Judy and Michael Steinhardt Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Judy and Michael Steinhardt Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of American billionaire hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt. The foundation strongly supports the Jewish community and other causes in New York City. Its grantmaking focuses on Jewish Causes, Education, Health, Arts & Culture, and the New York City Community.

IP TAKE: This foundation is not transparent or accessible. It keeps a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. As with many smaller foundations of this type, networking is likely one of the only ways for grantseekers to secure funding.

PROFILE: The Judy and Michael Steinhardt Foundation is the family foundation of Michael Steinhardt and his wife, Judy. A native of Brooklyn, he received an undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. In 1967, Steinhardt, along with Howard Berkowitz and Jerrold Fine, formed hedge fund company Steinhardt, Fine, Berkowitz & Co. In 1979, Berkowitz and Fine left the partnership, which was then renamed as Steinhardt Partners. He retired and closed the fund in 1995, but in 2004 he remerged to lead WisdomTree, a publicly traded asset manager.

The Steinhardt Foundation does not maintain a website and keeps a low public profile; however, tax records indicate that it has an interest in Jewish causes, education, and health. The foundation has also supported arts and culture organizations, although funding in this area may be impacted by outside concerns. Foundation grantmaking typically aligns with the family’s interests.

Grants for Jewish Causes

While the foundation does not have clearly defined grantmaking programs or funding areas, tax records reveal that support for Jewish causes and Israel are the top priority here. Michael Steinhardt co-founded Taglit Birthright Israel with Charles Bronfman so that young Jews could visit the country. Since its inception in December 1999, Birthright Israel has sent over 500,000 Jewish young adults to Israel. The foundation has given millions to Birthright over the years. Other Steinhardt Foundation grantees include various congregations, as well as places like the Israel Institute, the Jerusalem Foundation, The Jewish High School of Connecticut, and This World: The Jewish Values Network. Steinhardt also endowed the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Ramat Aviv, Israel.

Steinhardt also established a sister foundation to the Judy and Michael Steinhardt Foundation, the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life (SFJL), whose aim is to foster the  "emergence of a thriving, dynamic and creative Jewish community whose contributions to American culture are informed and inspired by distinctive Jewish values that are fully compatible with life in the open society." SFJL's work includes support of Hebrew Language Charter Schools, The Areivim Hebrew at Camp Program, and Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative. 

Grants for K-12 and Higher Education

The Steinhardt Foundation supports institutions of higher learning that have a personal connection to the family. It is a major benefactor of New York University, home to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The foundation gave at least $20 million to NYU last decade and continue to support the school. The foundation has also supported Hillel, Steinhardt Hall, and the Jewish Renaissance Project, all at the University of Pennsylvania, Steinhardt's alma mater. Brandeis, meanwhile, is the site of the Steinhardt Social Research Institute, and NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development works in Jewish education, too. 

Grants for Arts and Culture

The Steinhardts are major art collectors and once kept a comprehensive collection of Judaica. They have given modestly to organizations like American Folk Art Museum, and New York Historical Society, and have given more moderate amounts to places like the Met. It is also worth noting that in a 2021 deal with the Manhattan District Attorney to avoid criminal charges, Steinhardt turned over $70 million in stolen antiquities and received a lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities, which may impact his grantmaking in this area.

Grants for Public Health and Access

The foundation also supports various organizations working in the public health space. Grantees have included Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and ALS Association of Greater New York. 

Grants for Environment and Wildlife Conservation

While it is certainly not a priority area, the foundation has also supported environment and wildlife groups, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy. 

Important Grant Details:

This foundation gives away over $6 million a year, with an average grant size of about $10,000. Most grantmaking stays in New York City.

This foundation does not maintain a website or provide a clear avenue for getting in touch; it does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals or make grants to individuals. An address and phone number are provided below.

CONTACT:

The Judy and Michael Steinhardt Foundation and The Steinhardt Family Foundation do not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch but below are addresses: 

The Judy and Michael Steinhardt Foundation
712 5th Ave., 34th Fl.
New York City, NY 10019