OVERVIEW: The Paulson Family Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson and his wife, Jenny. More than half of this funder’s grants stay in New York City. Education is a top interest, but support also goes to health, arts and culture, and Jewish causes.
IP TAKE: This funder is not transparent or accessible. It keeps a low profile, does not have a website or provide a clear way to get in contact or apply for support. It also does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. It prefers a proactive grantmaking approach, but it’s approach is based on the family’s personal interests rather than a foundational, stated strategy, so it would require you hobnob with one of them to learn more. Another tactic would be to network with past grantees.
Funding here is not without strings and tilts conservative, so progressive and centrist organizations should take note. It’s Trump supporting founders have strong opinions on how their funding should benefit public welfare, which is often at odds with the communities this funder says it serves.
PROFILE: Established in 2009, the Paulson Family Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson and family. He worked for the Boston Consulting Group, Odyssey Partners and Bear Sterns before starting his own hedge fund, Paulson & Co. While the foundation maintains a low profile, tax filings suggest that more than half of their annual grantmaking is directed toward New York City causes and organizations.
It is worth noting that while John Paulson and the foundation has supported both liberal and conservative politicians and causes, he gave heavily to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and hosted a $500,000 a plate fundraiser in the Hamptons for Trump’s re-election campaign in 2020.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
While the foundation does not appear to have clear grantmaking programs or focus areas, tax records indicate that funding for education is a priority. Indeed, Paulson’s education grantmaking far outweighs other areas of support, with almost half of all known grants going to either K-12 or higher educational institutions. In the K-12 realm, the foundation has given to public, private and charter schools in New York City. In higher education, the foundation gave $20 million to endow two chairs at New York University’s Stern School of Business. The foundation gave $400 million to Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in 2015.
The foundation’s education giving is not without strings attached. John Paulson threatened to withdrawal support from the Spence School in Manhattan for what he labeled "anti-white indoctrination." The Paulson Family Foundation had given millions to the school, where John and Jenny’s daughter was enrolled at the time of the 2017 letter.
Grants for Arts and Culture
According to tax filings, the foundation regularly supports some of the city’s major cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum, the School of American Ballet, and the 92nd St. Y. The foundation gave $100 million to Central Park Conservancy in 2012, and in 2021, the foundation gave $15 million to Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Other grantees include Princess Grace Foundation, Frick Collection, and Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico.
Grants for Public Health and Mental Health
Paulson’s support for medical research, mental health, and access to healthcare does not appear to be a priority; however, tax records reveal a cursory interest in the space. Grants have gone to the Hope for Depression Research Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Other grantees include Southampton Hospital Foundation for healthcare access, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and American Cancer Society.
Grants for Jewish Causes
Jewish giving represents a small portion of the Paulson Family Foundation’s giving. Most of this philanthropy is focused in the United States, including internationally recognized organizations like American Jewish Committee, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and UJA Federation New York. Recipients of this giving have also included Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, whose goal is to "enhance and enrich the quality of Jewish education throughout the United States." A component of Paulson's philanthropy involves the Jewish elderly. The foundation has strongly supported Hebrew Home at Riverdale Foundation and also supports Jewish Association for Services for the Aged.
Paulson also funds Jewish religious institutions like Chabad House on Wheels in Miami Beach, Temple Emanu-El of Beverly Hills, Congregation Emanu-El in New York, and Temple Ahavat Achim in Massachussets. The foundation also supports Birthright Israel Foundation, which helps Jewish youth travel to Israel. Internationally, he funds World Jewish Congress, an "international organization that represents Jewish communities and organizations in 100 countries around the world.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from a few thousand to over $1 million, with an average grant size of about $50,000. The foundation typically makes over $50 million in grants annually; however, this appears to have decreased somewhat in recent years.
The Paulson Family Foundation does not maintain a website and does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch. This funder does not appear to accept applications for funding. An address and phone number are provided below.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Paulson Family Foundation
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 50th Fl.
New York, NY 10020
212-350-5151