The Ralph Landau Foundation concentrates large, strategic gifts on scientific research, science education/outreach, and coastal/environmental restoration, primarily supporting well-established research institutions and university programs. Grants are few but sizable and often repeat commitments to the same organizations, with a tilt toward New York-area institutions and national science museums/labs. The foundation appears to favor program-building (capital or program funds) and digital/educational initiatives that broaden access to science.
A defining feature of the Ralph Landau Foundation is its sustained support for marine and coastal restoration at Stony Brook, including the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program and related endowments for the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences. That pattern sits alongside large commitments to science education and research infrastructure, such as a $2,000,000 gift to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to establish the Ralph & Claire Landau Education Fund for educational programs. The foundation also backs public-facing science history work, including the Science History Institute’s Going Digital to Go Global initiative, and it has supported veterinary training through Cornell University’s Aquavet program. Its grantmaking shows a preference for established institutions and named funds rather than broad, one-off charitable giving. Recent awards reach universities, labs, museums, and research centers, with a mix of program support, endowment support, fellowships, and faculty-related funding. The Foundation’s support for Stony Brook includes restoration work, graduate support, a professorship fund, and career catalyst awards, which points to repeated investment in the same institutional ecosystem over multiple years. Other grants extend to agricultural viability, community health, and public engagement projects, but the overall profile is anchored in science, environmental restoration, and institutional capacity building.
In coastal and marine restoration, the foundation gave $1,223,610 to Stony Brook Foundation for the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program Phase IV, after a $1,035,498 grant in 2024 for Phase IV of the same effort. It also supported Stony Brook’s School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences through an $800,000 endowment for the Maze-Landeau Fellowships & Graduate Fund for Excellence. For science education, the foundation provided $2,000,000 to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to establish the Ralph & Claire Landau Education Fund in support of educational programs, and later gave $375,000 for the DNALC NYC Partner Program with NYC Public Schools. In science communication and public access, it funded the Science History Institute’s Going Digital to Go Global Initiative with $850,000 in 2025 and $400,000 in 2024. The foundation also supports veterinary education and training. Cornell University received $96,250 for the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Annual Fund (Aquavet Program), following earlier grants of $87,500 in both 2023 and 2024 for the same program.
$11.5M
$48.1M
$6.4M
$5.4M
Most grants fall between $2K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 47% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, high-value grants with repeat funding to a small set of flagship research and education institutions rather than many small awards; mix of program/capital support and designated education funds.
Notable grantees: Stony Brook Foundation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Science History Institute, Trustees of Princeton University (annual giving)
Typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, but recent giving includes much larger awards to a small set of institutions. The pattern is repeat-oriented: Stony Brook Foundation, Science History Institute, Cornell University, and Americans in Wartime Museum all appear across multiple years, and several grants recur to the same named purpose. The foundation is a private foundation with a reported $48,056,462 in assets, gives directly to institutions, and also funds individuals. It does not make program-related investments.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with all 149 grants going to U.S. organizations. New York is the top state by grant count, and 46% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent awards cluster in Stony Brook and Cold Spring Harbor in New York, with additional grants in Philadelphia, Princeton, Ithaca, Fairfax, Washington, DC, and Bristol. The geographic profile is regional rather than national in reach.
Its recent grants go mainly to universities, research institutes, and foundations tied to scientific and educational work. Examples include Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Stony Brook Foundation, Science History Institute, Cornell University, and Princeton University-affiliated annual giving.
The distribution is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger, program-building gifts such as $2,000,000 to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and $1,223,610 to Stony Brook Foundation.
Yes. Stony Brook Foundation appears in multiple years for the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program and related marine-science support. Science History Institute, Cornell University, and Americans in Wartime Museum also receive repeat grants across consecutive years.
The record centers on coastal and marine restoration, science education and public access, biomedical and life-science research infrastructure, veterinary education, and some agricultural viability and community health funding. Named examples include Shinnecock Bay restoration, the DNALC NYC Partner Program, and the Aquavet Program.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $1,223,610 | 2025 | Shinecock Bay Restoration Program Phase IV |
| SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $850,000 | 2025 | Going Digital to Go Global Initiative |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $800,000 | 2025 | Establish the Maze-Landeau Fellowships & Graduate Fund for Excellence Endowment for the benefit of the School of Marine & Atmoshpheric Sciences |
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ANNUAL GIVING | PRINCETON, NJ | $400,000 | 2025 | Annual giving Class of '79 |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $375,000 | 2025 | Support the DNALC NYC Partner Program with NYC Public Schools |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | Mihgua Zhang Faculty Career Catalyst Award for the Benefit of the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | Dean's Advisory Council Endowed Professorship for the Benefit of the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | Maze-Landeau Fellowship & Graduate Student Funds for the benefit of the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $96,250 | 2025 | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Annual Fund (Aquavet Program) |
| AMERICANS IN WARTIME EXPERIENCE | FAIRFAX, VA | $92,500 | 2025 | Voices of Freedom Project |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $85,500 | 2025 | The Centre Valbio Community Health Team Fund in Madagascar |
| SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $82,000 | 2025 | Support European office activities |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $65,402 | 2025 | 2023 Aquavet Program |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | Double Helix Medal |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Women's Partnership for Science |
| ATLANTIC MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | HAMPTON BAYS, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| DOLAN DNA LEARNING CENTER | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund |
| CARING HOUSE INC | DURHAM, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY | BRISTOL, RI | $15,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | Marie Curie Giving Circle - Annual giving |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY & AQUARIUM | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| NEW YORK MARINE RESCUE CENTER | RIVERHEAD, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| SMITHTOWN HUNT | CENTEREACH, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| BOXERWOOD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | LEXINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden |
| AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | STONY BROOK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Women's Leadership Council Fund |
| THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY | COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Annual giving - Main Lab |
| ASAC FOUNDATION | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| SHENANDOAH VALLEY CONSERVANCY | Harrisonburg, VA | $7,500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,500 | 2025 | Engineering Annual Giving Fund |
| NORTH SHORE LAND ALLIANCE | OYSTER BAY, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| PRINCETON PROSPECT FOUNDATION | PRINCETON, NJ | $4,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| HORSES IN THE HOOD | TARZANA, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,000 | 2025 | Trustees' Council of Penn Women Fund |
| MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY | WOODS HOLE, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | Annual fund |
| MONTEBELLO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | MONTEBELLO, VA | $1,500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| TRUSTEES PRINCETON UNIVERSITY FRIENDS OF OUTDOOR ACTION | PRINCETON, NJ | $1,500 | 2025 | Friends of Outdoor Action |
| FRIENDS OF EIM | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,150 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| THE AMERICAN DRIVING SOCIETY | CROSS PLAINS, WI | $1,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| EQUINE LAND CONSERVATION RESOURCE | LEXINGTON, KY | $750 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY | EASTON, MD | $500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT SANCTUARY & AUDOBON CENTER | OYSTER BAY, NY | $500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| VANDERBILT MUSEUM | CENTERPORT, NY | $500 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| UNITED STATES DRIVING FOR THE DISABLED INC | ARROYO GRANDE, CA | $250 | 2025 | Sybil Dukehart Endowment Fund |
| WILDLIFE CENTER OF LONG ISLAND | LOCUST VALLEY, NY | $100 | 2025 | Annual giving |
| WILDLIFE FOREVER | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $100 | 2025 | Annual giving |
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$1,223,610Shinecock Bay Restoration Program Phase IV
SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE
$850,000Going Digital to Go Global Initiative
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$800,000Establish the Maze-Landeau Fellowships & Graduate Fund for Excellence Endowment for the benefit of the School of Marine & Atmoshpheric Sciences
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ANNUAL GIVING
$400,000Annual giving Class of '79
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
$375,000Support the DNALC NYC Partner Program with NYC Public Schools
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$150,000Mihgua Zhang Faculty Career Catalyst Award for the Benefit of the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$100,000Dean's Advisory Council Endowed Professorship for the Benefit of the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$100,000Maze-Landeau Fellowship & Graduate Student Funds for the benefit of the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$96,250Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Annual Fund (Aquavet Program)
AMERICANS IN WARTIME EXPERIENCE
$92,500Voices of Freedom Project
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$85,500The Centre Valbio Community Health Team Fund in Madagascar
SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE
$82,000Support European office activities
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$65,4022023 Aquavet Program
METROPOLITAN OPERA
$60,000Annual giving
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
$30,000Double Helix Medal
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
$25,000Women's Partnership for Science
ATLANTIC MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
$20,000Annual giving
DOLAN DNA LEARNING CENTER
$20,000Annual giving
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$15,000Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund
CARING HOUSE INC
$15,000Annual giving
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY
$15,000Annual giving
SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE
$15,000Marie Curie Giving Circle - Annual giving
COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY & AQUARIUM
$12,500Annual giving
NEW YORK MARINE RESCUE CENTER
$12,500Annual giving
SMITHTOWN HUNT
$10,000Annual giving
BOXERWOOD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$10,000Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden
AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST
$10,000Annual giving
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$10,000Women's Leadership Council Fund
THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION
$10,000Annual giving
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
$10,000Annual giving - Main Lab
ASAC FOUNDATION
$7,500Annual giving
SHENANDOAH VALLEY CONSERVANCY
$7,500Annual giving
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$7,500Engineering Annual Giving Fund
NORTH SHORE LAND ALLIANCE
$5,000Annual giving
PRINCETON PROSPECT FOUNDATION
$4,000Annual giving
HORSES IN THE HOOD
$3,000Annual giving
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$3,000Trustees' Council of Penn Women Fund
MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
$2,000Annual fund
MONTEBELLO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
$1,500Annual giving
TRUSTEES PRINCETON UNIVERSITY FRIENDS OF OUTDOOR ACTION
$1,500Friends of Outdoor Action
FRIENDS OF EIM
$1,150Annual giving
THE AMERICAN DRIVING SOCIETY
$1,000Annual giving
THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM
$1,000Annual giving
EQUINE LAND CONSERVATION RESOURCE
$750Annual giving
EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY
$500Annual giving
THEODORE ROOSEVELT SANCTUARY & AUDOBON CENTER
$500Annual giving
VANDERBILT MUSEUM
$500Annual giving
UNITED STATES DRIVING FOR THE DISABLED INC
$250Sybil Dukehart Endowment Fund
WILDLIFE CENTER OF LONG ISLAND
$100Annual giving
WILDLIFE FOREVER
$100Annual giving