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Klein Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.6M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,648,800
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $850,000
  • Geographic Focus: Brooklyn, NY / Jewish community organizations

Contact Details

No public contact information available for grant applications. The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Overview

The Klein Family Foundation was established in February 2000 as a private independent foundation based in Brooklyn, New York. With total assets of approximately $46-60 million and annual giving of $1.6 million, the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting Jewish agencies, temples, and schools. The foundation operates through a board of seven family trustees and makes grants ranging from approximately $50,000 to $850,000 to preselected charitable organizations. Their grant-making is characterized by significant gifts to a small number of organizations (typically 7 grants per year), with a median grant size of $52,000. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates by trustee discretion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Klein Family Foundation does not operate formal grant programs. All funding decisions are made by the board of trustees, with grants awarded to preselected organizations.

Recent grants (2024):

  • Major grants: $550,000 - $850,000 to Jewish religious and educational institutions
  • Medium grants: $155,000 to community organizations
  • Median grant: $52,000

Priority Areas

  • Jewish religious institutions and synagogues
  • Jewish educational institutions and schools
  • Jewish community organizations
  • Organizations serving the Brooklyn Jewish community

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside their preselected network
  • Non-Jewish organizations
  • Organizations outside the Brooklyn/New York area
  • Individual applicants
  • Unsolicited applications of any kind

Governance and Leadership

The Klein Family Foundation is governed by a board of seven trustees, all members of the Klein family:

  • Sara Dinah Klein - Trustee
  • Yaakov Klein - Trustee
  • Rivka Klein - Trustee
  • Bracha Weits - Trustee
  • Chana Brauner - Trustee
  • Esther Traub - Trustee
  • Miriam Hendeles - Trustee

All trustees serve without compensation. The foundation maintains a family-centered governance structure focused on preserving the family's philanthropic legacy within the Jewish community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Klein Family Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations that have established relationships with the foundation or its trustees. There is no application portal, deadline system, or formal application process available to the general public.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Funding decisions are made internally by the board of trustees throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications (0% acceptance rate). The foundation makes approximately 7 grants per year to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from organizations outside their preselected network.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive funding from the Klein Family Foundation typically have:

  • Pre-existing relationships with family trustees
  • Strong connections to the Brooklyn Jewish community
  • Alignment with Jewish religious and educational missions
  • Demonstrated track record in serving the Jewish community
  • Direct connections through the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn

The foundation's giving pattern shows a preference for:

  • Larger institutions that can manage substantial grants ($550,000+)
  • Organizations with "Gur" or Hasidic community connections (evidenced by grants to Global Center of Gur Inc and American Friends of Imrei Emes)
  • Community organizations focused on religious education and support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications - they only fund preselected organizations
  • Family-driven philanthropy: All decisions are made by seven family trustees with deep connections to the Brooklyn Jewish community
  • Large, concentrated grants: The foundation makes only 7 grants per year, with amounts ranging from $50,000 to $850,000
  • Jewish community focus: 100% of funding goes to Jewish religious, educational, and community organizations
  • Geographic concentration: Funding is focused on Brooklyn, NY and the surrounding area
  • Relationship-based: Organizations receiving grants have established relationships with the Klein family trustees
  • Not suitable for most applicants: Unless your organization already has connections to the Klein family or their network, pursuing funding from this foundation is not feasible

References

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