The Raymond Frankel Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,014,245 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $3,000,000 (median: $10,000; average: $67,300-$78,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (U.S.) and International (Tel Aviv)
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

The Raymond Frankel Foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. The foundation is based in Chicago, IL.

Key Personnel:

• Belinda Frankel, President
• Allan Myer, Secretary
• Jon Younger, Treasurer

Overview

The Raymond Frankel Foundation was established in 1988 in New York and funded in 1989 by Raymond Frankel (1921-2017), an MIT graduate, early venture capitalist, and asset manager who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a passionate advocate for Israel. With assets of approximately $48-49 million, the foundation distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants. The foundation focuses on national security research, Israeli politics and society, Jewish causes, education (particularly higher education), libraries, environment, information and communications, and human services. The foundation operates as a private family foundation now led by Raymond Frankel's daughter, Belinda Frankel. Notable strategic grants include a $3 million endowed chair at Brandeis University's Crown Center for Middle East Studies and ongoing support for MIT's Security Studies Program through the Frankel MIT Global Policy Fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and alignment with the foundation's focus areas.

Grant Distribution:

• Made 55 grants in 2024, 46 grants in 2023, and 51 grants in 2022
• Median grant: $10,000
• Average grant: $67,300-$78,000
• Major grants can reach $3 million for strategic initiatives like endowed chairs

Priority Areas

National Security & Policy Research:

• MIT Security Studies Program (Congressional Staff Seminars through the Frankel MIT Global Policy Fund)
• Bridging the Gap Project (New Voices in National Security initiative)
• Research connecting scholarship to policy audiences

Israeli Politics & Society:

• Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University (endowed chair)
• Organizations working on Israel's well-being and security
• Israel-related research and scholarship

Jewish Causes:

• Jewish organizations and institutions
• Religious initiatives specifically supporting Judaism

Education:

• Higher education institutions
• Academic programs aligned with founder's interests in scholarship and national security

Libraries:

• Academic libraries
• Information and communications initiatives

Other Areas:

• Environment
• Human services

Geographic Focus:

• U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
• International support in Tel Aviv

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publish explicit exclusions. Based on funding patterns, the foundation appears focused on institutional grants to established organizations rather than individual grants or grassroots initiatives outside their core mission areas.

Governance and Leadership

Belinda Frankel, President
Daughter of founder Raymond Frankel, Belinda serves as president and leads the foundation's strategic direction. She has stated: "The Frankel Chair in Israeli Politics and Society connects my father's life-long passion for scholarship, Israel's well-being, and deep thinking in matters of national security" and "Our family could not be more proud in knowing that our father's name will forever be linked with the Crown Center and Brandeis University." Her leadership demonstrates continuity with her father's vision while maintaining active engagement with grantee organizations.

Allan Myer, Secretary
Myer serves on multiple boards including the Crown Center's advisory board, facilitating strategic relationships between the foundation and its grantee institutions. His dual role demonstrates the foundation's commitment to engaged philanthropy and long-term partnerships.

Jon Younger, Treasurer
Manages financial operations (uncompensated board position).

Compensation:

• Belinda Frankel: $120,000
• Allan Myer: $150,000
• Jon Younger: $0

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Raymond Frankel Foundation operates as a private family foundation that identifies and approaches organizations for funding based on trustee discretion and strategic priorities. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals.

Grants are awarded to organizations that align with the foundation's mission areas, particularly those focused on national security research, Israeli politics and society, Jewish causes, and higher education. The foundation appears to favor long-term partnerships with established institutions rather than one-time grants to new organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies grantees through:

Board Member Connections: Allan Myer serves on the Crown Center for Middle East Studies advisory board in addition to his role as foundation secretary, suggesting the foundation identifies opportunities through board members' professional networks in national security and Middle East studies.

Institutional Relationships: The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with specific institutions like MIT Security Studies Program and Brandeis University's Crown Center, supporting multi-year initiatives rather than one-time grants.

Geographic and Thematic Networks: The foundation supports projects across major U.S. cities (New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C.) and in Tel Aviv, suggesting connections to academic institutions, think tanks, and policy organizations in these locations focused on national security, Israeli affairs, and Jewish causes.

Organizations working in the foundation's priority areas may benefit from:

• Developing relationships with institutions already funded by the foundation
• Participating in national security policy networks, particularly those connecting scholarship to policy audiences
• Engaging with the MIT Security Studies Program or Brandeis Crown Center communities
• Demonstrating alignment with the founder's legacy of connecting rigorous scholarship to practical policy applications

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation without a formal application process, decision timelines are determined by the board based on strategic priorities and opportunities that emerge through their networks.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, success depends on alignment with foundation priorities and existing relationships:

Institutional Credibility: The foundation's major grants support established, prestigious institutions (MIT, Brandeis University) with strong reputations in their fields.

National Security Focus: Organizations bridging academic research and policy implementation in national security appear particularly attractive. As demonstrated by support for the Frankel MIT Global Policy Fund, which "underwrites SSP's efforts to bring research to policy audiences, including the biennial Congressional Staff Seminar."

Israeli Politics & Society: Projects addressing Israel's well-being through rigorous scholarship align with the founder's "life-long passion for scholarship, Israel's well-being, and deep thinking in matters of national security" (Belinda Frankel).

Policy Impact: The foundation values work that connects scholarship to decision-making, such as the New Voices in National Security initiative, which "extends current national security debates by incorporating research findings from both established and emerging scholars" and builds "connections between innovative national security scholars and members of the policy community."

Legacy Connection: Projects honoring the founder's values - combining rigorous research, practical application, support for Israel, and advancement of democratic institutions - appear most aligned with the foundation's mission.

Long-term Partnerships: Rather than one-time grants, the foundation invests in sustained initiatives like endowed chairs and recurring programs (Congressional Staff Seminars), suggesting preference for deep, ongoing relationships over transactional funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached with unsolicited proposals; they identify and invite organizations for funding based on trustee discretion
• Focus on National Security & Israeli Affairs: The foundation's strongest commitment is to work connecting scholarship with policy in national security and Israeli politics/society
• Institutional Preference: Major grants support established academic institutions (MIT, Brandeis) rather than grassroots organizations
• Network-Driven: Board member Allan Myer's dual role on grantee advisory boards suggests funding flows through professional networks in national security and Middle East studies
• Strategic, High-Value Grants: While median grants are $10,000, the foundation makes strategic six-figure and million-dollar commitments to initiatives aligned with founder's legacy
• Geography Matters: Concentration of support in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv reflects the foundation's national security and Israeli focus
• Legacy-Oriented: Current leadership honors founder Raymond Frankel's values of rigorous scholarship, Israel's security, and connecting research to policy practice

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Raymond Frankel Foundation profile (EIN 13-3187074). Financial data from 2024 Form 990-PF. Accessed January 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133187074

2. Cause IQ - The Raymond Frankel Foundation organizational profile. Grant statistics and focus areas. Accessed January 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-frankel-foundation,133187074/

3. Brandeis University Crown Center for Middle East Studies - "The Crown Center for Middle East Studies Announces New Raymond Frankel Chair in Israeli Politics and Society." Details of $3 million gift and quotes from Belinda Frankel. Accessed January 2026. https://www.brandeis.edu/crown/news/frankel-chair.html

4. MIT Security Studies Program - "In Memoriam: Raymond Frankel, MIT '43" (2018). Information about Frankel MIT Global Policy Fund and founder's biography. Accessed January 2026. https://ssp.mit.edu/news/2018/in-memoriam-raymond-frankel-mit-43

5. Bridging the Gap Project - "New Voices" program page. Details of Raymond Frankel Foundation support for New Voices in National Security initiative. Accessed January 2026. https://www.bridgingthegapproject.org/newvoices

6. Grantmakers.io - The Raymond Frankel Foundation profile with grant statistics. Accessed January 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/133187074-the-raymond-frankel-foundation/

7. Instrumentl - The Raymond Frankel Foundation 990 Report. Grant activity data for 2022-2024. Accessed January 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-frankel-foundation

8. Legacy.com - Raymond Frankel Obituary, New York Times (2017). Biographical information about founder. Accessed January 2026.