M D Katz Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5.5 million
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $20,000 - $25,000,000
• Geographic Focus: New York, New Jersey, Israel

Contact Details

Phone: 201-569-4040
Address: 300 E Linden Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631-3719
Website: None (private foundation)
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The M D Katz Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1960 by Dr. Mordecai D. "Morty" Katz (deceased 2021) and Dr. Monique C. Katz, a Belgian-born radiologist. With assets of approximately $60 million, the foundation distributes about $5.5 million annually to support Jewish educational institutions and organizations. The foundation has made transformational gifts to major institutions, including a $25 million donation to establish the Katz School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Yeshiva University in 2016. Their philanthropic approach emphasizes long-term institutional support, capital projects, and scholarship programs for students pursuing Jewish education careers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants ranging from scholarship programs to major capital gifts:

• Transformational Gifts: Up to $25,000,000 (capital projects, new schools/programs)
• Major Institutional Support: $500,000 - $2,000,000 (annual support to key partners)
• Scholarship Programs: $20,000 - $60,000/year (supporting Jewish educators)
• Program Support: Varies (educational initiatives, religious programs)

Priority Areas

• Jewish higher education institutions (universities, yeshivas, seminaries)
• Jewish day schools and educational programs
• Torah study and Jewish identity programs
• Healthcare institutions with Jewish mission (particularly in Israel)
• Holocaust education and memorialization
• Support for Jewish communities globally (Mexico, Russia, Israel)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their giving patterns, they do not typically fund:

• Non-Jewish organizations
• Individual requests
• General operating support for small organizations
• Start-up organizations without established track records
• Organizations outside their geographic focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

• Monique C. Katz - President/Treasurer (founder, radiologist)
• Michael D. Katz - Vice President/Secretary (son, Yeshiva University Trustee)
• Rachel Katz Sidlow, MD - Director (daughter, physician)

The foundation represents second-generation family philanthropy, with adult children actively involved in governance. Michael Katz serves as a Yeshiva University Trustee, and Dr. Rachel Katz Sidlow graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The family's four children and their spouses maintain involvement in various supported institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made through trustee discretion based on pre-existing relationships and strategic initiatives identified by family members. The foundation operates as a private family foundation without open grant cycles or application portals.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and family involvement, potential pathways include:

• The Katz family is actively involved with Yeshiva University - Michael Katz serves as a trustee
• Dr. Monique Katz has been known to speak at Jewish educational events in the Englewood, NJ area
• The family maintains relationships with major Jewish federations (UJA-Federation) and could potentially be reached through these networks
• Institutions where family members have personal involvement (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where daughter Rachel graduated) may provide connection points
• The foundation has shown interest in innovative Jewish identity programs, particularly those serving underserved populations

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on an ongoing basis through trustee discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only foundation.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns:

• Established track record: The foundation consistently supports institutions with proven impact rather than start-ups
• Jewish educational mission: Nearly all grants support Jewish learning, from elementary through graduate education
• Personal connections: Many major beneficiaries have family members as alumni, trustees, or speakers
• Transformational potential: The foundation prefers funding that creates lasting change - buildings, endowments, named programs
• Geographic alignment: Strong preference for NY/NJ institutions and established Israeli organizations
• Multi-year commitment capacity: Organizations able to sustain long-term relationships receive ongoing support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based funder with no public application process - cold approaches will not succeed
• Focus is exclusively on Jewish educational and religious institutions
• The foundation makes both massive transformational gifts ($25M) and smaller program support
• Family members are actively involved in supported institutions as trustees and volunteers
• Best approach is through existing connections at Yeshiva University, UJA-Federation, or Englewood-area Jewish institutions
• The foundation values naming opportunities and creating lasting legacies through capital projects
• Second-generation leadership suggests continued long-term commitment to current funding priorities

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - M D Katz Foundation Inc profile and tax filings. Accessed January 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/116035541
• Yeshiva University News - "YU Establishes The Katz School of Graduate and Professional Studies" (2016). https://www.yu.edu/news/yu-establishes-the-katz-school-of-graduate-and-professional-studies
• Inside Philanthropy - "Yeshiva University Gets A Big Gift From a Couple Keen On Jewish Education" (2016). https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/higher-education/2016/3/31/yeshiva-university-gets-a-big-gift-from-a-couple-keen-on-jew.html
• Yeshiva University - "Shloshim for Dr. Mordecai Katz" (2021). https://www.yu.edu/news/shloshim-for-dr-mordecai-katz
• The Jewish Standard - "Local couple helps Bar-Ilan University grow". https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/local-couple-helps-bar-ilan-university-grow/
• Candid Foundation Directory - M D Katz Foundation Inc. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?collection=grantmakers&key=KATZ006
• American Friends of Bar-Ilan University - "Dr. Mordecai Katz z"l". https://afbiu.org/katzgarden