The Kurz Family Foundation Ltd
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $3.5 million
- Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
- Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
- Grant Range: Average $1.2 million per grant
- Geographic Focus: United States (primarily New York, Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C.)
Contact Details
Address: One Penn Plaza, Suite 3000, New York, NY 10119 Phone: Not publicly available Email: Not publicly available Website: None
Overview
The Kurz Family Foundation Ltd, established in 1992, is a private family foundation based in New York with assets of approximately $73.4 million. Founded by Herbert Kurz, the foundation provides substantial philanthropic support across a wide range of sectors including education, environment, health, community development, religion, human services, and international relations. With annual giving of approximately $3.5 million, the foundation makes strategic grants primarily to established organizations, with an average grant size exceeding $1 million. The foundation operates through trustee discretion without a public application process.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation makes large strategic grants averaging $1.2 million to selected organizations. In 2024, they awarded 3 grants totaling $3.5 million. Recipients have included National Philanthropic Trust and various educational institutions.
Priority Areas
- Education and higher education
- Environment and natural resources
- Health, including in-patient medical care and hospital care
- Community and economic development
- Religion, particularly Judaism
- Human services, family services, and child welfare
- International relations
What They Don't Fund
As a private foundation without a public application process, specific exclusions are not published. The foundation's giving history suggests focus on established organizations with proven track records.
Governance and Leadership
The foundation is led by family members serving as directors without compensation:
- Ellen Kurz - Director
- Sophie Kurz - Director
- Leonard Kurz - Treasurer (noted in previous filings)
- Herbert Kurz - Founder and major donor
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on existing relationships and strategic priorities identified by the foundation's leadership.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - decisions are made at the discretion of trustees without a formal application timeline.
Success Rates
Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.
Application Success Factors
Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot directly apply. The foundation's giving patterns suggest they favor:
- Established organizations with significant track records
- Multi-year relationships with grantees
- Organizations operating in their priority geographic areas (New York, Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C.)
- Institutions with clear alignment to foundation priorities in education, health, and community development
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The Kurz Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates entirely through trustee discretion
- With an average grant size of $1.2 million, they focus on major strategic investments rather than smaller grants
- The foundation has made significant contributions to education, notably supporting Rockland Community College and Brooklyn College initiatives
- Geographic focus includes major metropolitan areas: New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
- Total of 58 grants made in recent years, with only 3 grants awarded in 2024 totaling $3.5 million
- Organizations seeking support would need existing relationships with foundation trustees or be identified through their networks
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Kurz Family Foundation Ltd (EIN: 133680855), accessed January 2025
- Cause IQ - Kurz Family Foundation Profile, accessed January 2025
- Foundation Directory (Candid) - The Kurz Family Foundation Ltd, accessed January 2025
- CUNY Newswire - "Kurz Family Foundation Gift Supports BLMI Inaugural Cultural Immersion Trip to Jamaica", August 2017
- Various aggregator sites including Grantable.co and Instrumentl, accessed January 2025