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Gerald J & Dorothy R Friedman N Y Foundation For Medical Research

Annual Giving
$4.1M
Grant Range
$100K - $6.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.1 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (preselected grantees)
  • Grant Range: Variable (major institutional grants typically $500,000 - $6,000,000+)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, with select national institutions
  • Total Assets: $41.3 million (2025)

Contact Details

Address: 3 Times Square, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10036-6591

Note: This foundation does not have a public website or listed contact information for grant inquiries. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Overview

The Gerald J & Dorothy R Friedman NY Foundation For Medical Research was established in 1992 by Dr. Gerald J. Friedman (1913-2004), a prominent New York physician, and his wife Dorothy R. Friedman. The foundation received tax-exempt status in December 1999. With total assets of $41.3 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $4.1 million, the foundation supports researchers, laboratories, and projects in diverse medical fields, most notably diabetes, nutrition, nephrology, neurology, and oncology. The foundation is led by Jane Friedman, niece of Gerald and Dorothy Friedman, who serves as President. The foundation has created lasting legacies at major medical institutions through both endowments and program-specific grants, including the naming of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University (following a $20 million gift in 2001) and the establishment of the Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Institutional Endowments and Programs

  • Research institute establishment and endowments: $6,000,000+ (major multi-year commitments)
  • Fellowship programs: Variable amounts supporting 2-3 year fellowships for medical researchers
  • Program development grants: Variable amounts for specialized clinical programs

The foundation supports both capital projects (establishing institutes, endowed chairs) and ongoing research programs.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Diabetes research and treatment programs
  • Clinical nutrition and metabolism research
  • Nephrology (kidney disease research)
  • Neurology research
  • Oncology research

Secondary Focus:

  • Endocrinology research
  • Cardiology research related to metabolism
  • Intensive care medicine
  • Medical education and fellowship training

Specific Programs Funded:

  • The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University
  • The Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute at Northwell Health's Lenox Hill Hospital
  • Friedman Fellowship Program (supporting fellows at Tufts Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and other institutions from 2000-2022)
  • Friedman Program in Diabetes and Metabolism at Tufts Medical Center
  • Friedman Chair in Nephrology at Tufts Medical Center
  • Transgender Health and Wellness Program at Lenox Hill Hospital

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. They explicitly do not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This means they do not fund:

  • Organizations without pre-existing relationships
  • Individual researchers without institutional affiliation
  • General operating support requests from unknown organizations
  • Projects outside their core focus areas of diabetes, nutrition, nephrology, neurology, and oncology

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

Jane Friedman, President - Compensation: $300,000 Jane Friedman is the niece of Dr. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman and leads the foundation's strategic direction. She has continued her uncle's legacy of supporting medical research, particularly in diabetes and nutrition.

Judith Kennedy, Vice President - Compensation: $45,000 Serves as Vice President of the foundation.

George Serrano, Secretary & Treasurer - Compensation: $45,000 Handles the foundation's financial management and administrative functions.

About the Founder: Dr. Gerald J. Friedman (1913-2004) was a brilliant diagnostician and widely respected New York physician with a distinguished career spanning multiple medical specialties including diabetes and metabolism, endocrinology, cardiology, and internal medicine. He was one of the pioneers of clinical nutrition and a leading pioneer in the field of intensive care. Dr. Friedman earned his BS and MD from New York University and served in the Army from 1941-46. He held leadership positions at multiple NYC hospitals, including Beth Israel Medical Center, and received numerous professional awards.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and board decisions
  • Pre-existing relationships with major medical institutions
  • Strategic initiatives identified by foundation leadership
  • Continuation of legacy programs established by Dr. Gerald Friedman

Getting on Their Radar

The Friedman Foundation operates through established institutional relationships at major academic medical centers. Organizations that have received support include:

Academic Medical Centers with Friedman Programs:

  • Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University
  • Northwell Health (Lenox Hill Hospital)
  • Mount Sinai Medical Center
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • UCLA Medical Center
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
  • Beth Israel Medical Center

Approaches that have led to funding:

  • Institutional partnerships: The foundation has established named programs, institutes, and endowed chairs at select institutions rather than funding individual projects
  • Leadership relationships: Dr. Friedman held leadership positions at multiple NYC hospitals, and these professional relationships informed the foundation's giving
  • Long-term commitments: The foundation prefers creating lasting legacies (named schools, institutes, fellowship programs) rather than one-time grants

If your institution works in diabetes, nutrition, nephrology, neurology, or oncology research and has connections to the New York medical community or the institutions listed above, relationship building with foundation leadership over time may be the only pathway to funding consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the board to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Grant Activity:

  • 7 awards in 2025
  • 4 awards in 2024
  • 7 awards in 2023
  • 11 awards in 2022

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations that have received funding may receive additional support through ongoing relationships with foundation leadership.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, success is not based on proposal quality but rather on:

Institutional Relationships: The foundation has demonstrated a clear preference for supporting major academic medical centers where they can establish named programs and lasting legacies. Organizations that have received support typically have:

  • Established reputations in diabetes, nutrition, or related medical research
  • Located in or connected to New York medical community
  • Capacity to host fellowship programs or research institutes
  • Leadership with connections to the foundation's network

Strategic Focus Areas: The foundation's grant-making reflects Dr. Gerald Friedman's professional interests and pioneering work:

  • Diabetes and metabolism research (primary focus)
  • Clinical nutrition as disease prevention
  • Endocrinology research
  • Patient-centered care models
  • Medical education and mentorship

Types of Support Provided:

  • Named endowments: Creating lasting institutional recognition (schools, institutes, chairs)
  • Fellowship programs: Supporting emerging researchers under established mentors
  • Program development: Establishing innovative clinical programs (e.g., Transgender Health and Wellness Program)
  • Capital projects: Moving or establishing research institutes

Foundation's Approach: The foundation appears to value transformative gifts that create institutional change rather than supporting incremental research projects. Their major grants ($6 million for the Diabetes Institute, $20 million for the Tufts nutrition school) demonstrate a preference for substantial commitments that reshape medical education and research.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation only funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant writing will not lead to funding.
  • Institutional focus: The foundation supports major academic medical centers and established research institutions, not individual researchers or small organizations.
  • Legacy giving: Major grants create named programs, institutes, and endowments that honor the Friedman family's legacy in medicine.
  • Geographic connection: Strong preference for New York-based institutions, particularly those connected to Dr. Friedman's professional network.
  • Research priorities: Focus on diabetes, nutrition, nephrology, neurology, and oncology research aligns with Dr. Friedman's career specialties.
  • Long-term relationships: Funded institutions often receive multiple grants over time, suggesting the foundation values ongoing partnerships.
  • Fellowship support: The foundation has a track record of supporting medical fellowship training programs at multiple institutions (2000-2022).
  • Patient care integration: Recent grants demonstrate interest in programs that combine research with innovative patient care delivery (e.g., diabetes institute with demonstration kitchen, transgender health program).

References

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