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Joseph S & Diane H Steinberg 1992 Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$3.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.7M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,357,567 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $500 - $675,000
  • Geographic Focus: Brooklyn, NY and New York City region, with selective support for Israel-related causes

Contact Details

Address: 520 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Phone: 212-460-1943

Website: None

Note: The trust does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

Founded in 1992 by businessman Joseph S. Steinberg and his wife Diane H. Steinberg, the Joseph S & Diane H Steinberg 1992 Charitable Trust is a private family foundation based in Brooklyn, New York. With net assets of approximately $40.9 million as of 2024, the trust distributed $3.4 million in charitable grants during its most recent fiscal year. Joseph Steinberg is Chairman of the Board of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (formerly Leucadia National Corporation) and was once on the Forbes billionaire list. Diane Steinberg worked in finance, including at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, and currently serves as Board Chair of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a position she has held since 2017. The foundation focuses on the couple's local Brooklyn community, supporting causes that promote economic mobility, children's welfare, cultural institutions, Jewish history and heritage, medical research, and documentary filmmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates as a private family foundation without formal grant programs or public application deadlines. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Typical Grant Range: $500 - $675,000

Priority Areas

Brooklyn Community Support

  • Cultural institutions including Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn Academy of Music
  • Parks and public spaces such as Prospect Park Alliance
  • Community development initiatives

Economic Mobility and Social Services

  • Programs helping poor people move up the economic ladder
  • NYC Relief and similar organizations supporting vulnerable populations
  • Children's welfare programs

Jewish Heritage and Israel

  • YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
  • Center for Jewish History (Joseph Steinberg was a founder)
  • UJA Federation
  • Congregation Mt. Sinai
  • Programs supporting Israel
  • Jewish cultural and archival activities

Arts and Culture

  • New York City Center (Joseph Steinberg serves on the board)
  • Documentary films with theatrical release potential
  • Museums and performing arts organizations

Medical Research and Healthcare

  • NYU Langone Health (major support including the Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Ambulatory Care Center in Cobble Hill)
  • Medical research initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not provide information about explicit exclusions, but it is highly focused on the specific areas outlined above and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Governance and Leadership

Joseph S. Steinberg (Co-Trustee and Founder)

  • Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
  • Former President of Leucadia National Corporation (1979-2013)
  • Harvard Business School MBA graduate
  • Co-founder of the Center for Jewish History in New York City
  • Serves on the board of New York City Center
  • Previously served on boards of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Mueller Industries, and other major corporations

Diane H. Steinberg (Co-Trustee and Founder)

  • Board Chair of Brooklyn Botanic Garden (since 2017, board member since 1998)
  • Former vice chair of Brooklyn Botanic Garden (2007-2017)
  • Co-chair of Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Campaign for the Next Century (2007-2016), which raised a record-breaking $122.6 million
  • Background in finance, including work at New York Federal Reserve Bank
  • The Diane H. and Joseph S. Steinberg Visitor Center at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (featuring a living meadow roof) is named in the couple's honor

The Steinbergs are longtime residents of Brooklyn Heights and maintain deep ties to Brooklyn-based cultural and social service institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Joseph S & Diane H Steinberg 1992 Charitable Trust states explicitly that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." According to Inside Philanthropy, the foundation "lacks transparency" and is "not very approachable."

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships, often through their involvement on boards or through their network in the Brooklyn philanthropic community.

Getting on Their Radar

Board Connections: Both Joseph and Diane Steinberg serve on multiple nonprofit boards. Diane is Board Chair of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Joseph serves on the board of New York City Center and was a founder of the Center for Jewish History. Organizations where the Steinbergs have board involvement or leadership roles are natural beneficiaries.

Brooklyn-Based Organizations: The couple has a strong commitment to their local Brooklyn community and longtime residence in Brooklyn Heights. Brooklyn-based institutions, particularly those focused on culture, parks, and community services, align with their giving patterns.

Jewish Heritage Organizations: Joseph Steinberg's founding role at the Center for Jewish History and sustained support for YIVO Institute for Jewish Research demonstrates deep commitment to Jewish heritage preservation. Organizations working in Jewish history, culture, and archival activities may have better access through these networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As an invitation-only funder making grants at trustee discretion, there are no published decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The trust does not accept unsolicited applications, making traditional success rate metrics irrelevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the trust's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that receive funding from the Steinberg trust typically share these characteristics:

Brooklyn Focus: The trust has demonstrated consistent support for Brooklyn-based institutions where the Steinbergs have long-term relationships, including Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Prospect Park Alliance.

Board Relationships: Organizations where the Steinbergs serve in leadership roles receive sustained support. Diane's role as Board Chair of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Joseph's board position at New York City Center exemplify this pattern.

Jewish Heritage and Culture: The trust prioritizes Jewish history, culture, and archival work. The $300,000 grant to create an online edition of The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe demonstrates significant investment in preserving and making accessible Jewish cultural heritage.

Documentary Film with Social Impact: The trust funded "The Story of the Jews with Simon Schama" for PBS, indicating interest in documentary films with theatrical release potential that address Jewish history or align with their social mission.

Medical Research and Healthcare: Major healthcare institutions like NYU Langone Health have received substantial support, including naming of the Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Ambulatory Care Center.

Cultural Institutions: Support for arts and culture organizations includes New York City Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and South Fork Natural History Museum.

Economic Mobility Programs: Organizations working to help poor people move up the economic ladder align with the trust's stated priorities, as do children's welfare programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a funder you can approach through traditional grant applications. The trust explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals and makes grants only to preselected organizations.

  • Board relationships are the primary pathway to funding. Diane Steinberg's leadership at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Joseph Steinberg's board positions represent the trust's model for sustained philanthropic relationships.

  • Brooklyn-based organizations with strong cultural or community impact have the best alignment with the trust's demonstrated giving patterns, especially those focused on parks, museums, and social services.

  • Jewish heritage organizations should explore connections through the Center for Jewish History network, where Joseph Steinberg was a founder, or through YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, a longtime grantee.

  • The trust's annual giving of $3.4 million is distributed among 40-45 organizations, with grants ranging from $500 to $675,000, indicating both sustained support for key institutions and flexibility for smaller grants.

  • Medical research and healthcare institutions seeking major gifts should note the trust's capacity for significant investments, as evidenced by the named ambulatory care center at NYU Langone Health.

  • Documentary filmmakers working on projects related to Jewish history or social impact themes aligned with the trust's mission may find interest, though access would require networking through existing relationships.

References

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