The William S. Paley Foundation concentrates almost exclusively on cultural institutions and public cultural amenities, providing multi‑million dollar support to major museums and media heritage organizations. Its giving emphasizes New York–based arts and media preservation/programming and also funds the creation and upkeep of a signature urban pocket park (Paley Park). The foundation favors institutional, program and capital support over broad-based or grassroots funding.
WILLIAM S PALEY FOUNDATION INC co ODONOGHUE & LAMB CPAS PLLC makes one exceptionally large commitment to The Museum of Modern Art, pairing that scale with repeated support for the Paley Center for Media and related cultural projects. In the latest grants list, the foundation’s largest award is a $32,891,939 general operating grant to MoMA, alongside multi-year support for the Paley Center that includes $3,050,106 in 2025, $2,884,935 in 2024, and $2,942,810 in 2023. That pattern shows a funder that works through major institutions rather than many small awards. Its portfolio also includes the Paley Television Festival, with grants of $507,248 in 2023, $491,397 in 2024, and $500,000 in 2025, plus support for Paley Park through the Greenpark Foundation. Other named recipients include The Jerusalem Foundation, Madison Sq Boys Girls Club Foundati, The Foundation for City College, Reach Prep, and Santa Monica Temple Association Con. The overall picture is of a foundation centered on cultural institutions, media heritage, and specific public-benefit projects that recur over time.
Cultural institutions are the clearest focus. The foundation gave $32,891,939 to The Museum of Modern Art for general operating support, and it also supported The Jerusalem Foundation with $533,000 as a capital pledge in 2025. Those awards place major museums and cultural infrastructure at the center of the portfolio. Media history and public programming are another thread. The Paley Center for Media received $3,050,106 in 2025 for general operating support, $2,000,000 in 2025 as a GJG grant, and $500,000 in 2025 for the Paley Television Festival. Earlier grants to the same institution included $3,000,000 for general program support and $491,397 for the festival. The foundation also backs neighborhood-oriented work through the Harlem Clubhouse, with a $100,000 grant to Madison Sq Boys Girls Club Foundati in 2023 and a $50,000 grant in 2025 for general operating support.
Typical grants cluster around a middle range of $14,375 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $71,250 at the 75th percentile, even though the portfolio also includes very large institutional awards. Grants recur to the same organizations across multiple years, especially The Paley Center for Media, The Museum of Modern Art, The Jerusalem Foundation, Greenpark Foundation, and Madison Sq Boys Girls Club Foundati. The foundation is an operating-support-heavy funder, with program support, capital pledge support, endowment-related support, and innovation/designated grants also appearing in the record. The data show no individual giving or program-related investments.
$5.7M
$177.7M
$11.4M
$9M
Most grants fall between $14K and $71K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$71K
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Highly concentrated: very few, large grants to longstanding institutional grantees with repeat support (notably multi‑year/recurring support to the Paley Center and single large gifts to MoMA); limited diversification across sectors or grantee types.
Notable grantees: The Museum of Modern Art, The Paley Center for Media, Greenpark Foundation (Paley Park)
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly domestic, with all listed grants going to U.S. recipients. New York dominates the portfolio: 58% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s top giving state. New York City appears repeatedly through The Museum of Modern Art, The Paley Center for Media, The Jerusalem Foundation, and The Foundation for City College. Other recipient locations include Jefferson Valley and Valhalla in New York, Stamford, Connecticut, and Santa Monica, California.
The pattern centers on cultural institutions and public cultural amenities. Recent awards include $32,891,939 to The Museum of Modern Art, several grants to The Paley Center for Media, and support for The Jerusalem Foundation and Greenpark Foundation tied to Paley Park and Paley Art Center work.
Yes. The Paley Center for Media appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, as do The Museum of Modern Art, The Jerusalem Foundation, Greenpark Foundation, and Madison Sq Boys Girls Club Foundati. That repeat activity suggests ongoing institutional relationships rather than one-off awards.
The middle of the distribution is $20,000, with the 25th percentile at $14,375 and the 75th percentile at $71,250. The foundation also makes much larger grants to a small number of institutions, including multimillion-dollar awards.
New York is the top giving state, with 58% of grants going to recipients in NY. Recent recipient locations include New York, NY; Jefferson Valley, NY; Valhalla, NY; Stamford, CT; and Santa Monica, CA.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $3,050,106 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GJG GRANT |
| GREENPARK FOUNDATION | JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY | $1,306,833 | 2025 | PALEY PARK - PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $533,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL PLEDGE |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | PALEY TELEVISON FESTIVAL |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PALEY ART CENTER |
| THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | Innovation |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| SANTA MONICA TEMPLE ASSOCIATION CON | SANTA MONICA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MADISON SQ BOYS GIRLS CLUB FOUNDATI | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| REACH PREP | STAMFORD, CT | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRILATERAL COMMISSION NORTH AMERICA | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support |
| LONG BEACH ISLAND FOUNDATION | LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LIBRARY OF CONGRESS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WASHINGTON PROJECT FOR THE ART | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SO OTHERS MAY EAT | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLEAN SOBER STREETS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OXFORD HOUSE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VET | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE ROCKFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEST HILL POND ASSOCIATION | WEST HARTFORD, CT | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TOMLINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA | Fairfield, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | ART DEPARTMENT |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SECOND STAGE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | DEPT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY |
| VETERANS YOGA PROJECT | ALAMEDA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAFE HORIZON INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $32,891,939 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $2,884,935 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE GREENPARK FOUNDATION | JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY | $1,424,199 | 2024 | PALEY PARK - PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $491,397 | 2024 | PALEY TELEVISON FESTIVAL |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $110,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | PALEY ART CENTER |
| THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| REACH PREP | STAMFORD, CT | $70,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MADISON SQUARE BOYS GIRLS CLUB FOUN | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | ADA CONSULTING |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | General Operating Support |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE POLIN MUSEU | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | INNOVATION FUND |
| SANTA MONICA TEMPLE ASSOCIATION CON | SANTA MONICA, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OXFORD HOUSE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLEAN SOBER STREETS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WASHINGTON PROJECT FOR THE ART | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VET | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
$3,050,106GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
$2,000,000GJG GRANT
GREENPARK FOUNDATION
$1,306,833PALEY PARK - PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION
$533,000CAPITAL PLEDGE
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
$500,000PALEY TELEVISON FESTIVAL
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
$110,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION
$100,000PALEY ART CENTER
THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION
$100,000Innovation
THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE
$50,000General Operating Support
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$50,000General Operating Support
SANTA MONICA TEMPLE ASSOCIATION CON
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MADISON SQ BOYS GIRLS CLUB FOUNDATI
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
REACH PREP
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TRILATERAL COMMISSION NORTH AMERICA
$25,000General Operating Support
LONG BEACH ISLAND FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WASHINGTON PROJECT FOR THE ART
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SO OTHERS MAY EAT
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLEAN SOBER STREETS INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OXFORD HOUSE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VET
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE ROCKFELLER UNIVERSITY
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WEST HILL POND ASSOCIATION
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TOMLINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA
$10,000ART DEPARTMENT
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SECOND STAGE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$5,000DEPT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
VETERANS YOGA PROJECT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SAFE HORIZON INC
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
$32,891,939GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
$2,884,935GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE GREENPARK FOUNDATION
$1,424,199PALEY PARK - PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
$491,397PALEY TELEVISON FESTIVAL
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
$110,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION
$100,000PALEY ART CENTER
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
REACH PREP
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MADISON SQUARE BOYS GIRLS CLUB FOUN
$50,000ADA CONSULTING
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$50,000General Operating Support
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE POLIN MUSEU
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE JERUSALEM FOUNDATION
$50,000INNOVATION FUND
SANTA MONICA TEMPLE ASSOCIATION CON
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OXFORD HOUSE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLEAN SOBER STREETS INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WASHINGTON PROJECT FOR THE ART
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VET
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT