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The Arnow Family Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.2M

The Arnow Family Fund Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,200,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $220,000
  • Geographic Focus: Local, national, and international (emphasis on New York, particularly Brooklyn and NYC)
  • Assets: $40,022,590

Contact Details

Website: www.arnowfamilyfund.org

Address: 675 Third Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Phone: Not publicly disclosed

Email: Not publicly disclosed

Important Note: This foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Overview

The Arnow Family Fund (AFF) is an independent private foundation established in 1984 and based in New York City. With assets totaling approximately $40 million and annual giving of $3.2 million, the foundation is guided by progressive Jewish values and strives to create "a world that honors the dignity and equal rights of all human beings." Through their work, they embrace the responsibility to repair communities and the world. The foundation supports local, national, and international organizations through both general operations funding and project-specific grants, positioning itself to respond quickly as opportunities and needs arise. In 2024, AFF distributed $3,175,000, allocating 55% for individual discretionary grants within designated focus areas and 45% for Legacy grants and Civic Engagement initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Arnow Family Fund operates through two main funding streams:

  • Discretionary Grants (55% of distribution): Awards within designated focus areas, typically ranging from $25,000 to $90,000, with special cases reaching up to $220,000
  • Legacy Grants and Civic Engagement (45% of distribution): Focused on long-term relationships with organizations working on democratic participation and voting rights

Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

AFF currently focuses on five key areas:

  1. Protecting Democracy & Civic Engagement: Addressing voting barriers and upholding democratic norms for underrepresented communities. The foundation has consistently supported organizations like the New York Civic Engagement Table, When We All Vote, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

  2. Peace and Conflict Resolution/Civil and Human Rights: Advancing progressive Jewish perspectives on peace, conflict resolution, and human rights issues, including support for organizations like American Jewish World Service and the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees.

  3. Education, Innovation, and Design for Sustainability: Integrating economic, social, and environmental solutions through organizations like the Buckminster Fuller Institute and Project Wadi Attir.

  4. Arts and Media: Expanding equitable access to artistic resources, with recurring support for organizations like Mark Morris Dance Group (community engagement programs in Brownsville Schools and NYC public housing), JazzReach (educational programs), and Free Arts NYC.

  5. Human Health: Improving health outcomes for underserved communities, including support for organizations like Jhpiego and emergency health response initiatives through Save the Children.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the invitation-only model suggests the foundation maintains focused relationships rather than responding to broad unsolicited requests.

Governance and Leadership

The Arnow Family Fund is governed by a board of family members who serve on a voluntary basis without compensation:

  • David Arnow - President, Director
  • Madeleine J. Arnow - Treasurer, Director
  • Joshua Arnow - Secretary, Director
  • Benjamin Arnow - Vice President, Director
  • Chloe Arnow - Director
  • Eli Arnow - Director
  • Leslie Arnow - Director
  • Talia Arnow - Director
  • Elyse Arnow Brill - Director

The family-led structure enables the foundation to respond nimbly to emerging opportunities while maintaining a focused approach to their progressive Jewish values and commitment to social repair.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Arnow Family Fund does not have a public application process. The foundation's website explicitly states: "supports organizations by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals."

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and family member knowledge of organizations
  • Pre-existing relationships with grantees
  • Invitation-based processes for new organizations

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has demonstrated multi-year commitments to organizations across their priority areas. While they do not accept unsolicited proposals, their grantmaking patterns suggest they:

  • Build long-term relationships with grantees (multiple organizations have received recurring grants over several years, including Mark Morris Dance Group, JazzReach, American Jewish World Service, and the New York Civic Engagement Table)
  • Support both established institutions and smaller community-based organizations
  • Value organizations working at the intersection of their five priority areas
  • Respond to emerging crises and opportunities (evidenced by COVID-19 response grants in 2020)

Organizations aligned with their mission and values may come to the foundation's attention through sector networks, particularly in New York civic engagement and progressive Jewish communities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. In recent years, the foundation has made:

  • 2023: 3 awards
  • 2022: 2 awards
  • 2021: 5 awards
  • 2020: 17 awards

The variation in award numbers suggests flexibility in grantmaking approach based on opportunities and strategic priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation operates by invitation only rather than through an open application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Arnow Family Fund operates by invitation only, the following factors characterize their grantmaking approach based on publicly documented grants:

Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation demonstrates commitment to long-term partnerships. Organizations like Mark Morris Dance Group, JazzReach, American Jewish World Service, and the New York Civic Engagement Table have received grants across multiple years, suggesting the foundation values sustained impact over one-time interventions.

Progressive Jewish Values Alignment: The foundation explicitly states it is "guided by progressive Jewish values" and seeks to "repair communities and the world." Funded organizations often work at the intersection of Jewish social justice traditions and contemporary social challenges.

Focus on Underserved Communities: Grants consistently emphasize work with underrepresented, underserved, or marginalized populations. Examples include Mark Morris Dance Group's work in Brownsville Schools and NYC public housing, civic engagement support for underserved communities, and humanitarian relief for refugees.

Both Operations and Projects: The foundation supports "organizations in both general operation and specific project areas," indicating flexibility in funding types. Recent grants include both multi-year program support and specific initiatives.

Responsiveness to Crises: The 2020 grants included multiple COVID-19 response initiatives, demonstrating the foundation's stated commitment to "respond nimbly as opportunities and needs arise."

Geographic Diversity Within Focus: While emphasizing New York (particularly Brooklyn and NYC), the foundation also supports national organizations (e.g., When We All Vote, Common Cause Education Fund) and international work (Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, Jhpiego).

Emphasis on Civic Participation: Nearly half of recent funding has supported civic engagement and democracy protection, particularly nonpartisan voter education, mobilization, and infrastructure for underrepresented communities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Model: The Arnow Family Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations cannot apply directly but may come to the foundation's attention through sector networks and relationships.

  • Progressive Jewish Values: The foundation is explicitly guided by progressive Jewish values and the concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Alignment with these values is central to their funding approach.

  • Long-Term Partnership Approach: Multi-year grants to the same organizations are common, suggesting the foundation prefers sustained relationships over broad distribution of one-time grants.

  • Strategic Focus Areas: The five priority areas (Democracy & Civic Engagement, Peace & Human Rights, Sustainability, Arts & Media, and Human Health) guide most grantmaking, with particular recent emphasis on civic engagement representing 45% of 2024 distribution.

  • Flexible and Responsive: Despite the structured focus areas, the foundation positions itself to respond quickly to emerging needs, as demonstrated by rapid COVID-19 response funding.

  • Grant Size Range: Most collective grants range from $25,000 to $90,000, with special cases reaching $220,000, and total annual giving around $3.2 million distributed among a relatively small number of organizations.

  • New York Focus with Broader Reach: While emphasizing local New York impact, particularly in Brooklyn and NYC, the foundation also supports national and international work aligned with their mission.

References

Information accessed December 2025

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