The Karev Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• EIN: 13-3999708
• Annual Giving: $3,805,701 (2023)
• Total Assets: $2,792,288 (2024)
• Number of Grants: 110 grants annually
• Geographic Focus: United States, Israel, and Canada
• Application Policy: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 249 Royal Palm Way, Suite 501, Palm Beach, FL 33480

Telephone: 561-802-3982

Note: The foundation does not have a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Karev Foundation Inc was established in 1998 and has been tax-exempt since May 1998. The foundation is classified as a private grantmaking foundation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. With total assets of approximately $2.8 million and annual grantmaking of over $3.8 million, the foundation is actively distributing funds beyond its asset base, suggesting it may be operating on a spending-down model similar to its predecessor organization.

The foundation is connected to the Bronfman family's philanthropic legacy, particularly the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACBP), which closed in 2016 after three decades of strategic philanthropy. The name "Karev" derives from the Hebrew root "krv," meaning "to draw closer," and references the initials of Charles R. Bronfman (CRB). The foundation's mission seeks to nourish the deep and fundamental human desire to belong to a community and to help individuals forge connections between their identity and community.

The foundation supports programs across three countries—the United States, Israel, and Canada—with a focus on education, human services, and initiatives that strengthen Jewish identity and community connections. The principles and goals of the founders have been pursued via a myriad of programs and projects that are investing in next generations in an effort to change the world.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Karev Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines or application deadlines. Instead, the foundation makes grants on an invitation-only basis to preselected charitable organizations.

Grantmaking Volume:

• 2024: 12 awards
• 2023: 9 awards totaling $3,805,701
• 2022: 17 awards
• 2021: 47 awards
• 2020: 53 awards

The significant variation in grant numbers year-to-year suggests the foundation may make both large anchor grants and smaller awards, with strategic focus areas that shift based on opportunities and leadership priorities.

Priority Areas

Based on available tax filings and historical connections to ACBP, the foundation's funding priorities include:

Education: Educational enrichment programs, particularly those serving underserved communities and promoting Jewish education. Historically connected to programs like Project Involvement in Israel, which provided educational enrichment to over 265,000 students.

Jewish Identity and Community Building: Programs that help individuals, particularly young people, forge connections between their identity and community. This includes initiatives that bring disparate groups together and overcome social gaps.

Human Services: Support for organizations providing critical human services, with emphasis on programs that strengthen community bonds.

Geographic Focus: The foundation has demonstrated giving patterns in New York, Florida, and Utah, with international grants to Israel and potentially Canada.

Known Recipients: Include prestigious institutions such as the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, among other organizations aligned with the foundation's mission.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

• Organizations outside their geographic areas of focus (US, Israel, Canada)
• Projects unrelated to education, community building, or human services
• Organizations without some connection to Jewish community or identity (though this is not an absolute requirement based on known recipients)

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Charles R. Bronfman, Chairman: Canadian-American businessman and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion (2023). Member of the prominent Bronfman family, he founded the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies in 1986 with his late wife Andrea, which distributed more than $340 million to approximately 1,820 organizations before closing in 2016. Bronfman is a signatory of The Giving Pledge and has authored "The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan." His philanthropic philosophy emphasizes strategic giving and enabling each generation to engage philanthropically according to their own passions rather than being bound by a founder's vision from beyond the grave.

Jeffrey Solomon, President: Long-time president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, Solomon has extensive experience in strategic philanthropy focused on Jewish identity, community building, and educational initiatives. He worked closely with Charles and Andrea Bronfman in executing their vision of catalytic philanthropy and managed the foundation's strategic spend-down that concluded in 2016.

Ellen Bronfman Hoffman, Successor Co-Chair & Vice President: Daughter of Charles Bronfman, Ellen (also known as Ellen Bronfman Hauptman) is married to Andrew Hauptman. Together they founded the private investment firm Andell Holdings and conduct their own philanthropy through the Bronfman Hauptman Foundation, which focuses on social justice, education advancement, and environmental protection. They co-founded City Year Los Angeles and the Charles Bronfman Prize. Her role as "Successor Co-Chair" suggests she is positioned to carry forward the foundation's mission into the next generation.

Amanda Levine, Vice President: Vice President of the foundation, though specific background information about Levine's role and experience was not available in public sources.

Philanthropic Philosophy

The foundation's leadership demonstrates a commitment to "catalytic philanthropy"—making strategic investments that create systemic change rather than simply funding ongoing operations. The Bronfman family's decision to spend down ACBP rather than operate in perpetuity reflects a belief that each generation should have the freedom to direct resources according to contemporary needs and their own values. This philosophy appears to continue in the Karev Foundation's operations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Karev Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings explicitly state that they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

This means:

• There is no application portal or form
• Unsolicited proposals are not accepted
• Grant decisions are made proactively by the board and leadership
• Organizations cannot initiate contact seeking funding

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's close connection to the Bronfman family and their previous philanthropic initiatives, organizations might increase visibility by:

Alignment with Historical Interests: Review the extensive grantmaking history of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (1986-2016) to understand the types of programs and organizations the leadership has supported. Programs focused on Jewish education, identity formation, bridging social divides, and educational equity for underserved communities align with documented interests.

Geographic Presence: Having operations or programs in the foundation's known areas of focus—particularly New York, Florida, Israel, or Canada—may increase relevance.

Institutional Prestige and Track Record: The foundation's known support of institutions like the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggests they value established organizations with proven impact and strong reputations.

Network Connections: Given the private nature of the foundation, personal connections to board members, the Bronfman family, or other trusted advisors may be the most realistic path to consideration.

Related Family Foundations: Organizations might also consider related Bronfman family foundations, including the Bronfman Hauptman Foundation (led by Ellen Bronfman Hauptman) and the Kelly and Sam Bronfman Family Foundation, which may have more accessible application processes.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally based on the board's strategic priorities and leadership's identification of aligned organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable for traditional grant seekers, as the foundation does not accept applications. The foundation makes grants exclusively to organizations they proactively select.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—there is no application process.

Application Success Factors

While organizations cannot apply to the Karev Foundation, understanding what the leadership values may be helpful for those who are approached or for understanding whether an unsolicited contact (despite their policy) might ever be considered:

Mission Alignment: The foundation's stated mission emphasizes helping individuals "belong to a community" and forge "connections between their identity and community." Programs that demonstrably achieve this outcome, particularly within Jewish communities or addressing social divides, align with core values.

Educational Impact: Education has been identified as a main area of focus, particularly programs that help equalize major gaps in educational opportunities. Historically, the Bronfman philanthropies supported innovative educational models serving hundreds of thousands of students.

Strategic and Catalytic Approach: The leadership's published philosophy emphasizes strategic philanthropy that creates systemic change rather than simply maintaining programs. As Charles Bronfman wrote in "The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan," effective philanthropy requires both passion and strategic thinking.

Intergenerational Investment: Programs described as "investing in next generations in an effort to change the world" align with the foundation's stated approach.

Measurable Outcomes: Given Jeffrey Solomon's and Charles Bronfman's emphasis on strategic philanthropy with business-plan rigor, organizations should be able to demonstrate clear outcomes and impact metrics.

Geographic Relevance: Programs operating in the United States (particularly New York, Florida, and Utah), Israel, or Canada are within scope.

Institutional Credibility: Support for established institutions like Mount Sinai suggests the foundation values organizational stability, reputation, and proven track records.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: The Karev Foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant seeking is not possible with this funder.

• Family Foundation with Spending Philosophy: Connected to the Bronfman family's philanthropic legacy, the foundation appears to be operating on a spend-down model (granting more annually than asset growth would typically support), suggesting strategic deployment of resources over a defined timeframe.

• Focus on Community and Identity: The foundation's mission centers on helping people belong to communities and connect identity with community, particularly within Jewish contexts but not exclusively.

• Education as Priority: Educational programs, especially those addressing opportunity gaps and serving underserved populations, align with documented funding priorities.

• Three-Country Scope: Geographic focus includes the United States, Israel, and Canada, with demonstrated giving in New York, Florida, and Utah within the US.

• Invitation-Only Model: The only realistic path to funding is being identified proactively by the foundation's leadership. Building visibility through excellence in aligned program areas and developing connections within the Jewish philanthropic community may increase the chance of being noticed.

• Consider Related Foundations: Organizations interested in Bronfman family philanthropy should also research the Bronfman Hauptman Foundation and Kelly and Sam Bronfman Family Foundation, which may have different application policies.

References

• Cause IQ. "The Karev Foundation | Palm Beach, FL." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-karev-foundation,133999708/

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Karev Foundation Inc." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133999708

• Instrumentl. "The Karev Foundation Inc | Palm Beach, FL | 990 Report." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/karev-foundation-inc

• Grantmakers.io. "Profile - Karev Foundation Inc." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/133999708-karev-foundation-inc/

• Chronicle of Philanthropy. "The Foundations of Andrea and Charles Bronfman." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-foundations-of-andrea-and-charles-bronfman/

• eJewishPhilanthropy. "Keren Karev: The Israeli Branch of ACBP." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/keren-karev-the-israeli-branch-of-acbp/

• eJewishPhilanthropy. "An Open Letter from Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/an-open-letter-from-charles-bronfman-and-jeffrey-solomon/

• Duke University Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society. "Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (1986–projected: 2016)." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://cspcs.sanford.duke.edu/cspcs-publication/andrea-and-charles-bronfman-philanthropies-1986-projected-2016/

• Wikipedia. "Charles Bronfman." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bronfman

• The Giving Pledge. "Charles R. Bronfman." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://givingpledge.org/pledger?pledgerId=175

• Inside Philanthropy. "Andrew Hauptman and Ellen Bronfman Hauptman." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/andrew-and-ellen-bronfman-hauptman

• Charity Navigator. "Karev Foundation Inc." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/133999708

• IRS Form 990-PF filings for Karev Foundation Inc (EIN: 13-3999708), tax years 2020-2024, accessed through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.