Susan S. & Kenneth Wallach Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3,933,800 (2023)
Number of Grants: 52 awards (2023)
Grant Range: $500 - $500,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and Massachusetts (New England)
Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted
Foundation Type: Private non-operating foundation

Contact Details

Address: 3 Manhattanville Road, Purchase, NY 10577

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The Susan S. and Kenneth Wallach Foundation was established in 1997 by Kenneth L. Wallach, Executive Chairman and former CEO of Central National Gottesman Inc., and his wife Susan, a retired Special Counsel at Schulte Roth & Zabel who practiced law for 34 years. The foundation is a private non-operating 501(c)(3) organization with an IRS ruling year of 1998. In 2023, the foundation distributed approximately $3.9 million across 52 grants, focusing primarily on arts and culture, education, health, youth programs, and Jewish causes. The Wallachs are both Harvard graduates deeply engaged in New York's cultural and educational landscape, particularly through their leadership roles at Lincoln Center and other major institutions. The foundation operates with a low profile and makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific names or categories. Instead, grants are awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations aligned with the foundation's interests.

Grant Range: $500 - $500,000

Notable Gift: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts received a $1.25 million grant in 2022.

Priority Areas

Based on tax filings and documented grants, the foundation focuses on:

Arts and Culture: The lion's share of funding goes to arts education and arts organizations, particularly in New York. Recipients include American Museum of Natural History, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Book Foundation, The New York Public Library, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Education: Major support for educational institutions, particularly Harvard University and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study (the Wallachs donated $10 million to establish the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach House at Radcliffe). Other education recipients include Columbia University and The Spence School.
Jewish Causes: Support for organizations like Central Synagogue.
Health: Cancer Research and Treatment organizations.
Youth Programs: Various youth-serving organizations.

Geographic Focus

Primary focus on New York and Massachusetts, with emphasis on New York City institutions.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so organizations outside their existing network of relationships are unlikely to receive funding. No information is publicly available about specific exclusions.

Governance and Leadership

Kenneth L. Wallach

Background: Executive Chairman of Central National Gottesman Inc., representing the fourth generation of his family to lead the company. Served as CEO for 17 years (1998-2015). Graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

Current Leadership Roles:

Trustee and Executive Committee member, American Museum of Natural History
Director and Chair of Investment Committee, National Book Foundation
Director and Executive Committee member, 92nd St. Y
Director and Executive Committee member, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Fellow, Treasurer, and Finance Committee Chair, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Member, Council on Foreign Relations
Member, Harvard Committee on University Resources

Quote on Philanthropy: Regarding their gift to the Chamber Music Society, Kenneth stated: "We have had the privilege of experiencing many thrilling performances by the incredible CMS artists and wanted to celebrate their talent."

Susan S. Wallach

Background: Retired Special Counsel at Schulte Roth & Zabel. Practiced law for 34 years, specializing in divorce law and prenuptial agreements. Retired in 2005. Graduate cum laude from Harvard/Radcliffe College and Harvard Law School.

Radcliffe and Harvard Service: Served as Trustee of Radcliffe College and was central to negotiating its merger with Harvard. Became founding member and inaugural chair of the Dean's Advisory Council of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Served on Harvard University Board of Overseers (2005-2011) and received the Harvard Medal for extraordinary service.

Current Leadership Roles:

Vice Chair, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Trustee and Chair of Board Development and Engagement Committee, WNET Group
Trustee and Chair of Board Development and Public Affairs Committee, Pace University

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have existing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

The Wallachs' giving reflects their deep personal involvement with New York's cultural and educational institutions. Specific connection points include:

Lincoln Center: Both Kenneth (Director and Executive Committee member) and Susan (Vice Chair of Chamber Music Society) are deeply involved. Their gift established the Wallach Artists Fund and the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Chair at the Chamber Music Society.
American Museum of Natural History: Kenneth serves as Trustee and Executive Committee member.
Arts and Cultural Organizations: The foundation has a documented pattern of supporting New York arts organizations, particularly those connected to institutions where the Wallachs serve in leadership roles.
Harvard/Radcliffe Network: Both are Harvard graduates with extensive involvement. Organizations connected to Harvard alumni networks may have visibility.
Board Overlap: Organizations where board members or leadership have connections to the 92nd St. Y, National Book Foundation, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, WNET Group, or Pace University may have indirect access.

The foundation's giving pattern suggests that grants flow primarily to organizations where the Wallachs have direct board involvement or long-standing personal connections as patrons.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, their documented giving reveals clear patterns:

Focus on Excellence in Arts and Culture

The Wallachs are sophisticated arts patrons with a particular affinity for classical music and chamber music. Their stated motivation for supporting the Chamber Music Society was to "celebrate talent" and support increased artist fees, indicating they value artistic excellence and proper compensation for artists.

Long-term Relationship Building

The foundation's restriction to "preselected charitable organizations" indicates grants flow to organizations where the Wallachs have developed relationships over time as patrons, board members, or through their extensive network in New York's cultural and educational sectors.

Support for Infrastructure and Endowment

Major gifts like the $10 million to Radcliffe Institute (establishing a named building) and $1.25 million to Lincoln Center suggest the Wallachs are interested in transformative gifts that create lasting infrastructure rather than just program support.

Alignment with Personal Passions

The Wallachs' giving closely mirrors their personal involvement. Kenneth's board service at the National Book Foundation correlates with foundation grants to that organization. Susan's leadership at Chamber Music Society correlates with significant support there.

New York Focus

While they support some Massachusetts institutions (particularly Harvard/Radcliffe), the vast majority of their giving focuses on New York City cultural and educational organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - attempting to submit an application will not be successful
The foundation gives exclusively to organizations with which the Wallachs have pre-existing relationships, typically through board service or patronage
Arts and culture organizations in New York, particularly those focused on classical music, museums, and education, align with documented giving patterns
Grant amounts vary significantly ($500 to $500,000+), suggesting the foundation makes both major transformational gifts and smaller annual support grants
The Wallachs value artistic excellence and proper support for artists, as evidenced by their stated motivation for supporting increased artist fees at Chamber Music Society
Educational institutions, particularly those with Harvard connections, receive significant support
The foundation operates with a low profile - no website, no public guidelines, and limited public information beyond tax filings
Connection to the foundation would require networking through the Wallachs' extensive board affiliations and the New York cultural community

References

Information accessed December 2024