The Zygmunt and Audrey Wilf Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of large gifts, primarily supporting higher education scholarships and major cultural institutions. The foundation's portfolio is dominated by a multi-year, high-value commitment to New York Law School and sizable gifts to leading New York–area arts organizations, indicating a preference for endowment/capital-type support and ongoing institutional sustainability. Its grants suggest a philanthropic interest in law/student access and public-facing arts and culture in the New York metro region.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving: few grants overall with one dominant multi-year recipient (repeat large awards to New York Law School) and several sizable gifts to major arts institutions; emphasis on capital and scholarship/operating support rather than numerous small grants.
A defining feature of the Zygmunt and Audrey Wilf Foundation is its repeated seven-figure support for New York Law School, including $1,000,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs higher education access over time, not just through isolated gifts. The foundation also places large institutional bets on arts and cultural organizations, with multi-year support for groups such as The Public Theater and Walker Art Center. Those grants range from annual support to capital support, showing that the foundation funds both operating needs and long-term infrastructure. A second thread is support for Jewish institutions and community organizations in the New York and New Jersey area, including Park East Synagogue, Yeshiva University, and Ahavath Torah - Chabad at Short Hills. Across its recent grants, the foundation favors large, institutional awards that sustain schools, arts organizations, and community-serving nonprofits.
Higher education is one of the clearest priorities in the foundation’s recent giving. New York Law School received $1,000,000 in 2024 for scholarships and another $1,000,000 in 2025 for program support, and New York University received $153,200 in 2023 for program support plus $110,000 in 2023 for scholarships and $105,000 in 2025 for program support. The arts are another major area. Walker Art Center received $400,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2024 and 2025 for capital support, while The Public Theater received $400,000 in 2025 for annual support and $100,000 in 2024 for annual support. The foundation also supports Jewish communal institutions, including $250,000 to Park East Synagogue in 2025 for benefit support and $100,000 to Yeshiva University in 2025 for benefit support.
Typical grant size is centered on larger institutional awards: the 25th percentile is $7,900, the median is $19,000, and the 75th percentile is $75,000. The recent record also includes repeated seven-figure and six-figure commitments, indicating a portfolio that includes both smaller grants and very large anchor gifts. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including New York Law School, Walker Art Center, The Public Theater, Park East Synagogue, Yeshiva University, and Make the Road New Jersey. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$2.6M
$36.7M
$634K
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $8K and $75K, with a median of $19K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$19K
75th Percentile
$75K
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Notable grantees: New York Law School, Walker Art Center, The Public Theater
The foundation’s giving is regional, with 53% of grants going to recipients in New Jersey, where its headquarters are also located. New York is the most common recipient state by grant count, and many of the largest awards land in New York City organizations such as New York Law School, The Public Theater, Park East Synagogue, and New York University. New Jersey recipients include Ahavath Torah - Chabad at Short Hills, Make the Road New Jersey in Elizabeth, NJ Leep in Newark, and Jewish Family Service of Metrowest in Florham Park. All recent grants in the provided data went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on higher education, arts and culture, and Jewish communal institutions. New York Law School, New York University, Walker Art Center, The Public Theater, Park East Synagogue, and Yeshiva University all received recent support in different forms such as scholarships, annual support, capital support, and benefit support.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is weighted toward smaller awards but includes substantial larger gifts: the 25th percentile is $7,900, the median is $19,000, and the 75th percentile is $75,000. Recent grants also include several $100,000 to $1,000,000 awards.
Yes. New York Law School received three consecutive $1,000,000 grants from 2023 through 2025. Walker Art Center, The Public Theater, Park East Synagogue, Yeshiva University, and Make the Road New Jersey also appear in multiple years, showing a recurring relationship with several institutions.
The foundation gives regionally, and 53% of grants went to recipients in New Jersey. New York is the top state by grant count, and recent recipients cluster in New York City, Newark, Elizabeth, Florham Park, Short Hills, and Minneapolis.
Recent grants include scholarship funding, program support, annual support, general operating support, capital support, and benefit support. That mix suggests the foundation uses several funding modes, with both unrestricted and purpose-specific grants appearing in the recent record.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE PUBLIC THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF METROWEST | FLORHAM PARK, NJ | $125,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NJ LEEP | NEWARK, NJ | $100,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PINGRY SCHOOL | BASKING RIDGE, NJ | $90,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT RUTH | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE | MILLBURN, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PER SCHOLAS INC | BRONX, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIT THE BOOKS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NJ LEEP | NEWARK, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONGREGATION ISRAEL OF SPRINGFIELD | SPRINGFIELD, NJ | $18,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HORIZONS NEWARK INC | SUMMIT, NJ | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MEOR INC | SILVER SPRING, MD | $12,600 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH HERITAGE PROGRAMS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GOLDA OCH ACADEMY INC | WEST ORANGE, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NJ | SUMMIT, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY | MADISON, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| P G CHAMBERS SCHOOL | CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ | $7,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC | BOSTON, MA | $6,667 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CONNIE DWYER BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER METROWEST | WHIPPANY, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AHAVATH TORAH - CHABAD AT SHORT HILLS | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $3,600 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,800 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IAM FAME | NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV | $1,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MILLBURN-SHORT HILLS VOLUNTEER FIRST AID | MILLBURN, NJ | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MILLBURN FIREMAN'S WELFARE ASSOCIATION | MILLBURN, NJ | $500 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT HOSTING OF COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS FIRE SAFETY DEMONSTRATIONS, PROVIDING FUNERAL BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER AND CAREER FIREFIGHTERS |
| TEMPLE BETH AHM YISRAEL | SPRINGFIELD, NJ | $72 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE PUBLIC THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL SUPPORT |
| PARK EAST SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | BENEFIT SUPPORT |
| WALKER ART CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL SUPPORT |
| AHAVATH TORAH - CHABAD AT SHORT HILLS | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $136,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $105,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NJ LEEP | NEWARK, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| YESHIVA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | BENEFIT SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT RUTH | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF METROWEST | FLORHAM PARK, NJ | $75,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PINGRY SCHOOL | BASKING RIDGE, NJ | $70,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | BENEFIT SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL SUPPORT |
NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL
$1,000,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE PUBLIC THEATER
$300,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF METROWEST
$125,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
PINGRY SCHOOL
$90,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT RUTH
$75,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HIT THE BOOKS INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CONGREGATION ISRAEL OF SPRINGFIELD
$18,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HORIZONS NEWARK INC
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NJ
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CONNIE DWYER BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AHAVATH TORAH - CHABAD AT SHORT HILLS
$3,600GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND INC
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
$1,800PROGRAM SUPPORT
IAM FAME
$1,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
MILLBURN-SHORT HILLS VOLUNTEER FIRST AID
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MILLBURN FIREMAN'S WELFARE ASSOCIATION
$500TO SUPPORT HOSTING OF COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS FIRE SAFETY DEMONSTRATIONS, PROVIDING FUNERAL BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER AND CAREER FIREFIGHTERS
TEMPLE BETH AHM YISRAEL
$72GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL
$1,000,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE PUBLIC THEATER
$400,000ANNUAL SUPPORT
PARK EAST SYNAGOGUE
$250,000BENEFIT SUPPORT
WALKER ART CENTER
$200,000CAPITAL SUPPORT
AHAVATH TORAH - CHABAD AT SHORT HILLS
$136,000ANNUAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT RUTH
$75,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
PINGRY SCHOOL
$70,000ANNUAL FUND