New York Life Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 13-2989476 · since 1979newyorklife.com/foundation·United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$27.3M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$500 to $50,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$500

Typical grant (median)

620 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

New York Life Foundation funds nationwide, concentrating on childhood bereavement, educational enhancement and youth coaching, so nonprofits working in these themes are the best fit.
Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $500 and $50,000, and half of its grants are $500 or less, making a modest request realistic, though its largest grant was $7,150,000 to Blackbaud Giving Fund (YourCause), an organisation it funds every year to regrant to others.
It accepts applications on a rolling basis, so there is no fixed deadline to plan around.
A substantial 88% of its grant dollars goes to organisations it has already funded, suggesting a relationship-led, competitive landscape for new applicants; it also says it prioritises local and grassroots organisations making a difference in their communities, and offers workplace grants to nonprofits and schools where its workforce volunteers.
Schools wanting to join its Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative should request to do so, and those interested in Grief Reach should approach the National Alliance for Children's Grief for eligibility and deadlines.

Overview

New York Life Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation describes childhood bereavement and educational enhancement as its overall grantmaking concentration areas, alongside coaching and bereavement support for young people and their families. It supports organisations that help grieving children and families through community education, professional training, community-based grief support and outreach, and programme enhancement, innovation and expansion. Its educational work aims to build academic foundations for middle schoolers during out-of-school hours and prepare them for the transition to high school. It also invests in programmes that train, equip and support coaches and mentors helping young people learn, lead and connect. Alongside national initiatives, the Foundation seeks to support local and grassroots organisations, with local engagement focused on communities where it lives and works. Workplace grant opportunities support nonprofits and schools where its workforce volunteers or provides support.

Themes

Childhood bereavement
Educational enhancement
Youth coaching

Geographic Focus

Nationwide.

How to apply

Accredited K–12 private or public schools and school districts can request to join the Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative; the site does not specify how to submit that request. For Grief Reach, the Foundation directs applicants to the National Alliance for Children's Grief for programme eligibility and application deadlines.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,900 grants to organisations were $500 or less.

What the foundation says:

It prioritises local and grassroots organisations making a difference in their communities.
It aligns local engagement most often with childhood bereavement and educational enhancement.
For workplace grants, the Foundation identifies nonprofits or schools supported by its workforce through volunteering or other support.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Texas26%

New York21%

District of Columbia9%

California9%

Massachusetts6%

Virginia5%

6 other states: 13%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 10%

The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations New York Life Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
26% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

620 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 620 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k70%

$1k–$2.5k2%

$2.5k–$5k2%

$5k–$10k3%

$10k–$25k5%

$25k–$50k5%

$50k–$100k4%

$100k–$250k3%

$250k–$500k3%

$500k–$1M1%

$1M and over<1%

Median $500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Blackbaud Giving Fund (YourCause) · Public multipurpose
$7,163,8622024 tax year
After-School All-Stars · Educ. general
$1,200,0002024 tax year
Eluna · Hhs general
$1,035,0002024 tax year
City Year · Educ. general
$750,0002024 tax year
Higher Achievement Program · Educ. general
$750,0002024 tax year
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors · Cca general
$700,0002024 tax year
Judi's House · Hhs general
$675,0002024 tax year
Sesame Workshop · Cca general
$535,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Colleen A Meade — Associate General Counsel & Secretary
Michael J Burke — Corporate Vice President & COO
Maria V Collins — Vice President
Karen A Bain — Vice President - Tax
Michael K McDonnell — Director
Heather Nesle — President / Director
Robert Donohue — Treasurer Since 12/5/2024
Martin L King — Senior Vice President - Investments & Director
Amy Miller — Vice Chair & Director
Kenneth Drinkard — Member
Eric Feldstein — Member
Regina Y Won — Associate General Counsel & Legal Officer
Maryann Negro — Corporate Vice President And Controller
Wendy Wong — Director
Catherine Council — Director
Craig L DeSanto — Director & Chairman
Christopher Thompson — Corporate Vice President - Investments
Everett Foxx — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$24,661,647	$27,123,759	$147,747,420	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$30,753,252	$27,078,468	$140,917,777	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$27,966,215	$27,297,945	$146,229,302	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Registers and filings

Other sources

newyorklife.com/foundation

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