Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to policy and the environment, Jewish causes, education, and the arts. It also supports health and human services organizations.

IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. This funder is not very approachable and does not provide a clear way to get in touch, leaving grantseekers with the need to network here.

PROFILE: The Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation was established in 1999. It was founded by investor Michael W. Sonnenfeldt and his wife Katja Goldman. Michael worked as a real estate investor, as well as in energy. He also founded TIGER 21, a membership organization for high-net-worth wealth creators. The foundation lacks transparency, which restricts further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies.

Grants for Jewish Causes

According to tax filings, the  Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation appears to primarily fund grantmaking related to Jewish causes. Katja is active in Jewish communal life and is known as the unofficial challah teacher of the Upper West Side. Sonnenfeldt, meanwhile, co-founded the Israel Policy Forum (IPF) in 1993 to support the Middle East peace process and promote Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state by advancing a diplomatic resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Sonnenfeldt is also on the board of Earthjustice.

Grants for Environment, Education, Arts and Culture, Public Health and Access, and Community Development

In addition to Jewish causes and Israel, the foundation also supports a grab bag of issues, including policy and the environment, education, the arts, health and human services organizations.

Sonnenfeldt supports his alma mater MIT. Some of this work has focused on environmental sustainability and climate change through MIT's Sustainability Initiative.  

Past grantees include Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Harlem Village Academies, Yale University (the couple's daughter Joya graduated from the school), The Met, New York Historical Society, MoMA, Brandeis University, Abraham Joshua Heschel School, and New York Presbyterian Fund.

Important Grant Details

Grants range from $85 to $940,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $1.7 million. While the Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Foundation keeps a low profile, it does accept applications. It does not indicate a deadline. 

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

Michael Sonnenfeldt
c/o Ganer Ganer 1995 Broadway 16 FL
New York, NY 10023
212-873-1472
robert@ganer.com