OVERVIEW: The Gershwind Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, health, and the arts.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.
PROFILE: The Gershwind Family Foundation was established in 1998. It is steered by Marjorie Gershwind Fiverson, sister of billionaire Mitchell Jacobson, and other family members. The foundation does not maintain a website, but does have a slight web presence, which reveals some of the foundation’s interest areas. According to tax filings, the Gershwind Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, health, and the arts.
The family have strong ties to the Jewish community. Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center on Long Island is named after Marjorie’s father, Sidney who gave generously to the UJA-Federation of New York. In 2006, Gershwind Foundation directors Erik Gershwind and his sister Stacey Bennett established the Gershwind/Bennett Fund to support acquisitions in Judaica at their alma mater UPenn.
Grants range from $500 to around $1.2 million. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $1.6 million. Past grantees have included New York Presbyterian Fund, the recent recipient of a seven-figure gift; UJA Federation of New York; Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center; Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York; Northwell Health Foundation; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts.
The Gershwind Family Foundation keeps a low-profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
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CONTACT:
Gershwind Family Foundation
11 Times Square
New York, NY 10036