William S Paley Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $38,417,470 (2023)
Assets: $165 million
Number of Grants: 24 (2023)
Average Grant Size: $1,600,728
Geographic Focus: United States (primarily New York, Washington, Los Angeles)
Application Process: No public application process - preselected organizations only

Contact Details

Address: 3630 Hill Blvd Ste 202, Jefferson Valley, NY 10535-1513

Phone: 914-769-5005

Executive Director: Patrick S. Gallagher

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The William S Paley Foundation Inc was incorporated in 1936 and established by the late William S. Paley (1901-1990), who served as CEO and chairman of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and transformed it from a small radio network into one of the "big three" television networks. With assets of approximately $165 million, the foundation distributed over $38 million in grants in 2023 across 24 awards. The foundation maintains endowment funds with particular emphasis on the Museum of Television and Radio (now The Paley Center for Media) and the Greenpark Foundation (which operates Paley Park in Manhattan). Beyond these core commitments, the foundation supports museums, health services, education, and cultural programs throughout the United States.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Grants are made to preselected charitable organizations identified by the foundation's leadership.

Average Grant Size: Approximately $1.6 million (based on 2023 data)

Primary Recipients Include:

The Paley Center for Media (formerly Museum of Television and Radio)
The Museum of Modern Art (recipient of endowment for digital media and technology)
Greenpark Foundation (operates Paley Park on East 53rd Street in Manhattan)

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture: Museums, cultural institutions, and media preservation
Museums: Particularly those focused on television, radio, and modern art
Education: Educational programs and institutions
Health Services: Healthcare organizations and initiatives
Cultural Programs: Supporting cultural advancement and preservation

What They Don't Fund

Individuals: Under the foundation's charter, no grants may be made to individuals
Unsolicited requests: The foundation only considers preselected organizations

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Patrick S. Gallagher

Former Chairman/Director: Henry A. Kissinger (served until November 2023)

The foundation is managed by a board of directors who identify and select grant recipients based on the foundation's mission to support the arts, culture, education, and health.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The William S Paley Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the foundation's board of directors and leadership.

Organizations seeking support must be identified and selected by the foundation directly. There is no application portal, no application deadlines, and no formal proposal submission process available to the general public.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations rather than through a competitive application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, examining the foundation's grantmaking patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

Institutions with direct historical connections to William S. Paley's legacy (television, radio, broadcasting, media)
Major cultural institutions with established reputations (such as MoMA)
Organizations aligned with the foundation's endowment commitments (Paley Center for Media, Paley Park)
Institutions in major U.S. cities where the foundation has demonstrated interest (New York, Washington, Los Angeles)

Grant Size Patterns: With an average grant of $1.6 million, the foundation makes substantial awards to a relatively small number of organizations annually (24 grants in 2023). This suggests a preference for significant, impactful investments in established institutions rather than spreading resources across many smaller grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - this foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking methods
Historical connection matters - the foundation's giving reflects William S. Paley's legacy in broadcasting and media
Large, strategic grants - with an average grant of $1.6 million, the foundation makes substantial investments
Arts and culture focus - while the foundation supports health and education, its core emphasis remains on museums and cultural institutions
Established institutions favored - major, well-known organizations with proven track records receive support
Geographic concentration - grants support projects primarily in major U.S. cities
Long-term commitments - the foundation maintains endowment funds for specific institutions, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time grants

References

Research completed December 25, 2025