Susan & Leonard Feinstein Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Susan & Leonard Feinstein Foundation supports Jewish-related causes in the U.S. and Israel.  It also makes grants to support community development, healthcare access and arts and culture groups, primarily in the New York City-area.

IP TAKE: This funder is not accessible or approachable. It takes a proactive approach to grantmaking based on the family’s evolving interests. It restrains information about it’s grantmaking habits by keeping a low profile, not maintaining a website, or providing a clear way to get in contact or apply for support. It does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. This is a tough nut to crack unless you know one of the family members or unless you can convince one of their previous grantees to make an introduction.

Progressive grantseekers should note that this is a more conservative foundation.

PROFILE: The Susan & Leonard Feinstein Foundation is the family foundation of Leonard Feinstein and his wife, Susan. Feinstein co-founded Bed Bath & Beyond in 1971. Based in Jericho, New York, the foundation's philanthropy geographically focuses on the Northeast, particularly New York City, and Israel. Jewish causes are a main grantmaking focus, along with health, diseases and arts and culture. The foundation does not have a website and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. 

Grants for Jewish Causes and Community Development

While the Feinstein Foundation does not appear to have clearly defined grantmaking programs or funding priorities, tax records show strong and broad support for Jewish causes and Israel. In the U.S., the foundation makes several grants for the UJA Federation. It has given strong support to the American Israel Education Foundation, the charitable organization affiliated with AIPAC, America's pro-Israel lobby. Other grantees in this arena include Friends of ELNET, which "unites Europeans and Israelis who believe that close relations between Europe and Israel. . . are vital to both," and Friends of Israel Defense Forces.

The Foundation has also given grants to places like Gurwin Jewish Geriatric Foundation, which supports the Gurwin Jewish Nursing Home in Commack, NY, as well as to Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, and American Friends of SHALVA-The Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel. The Feinsteins also support Jewish community and youth development groups, including Westfield Hadassah, Bergen County YJCC and Berkshire Hills Emanuel Camp, among others.

A significant portion of Jewish giving goes to organizations focused on Israel.

Grants for Diseases and Public Health and Access

In addition to support for Jewish causes, which appears to be Feinstein’s funding priority, the foundation also strongly gives to groups working in the health and healthcare space.

The Feinstein foundation has given millions to North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, now called Northwell Health, including a $25 million gift in 2017. They established the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research as well as the Susan and Leonard Feinstein Center for Neuroscience at what is now Northwell.

Other previous health and access grantees include Mount Sinai Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Head Injury Foundation, and Nichlaus Childrens Health for children’s hospital care.

Grants for Arts and Culture

Again, while the foundation does not seem to have an official program focused on arts and culture, tax filings indicate a strong interest in the area. Past grants tend to favor organizations based in New York City, although not exclusively. Previous grantees include Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Ballet Theatre, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Carnegie Hall Society, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The foundation has also supported New York City’s Jewish Museum, where Susan has served as a trustee, and the American Friends of the Israel Museum.

Important Grant Details:

With only a few exceptions, grant amounts here tend to be modest, with most ranging from just a few hundred dollars to around $200,000. The average size is $10,000. For additional information about this funder’s grantmaking, see its recent tax filings.

This funder does not appear to accept unsolicited requests for funding. An address and phone number are provided below.

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CONTACT:

Susan & Leonard Feinstein Foundation

2 Jericho Plz.

Jericho, NY 11753

Telephone: (516) 822-3254