Goldberg Nash Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation supports Jewish causes, education, arts and culture and health with a strong focus on New York City.

IP TAKE: The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation’s giving has decreased significantly over the past several years, but the foundation continues to support a corps of grantees, most of them in New York City, making it harder for foundations not based there to attract their funding attention. However, it still makes some grants nationally.

This foundation is not accessible or transparent. It does not maintain a website or accept unsolicited applications, so gaining its attention will be challenging. Grantseekers may try to reach out via the general email for Ulysses Management, founder Joshua Nash’s firm, or via the contact information provided below. This is going to be tough nut to crack.

PROFILE: The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation was established in New York City in 1989 by Joshua Nash and his wife, Beth Nash. Joshua Nash is the son of the late Jack Nash, who was president of the Oppenheimer & Co. investment bank. Joshua Nash graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and is the president of Ulysses Management, an investment firm that manages over $1 billion. He is also the chairman of the board of the Birthright Israel Foundation. Beth Nash holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia Business School. She worked for several years at Goldman Sachs and CREF before founding her own investment firm. She is a founder of the Sadie Nash Leadership Project and the New York University School of Law’s Carr Center for Reproductive Justice. The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information about its specific funding practices. Tax filings, however, reveal interest in Jewish causes, education, health and arts and culture. Grantmaking appears to prioritize the greater New York City area.

Grants for Jewish Causes

The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation’s giving for Jewish causes appears to center around cultural and educational organizations. The foundation provides ongoing support to the Birthright Israel Foundation, where Joshua Nash serves as chair, as well as the United Jewish Appeal Federation, the Jewish Education Project and the American Jewish Committee. Recent funding has also gone to Jewish cultural organizations, including the Jewish Museum, the Museum of Jewish Heritage and Friends of Ir David, which raises funds for the preservation of the biblical City of David in Israel.

Grants for Higher Education

The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation does not have a higher education program, but does give broadly in this space according to the family’s personal affiliations and interests. This funder provides ongoing support to the University of Pennsylvania, which is Joshua and Beth’s alma mater. The foundation also supports New York University, where helped establish the Carr Center for Reproductive Justice.

Grants for K-12 Education

The foundation’s K-12 education grantees include New York City’s Ethical Culture Fieldston School and the Advantage Testing Foundation, which “seeks to advance the aspirations of students of every socioeconomic background by expanding their educational opportunities.” Both recipients have received annual support over the past several years. The foundation has also given to the nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves.

Grants for Arts and Culture

Goldberg Nash’s arts and culture grantmaking is mainly limited to landmark arts organizations in and around New York City. Recent recipients include the Carnegie Hall Society, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Public Theater and the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation.

Grants for Public Health and Access

Health is a smaller area of giving for the Goldberg Nash Family Foundation. Past grantees in this area include the Weill Cornell Medical College, New York University’s Langone Medical Center and the Dysautonomia Foundation.

Important Grant Details:

The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation made under $900,000 in grants in a recent year. Giving has decreased over the past several years. The foundation’s grants range from $1,000 to $300,000, with an average grant size of about $15,000. This funder focuses almost exclusively on the New York City area and tends to give to the same grantees year after year. For additional information about its past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings.

The Goldberg Nash Family Foundation does not accept applications for funding, choosing instead to support preselected organizations. This funder does not provide a direct avenue for getting in touch, but contact information is provided below. Grantseekers may also try getting in touch via Ulysses Management’s general email.  

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CONTACT:

Goldberg Nash Family Foundation

1 Rockefeller Plaza, 20th Fl.

New York, NY 10020

(212) 455-6288