
The Jerome Levy Foundation concentrates large, targeted grants to higher education and research institutions in New York, with recurring multi-year support for both private (Barnard College) and public (City College) campus initiatives. Its portfolio also includes strategic grants to policy/innovation intermediaries and Jewish communal life, showing a mix of project, operating and endowment funding rather than many small gifts. The foundation favors significant, mission-focused investments that sustain institutions and specific programs rather than broad, grassroots giving.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of repeat grantees (multiple multi-grant commitments per organization), mixing project and operating support alongside occasional endowment gifts; few total recipients but large per-grant amounts.
A defining feature of Jerome Levy Foundation’s recent grantmaking is the repeated seven-figure support for Barnard College and The Foundation for City College, showing a sustained commitment to New York higher education rather than one-off gifts. Those awards sit alongside additional funding for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which points to a parallel interest in research capacity. The foundation also backs Jewish communal and cultural life through grants to Congregation Shir Shalom and The Bridge Fund of New York, and it has made larger support available to policy and advocacy intermediaries such as New Venture Fund and Academic Engagement Network. Across these grants, the foundation uses project support, operating support, and endowment support, with some awards described broadly as furthering the donee’s exempt purpose. Recent individual grants also appear in the record, including an educational grant to Kristin Johnson and the Moynihan Center Public Service Fellows program in New York City. Taken together, the pattern is one of targeted, institution-focused funding for higher education, research, and selected cultural or civic organizations.
In undergraduate education, Jerome Levy Foundation backed Barnard College with $1,006,280 in 2025 and $916,000 in 2024, both tied to the college’s exempt purpose or project support. Public higher education also appears prominently: The Foundation for City College received $880,062 in 2025 and $840,435 in 2024, again through project support or exempt-purpose grants. Scientific research shows up through a $500,000 grant to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 2023. The foundation also funds civic and policy work, including $150,000 to Academic Engagement Network in 2025 for operating support. In Jewish communal life, Congregation Shir Shalom received $250,000 in 2025 as endowment support, reflecting a long-term financial-stability orientation in that area.
Typical grants cluster in a wide band, with a 25th percentile of $12,500, a median of $30,000, and a 75th percentile of $250,000. The distribution shows a few very large institutional awards alongside many smaller grants. Several recipients recur across multiple years, including Barnard College, The Foundation for City College, New Venture Fund, Congregation Shir Shalom, The Jed Foundation, United Way of Westchester & Putnam, The Bridge Fund of New York Inc, Westchester Land Trust Inc, and Westport Country Playhouse. Jerome Levy Foundation is an operating, project, and endowment funder, and it funds individuals as well as organizations. The active grants information says grantmaking is invitation-only and that unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry are not accepted.
$2.6M
$43.6M
$1.2M
$3M
Most grants fall between $13K and $250K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 68% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Jerome Levy Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 33 | $7.7M | 97.1% |
| 2 | Bahamas | 1 | $54K |
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Notable grantees: Barnard College, The Foundation for City College, New Venture Fund, Congregation Shir Shalom, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Jerome Levy Foundation gives primarily in New York: 68% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and New York is also the top state by grant count. New York City is the main hub, with major awards to organizations there and in nearby places such as White Plains and Bedford Hills. Outside New York, recipient locations in the recent-grants list include Washington, DC; Ridgefield, CT; Westport, CT; and COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY. The recipient-country data shows grants are overwhelmingly in the United States, with a small share in Burkina Faso.
No. The foundation’s grantmaking is invitation-only, and the active grant programs state that it does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry.
The grant-size distribution centers on a $30,000 median, with a 25th percentile of $12,500 and a 75th percentile of $250,000. Recent grants also include several seven-figure awards to major institutions.
The foundation supports New York higher education, neuroscience, Jewish culture, human rights and civil liberties, arts and humanities, and public-service fellowships. Recent grants show these areas in practice through support for colleges, research institutions, cultural organizations, and civic intermediaries.
It funds both. The foundation metadata says it funds individuals, and the recent-grants list includes an educational grant to Kristin Johnson, alongside many organizational awards.
Yes. New York is the top state by grant count, and 68% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards also cluster around New York City and nearby places such as White Plains and Bedford Hills.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,006,280 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $880,062 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT SUPPORT |
| ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT NETWORK | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE JED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC | BEDFORD HILLS, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE | WESTPORT, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ELNOR INC | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $916,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $840,435 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE JED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC | BEDFORD HILLS, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE | WESTPORT, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ELNOR INC | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LEWISBORO LAND TRUST | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $865,538 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $760,475 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM | RIDGEFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| KRISTIN JOHNSON | QUEENS HIGHWAY | $53,690 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL GRANT |
| THE JED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC | BEDFORD HILLS, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE | WESTPORT, CT | $10,000 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LEWISBORO LAND TRUST | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $1,930 | 2023 | A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
BARNARD COLLEGE
$1,006,280PROJECT SUPPORT
THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE
$880,062PROJECT SUPPORT
NEW VENTURE FUND
$250,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM
$250,000ENDOWMENT SUPPORT
ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT NETWORK
$150,000OPERATING SUPPORT
THE JED FOUNDATION
$30,000OPERATING SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM
OPERATING SUPPORT
THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC
$15,000OPERATING SUPPORT
WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
ELNOR INC
$5,000OPERATING SUPPORT
BARNARD COLLEGE
$916,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE
$840,435A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM
$250,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW VENTURE FUND
$250,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE JED FOUNDATION
$30,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC
$25,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM
$25,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC
$15,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
$10,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
ELNOR INC
$5,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
LEWISBORO LAND TRUST
$2,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BARNARD COLLEGE
$865,538A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE FOUNDATION FOR CITY COLLEGE
$760,475A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
$500,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEW VENTURE FUND
$250,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM
$250,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
KRISTIN JOHNSON
$53,690EDUCATIONAL GRANT
THE JED FOUNDATION
$30,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER & PUTNAM
$25,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THE BRIDGE FUND OF NEW YORK INC
$15,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST INC
$10,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
$10,000A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
LEWISBORO LAND TRUST
$1,930A GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE