Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; a better first step is to find a route to an invitation.
- Its typical grant band is $10,000 to $500,000, and about 8 in 10 of its 52 grants to organisations fall in that range, with a median of $50,000, so a request near that level fits its usual pattern, though the band is not a ceiling and its largest grant was $650,000.
- Repeat giving is strong: 98% of its grant dollars in the most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so new applicants should expect a relationship-led process.
- Its giving rose from $885,000 to $1,187,500 and then $3,611,000 across the three filings, but the filings do not state a geographic focus, and they show grants mainly in New York and Texas, so a group elsewhere should not assume it is excluded.
Overview
Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filings, the foundation’s recorded grants went predominantly as general support to organisations rather than to a specified project. Recipients include arts and cultural institutions, animal welfare organisations, childcare and recreational services, religious and interfaith organisations, medical organisations, environmental and land-conservation bodies, and education organisations. The filings also record support for an arts residency and a library initiative. These records describe a varied recipient mix but do not state the foundation’s general funding priorities, eligibility conditions, or a public application route.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York and Texas.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 52 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 17 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Interfaith Center of New York · General support$650,0002024 tax year
- Publicolor · General support$600,0002024 tax year
- Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons · General support$530,0002024 tax year
- Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center · General support$502,5002024 tax year
- Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation · General support$500,0002024 tax year
- New York City Ballet · General support$500,0002024 tax year
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston · To support glassell school of art core artist residency program$100,0002024 tax year
- Juilliard School · General support$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- William P Kelly — Trustee
- Michael Hecht — VP, Secretary & Treasurer
- Robert B Fagenson — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,020,251 | $885,000 | $20,452,614 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,333,384 | $1,187,500 | $23,430,868 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,809,338 | $3,611,000 | $22,019,674 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY