, Yorktown Heights, and other New York addresses. Philadelphia is another major destination, especially for university and medical institutions. Other recent recipients are spread across Greensboro, Alexandria, Santa Monica, Omaha, Miami, Westlake Village, and Hershey, showing a regional footprint that extends beyond the foundation’s Connecticut headquarters.
The recent grants point to four recurring areas: post-secondary education for at-risk children, rare disease research and therapy, emergency medical response in Israel, and selective support for university athletics and arts organizations. The largest awards went to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship and the University of Pennsylvania.
Yes. It gave $2,088,791 in 2025 and $1,706,139 in 2023 to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship for programs promoting post-secondary education for at-risk children. It also awarded $230,000 to Guilford Says Yes to Education for the same general purpose and $100,000 to Horatio Alger for individuals who personify the American Dream.
The stated distribution is $22,500 at the 25th percentile, $75,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. That matches a pattern of many grants in the tens of thousands, alongside several six- and seven-figure awards.
It shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years. Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship appears in both 2023 and 2025, and the University of Pennsylvania received several grants across 2023 and 2025 for different programs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP | BUFFALO, NY | $2,088,791 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN. |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH | NEW YORK, NY | $441,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SAVINGS LIVES IN ISRAEL |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $170,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE DERMATOLOGY PROGRAM. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE WEIN PROFESSORSHIP |
| HORATIO ALGER | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO PERSONIFY THE AMERICAN DREAM |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING, ENCOURAGING,AND PROMOTING MUSICAL ART. |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPOR THE SQUASH PROGRAM. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE LACROSS PROGRAM. |
| PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE PENNSYLVANIA WRESTLING PROGRAM. |
| THE JEWISH MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE TENNIS PROGRAM. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE WRESTLING PROGRAM |
| IVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT IVY LEAGUE FOOTBALL |
| COMMUNITY INFORMATION TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF THE NATION'S FIRST TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY |
| COCOA PACKS | HERSHEY, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL CHILDREN IN NEED. |
| BEYOND THE BASICS INC | SYKESVILLE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THIER MISSION OF SERVICING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY |
| NATIONAL CARES MENTORING MOVEMENT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S GENERAL MISSION |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE SOCCER PROGRAM. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE BASEBALL PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHTMAN STRATEGIC INITIATIVES |
| SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP | BUFFALO, NY | $1,657,666 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN. |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH | NEW YORK, NY | $1,136,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT SAVINGS LIVES IN ISRAEL |
| HADASSAH THE WOMEN'S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN INC | NEW YORK, NY | $495,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT AMERICAN JEWISH WOMEN |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $360,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM. |
| HORATIO ALGER | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO PERSONIFY THE AMERICAN DREAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE ATHLETE NUTRITION CENTER |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $63,135 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE DERMATOLOGY PROGRAM. |
| MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS. |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS |
| IVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $45,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT IVY LEAGUE FOOTBALL |
| PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE PENNSYLVANIA WRESTLING PROGRAM. |
| GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT | DECATUR, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO OVERTURN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE GRAPPLERS PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE BASKETBALL PROGRAM |
| TEMPLE EMANU-EL | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE SYNAGOGUE AND ITS CHARITABLE PROGRAMS. |
| OPEN HEARTS FOUNDATION | WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO SERVE VULNERABLE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND POPULATIONS IMPACTED NO EQUITABLE ACCESS. |
| PHILLIP AND PATRICIA FROST MUSEUM OF SCIENCE | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PEOPLE AND THE WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. |
| UNITAS NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE DISRUPTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING, ENCOURAGING,AND PROMOTING MUSICAL ART. |
| AVON OLD FARMS | AVON, CT | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE BOARDING SCHOOL |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE ROWING PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE SOCCER PROGRAM. |
| COMMUNITY INFORMATION TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF THE NATION'S FIRST TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $18,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHTMAN STRATEGIC INITIATIVES |
| HARLEM VILLAGE ACADEMIES | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS TO BECOME MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY. |
| COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT | KAPOLEI, HI | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT |
| COCOA PACKS | HERSHEY, PA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL CHILDREN IN NEED. |
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN.
TO SUPPORT THE WEIN PROFESSORSHIP
HORATIO ALGER
$100,000TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO PERSONIFY THE AMERICAN DREAM
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$70,000TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING, ENCOURAGING,AND PROMOTING MUSICAL ART.
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS.
PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER
$30,000TO SUPPORT THE PENNSYLVANIA WRESTLING PROGRAM.
IVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
$25,000TO SUPPORT IVY LEAGUE FOOTBALL
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF THE NATION'S FIRST TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY
COCOA PACKS
$15,000TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL CHILDREN IN NEED.
BEYOND THE BASICS INC
$15,000TO SUPPORT THIER MISSION OF SERVICING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY'S GENERAL MISSION
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN.
HADASSAH THE WOMEN'S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN INC
$495,000TO SUPPORT AMERICAN JEWISH WOMEN
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$360,000TO SUPPORT THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM.
HORATIO ALGER
$150,000TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO PERSONIFY THE AMERICAN DREAM
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE ATHLETE NUTRITION CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$63,135TO SUPPORT THE DERMATOLOGY PROGRAM.
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS.
TO SUPPORT THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
IVY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
$45,000TO SUPPORT IVY LEAGUE FOOTBALL
PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER
$30,000TO SUPPORT THE PENNSYLVANIA WRESTLING PROGRAM.
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO OVERTURN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE GRAPPLERS PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE BASKETBALL PROGRAM
TEMPLE EMANU-EL
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE SYNAGOGUE AND ITS CHARITABLE PROGRAMS.
OPEN HEARTS FOUNDATION
$25,000TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO SERVE VULNERABLE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND POPULATIONS IMPACTED NO EQUITABLE ACCESS.
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PEOPLE AND THE WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
UNITAS NORTH AMERICA
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE DISRUPTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION
TO SUPPORT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING, ENCOURAGING,AND PROMOTING MUSICAL ART.
AVON OLD FARMS
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE BOARDING SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE ROWING PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE SOCCER PROGRAM.
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF THE NATION'S FIRST TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$18,000TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHTMAN STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS TO BECOME MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY.
COCOA PACKS
$15,000TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL CHILDREN IN NEED.