The Nagen Project Inc concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life, Israel advocacy, and efforts to combat antisemitism, with a secondary interest in national security research that intersects with pro-Israel policy. It funds campus-focused Jewish engagement and advocacy organizations as well as policy and research centers that defend and promote Israel and Jewish interests. Grants are often programmatic and advocacy-oriented rather than general philanthropy, and the foundation repeatedly supports a small set of organizations that advance these aims.
The Nagen Project Inc has made antisemitism a central through line in its recent grantmaking, with large awards to Jewish Institute for Liberal Values and Hillel International alongside repeated support for organizations working on Jewish advocacy, campus engagement, and Israel-related public education. The pattern is not broad general philanthropy; it is targeted, with grants that often specify fighting antisemitism, strengthening Jewish student life, or advancing pro-Israel education and outreach. That focus appears in both the size and the recipient mix, from six-figure commitments to policy and advocacy groups to smaller awards for legal and educational organizations. The foundation also backs research and advocacy tied to U.S. national security and Israel. Its recent grants include support for The Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Lawfare Project, as well as recurring support for Central Fund of Israel and Boundless Israel. Together, those awards show a funder that uses programmatic grants to support Jewish communal interests, campus-based work, and policy-oriented efforts rather than a wide general operating portfolio.
Campus Jewish life is one of the clearest themes in the foundation’s portfolio. In 2024, it gave $250,000 to Hillel International to assist college campus Jewish students, then followed with a $150,000 grant in 2025 to the same organization to fight antisemitism. It also supported the Israel on Campus Coalition with $35,000 in 2025 for the same purpose. Another major thread is anti-antisemitism advocacy and legal response. The Lawfare Project received $25,000 in 2025 to fight antisemitism, while the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism received $35,000 in 2023 for the fight against antisemitism. The foundation also funds pro-Israel education and outreach. Friends of ELNET received $25,000 in 2024 to educate other regions about Israel, and Reut USA received $5,000 in 2023 for impact areas important for the future of Israel, the Jewish people and the global society.
Typical grants cluster at the middle of the distribution: p25 is $25,000, median is $35,000, and p75 reaches $200,000. The recent record shows both larger programmatic awards and a steady band of smaller grants at $25,000 to $35,000. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, Hillel International, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Boundless Israel Inc, and Central Fund of Israel. The foundation is a private grantmaker under the leadership of Richard Gitlin, not an individual-giving vehicle, and the grants shown are programmatic or purpose-specific rather than unrestricted by default.
$745K
$1.4M
$3.1M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $25K and $200K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 9% of grants go to recipients in OH.
RICHARD GITLIN
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Concentrated giving: a small number of sizable grants account for the bulk of giving, with repeated multi-year or repeat grants to core grantees. Funding is skewed toward advocacy, research, and campus outreach organizations rather than broad-based local service providers.
Notable grantees: Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, Hillel International, Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Central Fund of Israel, Israel on Campus Coalition
Grantmaking is national, with every recent grant landing in the United States. Ohio appears most often in the recipient mix, driven by repeated grants to Columbus-based Jewish Institute for Liberal Values. Washington, DC is another frequent destination, including Hillel International, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and the Israel on Campus Coalition. Other recipient hubs include New York, MA cities such as Belmont, Gloucester, and Waltham, plus Cedarhurst, NY, Skokie, IL, Storrs, CT, and Woodland Hills, CA. Connecticut recipients make up 9% of grants.
The foundation focuses on Jewish communal life, Israel advocacy, and efforts to combat antisemitism. Recent grants also show support for campus Jewish engagement, pro-Israel education and outreach, and national security research connected to Israel-oriented policy work.
The distribution centers on mid-sized grants. The 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $35,000, and the 75th percentile is $200,000.
Yes. Recent grants show repeated support for Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, Hillel International, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Boundless Israel Inc, and Central Fund of Israel across multiple years.
Its grants are national, but Ohio appears most often in the recipient mix. Washington, DC is also a frequent destination, along with New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, and California.
Recipients include campus Jewish organizations, advocacy and legal groups, policy and research centers, and charities supporting Israel. Examples in the recent record include Hillel International, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, The Lawfare Project, Central Fund of Israel, and Friends of ELNET.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR LIBERAL VALUES | COLUMBUS, OH | $275,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| HILLEL INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| BOUNDLESS ISRAEL INC | WALTHAMM, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| ISGAP | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| GEVURAH FUND | GLOUCESTER, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| THE LAWFARE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| MERIT SPREAD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM |
| Jewish Institute for Liberal Values | Columbus, OH | $415,950 | 2024 | Raise awareness of social justice. |
| Hillel International | Washington, DC | $250,000 | 2024 | Assist college campus Jewish students. |
| The Foundation for Defence of Democracies | Washinbgton, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | Focus on national security. |
| Central Fund of Israel | Cedarhurst, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | Support charitable activities in Israel. |
| Boundless Israel Inc | Belmont, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | Combatting anti- semitism. |
| Friends of ELNET | Skokie, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | Educate other regions about Israel. |
| UCONN Foundation | Storrs, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | General support for education purposes. |
| The Foundation for Defense of Democracies | Washington, DC | $280,000 | 2023 | Fund research on strengthening US security. |
| Jewish Institute for Liberal Values | Columbus, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | Fund Jewish groups on opposition to Critical Social Justice. |
| Foundation to Combat Antisemitism | Moundridge, KS | $35,000 | 2023 | Support fight against antisemitism. |
| Reut USA | Woodland Hills, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | Impact areas important for future of Israel, the Jewish people and the global society. |
JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR LIBERAL VALUES
$275,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
HILLEL INTERNATIONAL
$150,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
THE FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY
$150,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION
$35,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
BOUNDLESS ISRAEL INC
$25,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL
$25,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
ISGAP
$25,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
GEVURAH FUND
$25,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
THE LAWFARE PROJECT
$25,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
MERIT SPREAD FOUNDATION
$10,000TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM
Jewish Institute for Liberal Values
$415,950Raise awareness of social justice.
Hillel International
$250,000Assist college campus Jewish students.
The Foundation for Defence of Democracies
$150,000Focus on national security.
Central Fund of Israel
$25,000Support charitable activities in Israel.
Boundless Israel Inc
$25,000Combatting anti- semitism.
Friends of ELNET
$25,000Educate other regions about Israel.
UCONN Foundation
$25,000General support for education purposes.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies
$280,000Fund research on strengthening US security.
Jewish Institute for Liberal Values
$50,000Fund Jewish groups on opposition to Critical Social Justice.
Foundation to Combat Antisemitism
$35,000Support fight against antisemitism.
Reut USA
$5,000Impact areas important for future of Israel, the Jewish people and the global society.