The Y A Istel Foundation prioritizes cultural and arts organizations—particularly theater and international cultural exchange—while making occasional gifts to higher education/medical institutions and information-access initiatives. Grants skew toward mid-to-large amounts and include multiple repeat awards to arts groups, indicating sustained partnerships rather than one-off support. The foundation appears interested in programs that promote cultural diplomacy (notably French and Irish-focused organizations) and community-facing arts access.
Concentrated, mid-to-large grants with several repeat grantees; funding is focused primarily on arts and cultural organizations with selective giving to education/medical and information-access causes.
A defining feature of Y a Istel Foundation Inc is its repeated support for cultural and performing arts organizations, especially New York theater. White Bird Productions Inc received $100,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2025, while Irish Repertory Theatre Company Inc received $66,194 in 2023 and $44,827 in 2025, showing a pattern of continued backing rather than isolated awards. The foundation also supports institutions tied to Franco-American and Irish cultural exchange, with the French-american Foundation receiving $70,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2025. Alongside arts and cultural work, the funder makes grants to academic medicine, libraries, and selected community-serving organizations, including Weill Cornell Medicine, Libraries Without Borders, and The Public Theatre. Its recent awards range from five figures to six figures, and the recipient list shows a strong concentration in New York City. The grant record suggests a foundation that uses discretionary support to maintain programs, sustain organizations, and reinforce long-running institutional relationships across culture, education, and information access.
Performing arts are a central thread in the foundation’s giving. White Bird Productions Inc received $100,000 in 2024, and The Public Theatre received $10,000 in 2024, both marked to support the donee’s charitable mission. Irish repertory work also appears prominently through Irish Repertory Theatre Company Inc, which received $44,827 in 2025 and $25,239 in 2024. Cultural diplomacy is another visible theme. The French-american Foundation received $70,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2025, while La Maison Francaise NYU received $12,500 in 2023. In the information-access space, Libraries Without Borders US received $15,000 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2024. The foundation also supports medical research and care through Weill Cornell Medicine, which received $65,000 in 2024, $40,000 in 2023, and $28,000 in 2025.
Typical grants are modest relative to the foundation’s larger awards: the distribution is p25 $1,000, median $1,500, and p75 $5,557. The recent record also includes several larger discretionary gifts, suggesting a mix of routine support and major commitments. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Weill Cornell Medicine, the French-american Foundation, Libraries Without Borders US, and Irish Repertory Theatre Company Inc, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-off grants. The foundation is not a funder of individuals and does not make program-related investments. The awards shown are framed as support for the donee’s charitable mission, consistent with flexible grant support.
$202K
$285K
$351K
$213K
Most grants fall between $1K and $6K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Notable grantees: Weill Cornell Medicine, White Bird Productions Inc, Irish Repertory Theatre Company Inc, French-American Foundation, Libraries Without Borders
Giving is heavily centered in New York. The top state by grant count is NY, and 89% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. New York City appears repeatedly through recipient locations such as New York, NY, with additional in-state support to Brooklyn, NY. Outside New York, the recent grants list includes San Diego, CA for Foundation for Animal Care and Education. The recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic: all recent grants shown went to US organizations.
The recent grants point to arts and culture, cultural exchange, academic medicine, libraries, and some animal welfare. Examples include theater organizations, Franco-American and Irish cultural groups, Weill Cornell Medicine, Libraries Without Borders US, and Foundation for Animal Care and Education.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Weill Cornell Medicine, the French-american Foundation, Libraries Without Borders US, and Irish Repertory Theatre Company Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than single awards.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $1,000, median $1,500, and p75 $5,557. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $100,000 to White Bird Productions Inc and $70,000 to the French-american Foundation.
NY is the top state by grant count, and 89% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include New York, NY and Brooklyn, NY, with one grant to San Diego, CA.
The grants are repeatedly described as being made to support the donee’s charitable mission. That wording appears across arts, cultural, medical, and information-access recipients in the recent grant list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $44,827 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $28,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| WHITE BIRD PRODUCTIONS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| AMERICA PRESS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,363 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| LIBRARIES WITHOUT BORDERS US | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| REMARQUE INSTITUTE NYU | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| JACQUES PEPIN FOUNDATION BARRINGTON | NEW YORK, NY | $6,218 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| ALI FORNEY CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,609 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| FRENCH-AMERICAN FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| ACTORS CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $3,273 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| BUILDONORG | STAMFORD, CT | $2,586 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| COMMON GOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| PARIS REVIEW FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| CITY CENTER TICKETS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,998 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE OF THE HAMPTONS INC | BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | $1,800 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| GOFUNDMECOM 1100 EUR | NEW YORK, NY | $1,239 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| WWWIMADIORG MD | SILVER SPRING, MD | $1,030 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| SSP FATHERMCKENNANCENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,010 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| NYU GLUCKSMAN IRELAND NYU EDU | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| SAG HARBOR SONG FESTIVAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| CITTAORG | TOMS RIVER, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM | PRINCETON, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| THE SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| TOBYPROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| THE CRIMSONCOM | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| PRIMARY STAGES | NEW YORK, NY | $800 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| NY PUBLIC LIBRARYNYPLBRARYSCHOOMLPA | NEW YORK, NY | $750 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| GOFUNDMECOM 58750 EUR | NEW YORK, NY | $665 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| FRICK COLLECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $650 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| GOFUNDME HELP CANIO'S BOOKS | NEW YORK, NY | $595 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| BONNIE'S ANIMAL RESCUE KINGDOMBARK | PARAMUS, NJ | $500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $468 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $150 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $100 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| WHITE BIRD PRODUCTIONS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| FRENCH-AMERICAN FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $65,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,239 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| FOUNDATION FOR ANIMAL CARE AND EDUCATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| AMERICA MEDIA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| LIBRARIES WITHOUT BORDERS US | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| THE PUBLIC THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| REMARQUE INSTITUTE - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| CLINTON FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,150 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
| ALI FORNEY CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $2,591 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION. |
WHITE BIRD PRODUCTIONS INC
$25,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
AMERICA PRESS INC
$15,363TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
REMARQUE INSTITUTE NYU
$10,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
JACQUES PEPIN FOUNDATION BARRINGTON
$6,218TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
FRENCH-AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$5,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
ACTORS CENTER INC
$3,273TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
COMMON GOOD
$2,500TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
PARIS REVIEW FOUNDATION
$2,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
CITY CENTER TICKETS
$1,998TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE OF THE HAMPTONS INC
$1,800TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
GOFUNDMECOM 1100 EUR
$1,239TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
WWWIMADIORG MD
$1,030TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
SSP FATHERMCKENNANCENTER
$1,010TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
NYU GLUCKSMAN IRELAND NYU EDU
$1,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
SAG HARBOR SONG FESTIVAL INC
$1,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
CITTAORG
$1,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM
$1,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
TOBYPROJECT
$1,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
THE CRIMSONCOM
$1,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
NY PUBLIC LIBRARYNYPLBRARYSCHOOMLPA
$750TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
GOFUNDMECOM 58750 EUR
$665TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
FRICK COLLECTION
$650TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
GOFUNDME HELP CANIO'S BOOKS
$595TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$500TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
BONNIE'S ANIMAL RESCUE KINGDOMBARK
$500TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$150TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
WHITE BIRD PRODUCTIONS INC
$100,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
FRENCH-AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$70,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
AMERICA MEDIA
$20,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
THE PUBLIC THEATRE
$10,000TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.
CLINTON FOUNDATION
$5,150TO SUPPORT DONEE'S CHARITABLE MISSION.