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Schwarz Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
$50K - $1.4M
00

Schwarz Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.22 million - $5.31 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (No public application process)
  • Decision Time: N/A (Invitation only)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly (from tens of thousands to $1.45 million)
  • Geographic Focus: National and international (emphasis on Israel, healthcare research)
  • Total Assets: $59.4 million
  • Year Founded: 1983

Contact Details

Address: 200 Central Ave., Suite 102, Mountainside, NJ 07092

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Schwarz Foundation was established in 1983 as a private foundation in Mountainside, New Jersey. With total assets of approximately $59.4 million and annual grantmaking of $4.2-$5.3 million, the foundation operates as a family foundation supported by Brooklawn Gardens Inc. The foundation has no paid staff, with leadership provided by family members Henryk Schwarz (President) and Elan Schwarz (Secretary), neither of whom receives compensation. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on healthcare institutions (particularly cancer research), Jewish and Israeli causes, children and youth services, and family services. In recent years, the foundation has made between 27-31 grants annually, with individual grants ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to over $1 million for major institutional partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants to preselected organizations. Recent disclosed grants include:

  • Major Institutional Grants: $300,000 - $1.45 million (for established institutional partners)
  • General Grants: Variable amounts based on trustee discretion

Recent major recipients include:

  • PEF Israel Endowment Funds: $1.45 million
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: $1 million
  • American Friends of Hebrew University: $300,000

Grant Distribution: The foundation made 28 awards in 2024, 27 awards in 2023, and 31 awards in 2022.

Priority Areas

Based on IRS filings and disclosed grants, the foundation actively funds:

  • Healthcare and Medical Research: Particularly cancer research institutions
  • Jewish and Israeli Causes: Including educational institutions and endowment funds in Israel
  • Children and Youth Services: Organizations serving young people
  • Family Services: Programs supporting families
  • Hospitals: Healthcare institutions

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has explicitly stated it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, indicating they:

  • Do not fund organizations outside their preselected network
  • Do not accept cold applications from new organizations
  • Do not operate open grant cycles

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Structure:

  • Henryk Schwarz - President
  • Elan Schwarz - Secretary

The foundation operates with no paid staff and is supported by Brooklawn Gardens Inc., a Mountainside-based company involved in apartment hotel operations, where Henry Schwarz/Schwarz serves as president. Neither officer receives compensation from the foundation, consistent with a family foundation model where trustees donate their time.

Financial Position: The foundation has demonstrated strong financial growth, with assets increasing from $25.1 million in 2012 to $59.4 million in 2025. A significant contribution of $27 million was received in FY 2022, followed by stabilization at approximately $2-4 million in annual contributions thereafter. Revenue sources include investment income (approximately $2.7-3.7 million annually), dividends ($1.59 million), and contributions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Schwarz Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and initiative
  • Pre-existing relationships with established organizations
  • Family and corporate affiliations through Brooklawn Gardens Inc.

Organizations cannot submit applications, letters of inquiry, or proposal requests to this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate application cycles. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their ongoing relationships with preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - there is no public application process. The foundation makes 27-31 grants annually from a preselected pool of organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply to this foundation.

Application Success Factors

For organizations already in relationship with the foundation:

Given the foundation's focus on preselected organizations, success factors are based on:

  1. Established Institutional Credibility: Major recipients like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Hebrew University are well-established, prestigious institutions with national/international recognition.

  2. Alignment with Family Values: The foundation's support for Jewish causes, Israeli institutions, and cancer research likely reflects the personal interests and values of the Schwarz family.

  3. Healthcare Excellence: The foundation demonstrates sustained interest in medical research institutions, particularly those focused on cancer treatment and research.

  4. Long-term Partnership Approach: The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with a consistent group of organizations rather than seeking new grantees annually.

  5. Large-Scale Impact: Major grants ($300,000 - $1.45 million) go to organizations with significant reach and impact potential.

Note: Because this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, these factors are observational rather than prescriptive for prospective applicants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking methods
  • Preselected Organizations Only: Only organizations already known to the trustees receive funding
  • Significant Grant Sizes: When the foundation does give, grants can be substantial ($300,000 - $1.45 million for major partners)
  • Consistent Annual Giving: The foundation distributes $4-5 million annually to approximately 27-31 organizations
  • Focus Areas Are Clear: Healthcare/cancer research, Jewish/Israeli causes, children and youth services
  • Family Foundation Model: Small trustee board (family members) with no staff indicates highly personal grantmaking
  • Financial Stability: Strong asset base ($59.4 million) suggests the foundation will continue operations indefinitely
  • Not Worth Pursuing: Unless you have a personal connection to the Schwarz family or Brooklawn Gardens Inc., pursuit of funding from this foundation is not advisable

References

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