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Beth And Ira Leventhal Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,100,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% (for new applicants)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Variable - from small grants to $300,000
  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and northeastern United States

Contact Details

Address: C/O OTA LLC, One Manhattanville Road, Purchase, NY 10577
Phone: 914-460-4017
Website: Not available
Email: Not publicly available

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Beth And Ira Leventhal Foundation (also known as the Leventhal Family Charitable Foundation) is a private grantmaking foundation established in New York and granted tax-exempt status in December 2000. With total assets of approximately $12.5 million and annual giving of $1.1 million in 2024, the foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes with a primary focus on Jewish organizations, education, social services, and community development. The foundation is led by the Leventhal family and operates as a family foundation with all leadership serving in unpaid volunteer roles, demonstrating a strong commitment to philanthropy. In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants ranging from small contributions to a maximum single grant of $300,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a single discretionary grantmaking program with no formal grant categories or application cycles. Grants are made to preselected charitable organizations only.

Recent Grant Distribution (2024):

  • Major grant: $300,000 to UJA Federation
  • Large grants: $100,000-$200,000 to organizations like Anti-Defamation League, Fordham University School of Law, American Jewish Committee, Randall's Island Park Alliance
  • Medium grants: Typically $10,000-$50,000 (median grant amount)
  • Geographic reach: Primarily New York, with some grants to organizations in Massachusetts, California, and other states

Priority Areas

Based on tax filings and grant history, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Jewish Organizations: Primary focus, including community federations, advocacy organizations, and religious institutions
  • Higher Education: Particularly law schools and universities
  • Social Services: Family and child welfare programs
  • Community Development: Parks, youth programs, and community organizations
  • Health Organizations: Healthcare and medical services
  • Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions and programs
  • Philanthropy: Supporting other charitable initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's exclusions are not explicitly documented, but based on their stated preselection policy:

  • Organizations outside their established network
  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations that do not align with their core interest areas

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a family-based board with the following key leadership (all serving in unpaid roles):

  • Beth Leventhal, President
  • Ira Leventhal, Vice President
  • James W. Santori, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Michael Leventhal, Director
  • Daniel Leventhal, Director
  • Jonathan Leventhal, Director

The fact that all key personnel serve without compensation demonstrates the family's personal commitment to their philanthropic mission. The foundation's operations are managed through OTA LLC in Purchase, NY.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their official documentation with the IRS and foundation databases, the Beth And Ira Leventhal Foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships. The foundation identified their grantmaking approach on their tax returns, indicating that potential grantees must be known to the foundation prior to receiving funding.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not disclose specific decision timelines, as grants are made on a discretionary basis throughout the year rather than through scheduled funding cycles. Based on their tax filings, the foundation makes between 17-35 grants annually.

Success Rates

According to data from Grantable, the foundation has a 12% funding rate for new applicants, though this figure may reflect organizations that had some connection to the foundation's network before receiving their first grant. With 17-25 grants made annually, competition for funding is significant given the preselection requirement.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept formal applications. Organizations in the foundation's network may receive recurring support; several major recipients appear to receive consistent annual funding.

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear to be important based on their grantmaking patterns:

Alignment with Core Mission: Organizations that receive funding strongly align with the foundation's focus on Jewish communal life, education (especially higher education and law schools), and social services. Major grants have gone to flagship Jewish organizations like UJA Federation, American Jewish Committee, and Anti-Defamation League.

New York Connection: The vast majority of grants support New York-based organizations or organizations with significant New York operations, reflecting the foundation's Purchase, NY location and local commitment.

Institutional Reputation: Grant recipients include well-established institutions such as Fordham University School of Law, suggesting the foundation values organizations with strong track records and institutional stability.

Jewish Community Priorities: Given that the foundation gives "primarily for Jewish organizations" (per Foundation Center), alignment with Jewish communal needs and values is a critical success factor.

Existing Relationships: The preselection policy indicates that prior relationships with the foundation's trustees or presence in the family's philanthropic network is essential for funding consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation only makes grants to preselected organizations, so traditional grant writing approaches will not be effective
  • Strong Jewish focus: The foundation's primary interest is supporting Jewish organizations and causes, which should be central to any organization hoping to be noticed by the foundation
  • New York emphasis: Geographic proximity to Purchase, NY and operations in the New York area appear to be important factors
  • Relationship-driven: Building connections with the Leventhal family network through other Jewish communal organizations or educational institutions may be the only path to consideration
  • Wide grant range: Grants range from small contributions to $300,000, with a median of $10,000, suggesting flexibility based on project scope and organizational relationship
  • Education matters: The foundation has a demonstrated interest in higher education, particularly law education, which may open doors for academic institutions
  • Multi-year potential: Analysis of grantmaking patterns suggests the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with key beneficiaries, making long-term funding possible for organizations in their network

References

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