The L.A.W. Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The L.A.W. Foundation funds work in Arts & Culture, Community Services, Education, Emergency Relief, Health, Jewish Causes and Social Justice, reaching organisations in the United States, Israel and elsewhere in the world, so check that your work fits one of these themes and that stated geographic focus.
- It operates by invitation only and states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so there is no open route for a small nonprofit to apply directly.
- Typical grants run from $2,000 to $250,000, with a median grant of $25,000, which gives a realistic sense of scale for the size of award it makes.
- It is strongly relationship-led: 84% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two years, so most of its money goes to organisations it already knows well.
- Because it does not accept unsolicited requests, small nonprofits without an existing connection to the foundation should not plan to submit a direct application.
Overview
The L.A.W. Foundation is a US private foundation based in Short Hills, NJ.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The L.A.W. Foundation is listed as one of the foundations within the Wilf Family Foundations. The group says its grants support Jewish causes, underserved communities, educational opportunities and social justice. It identifies arts and cultural institutions, community organisations meeting basic needs such as food and housing, education, emergency relief and health care as areas of work. It also supports organisations involved in Jewish remembrance, education and religious life, and organisations providing care for veterans and their families. Its grantmaking reaches organisations in the United States, Israel and elsewhere in the world. The group describes its approach as working with communities on social justice and essential services.
Themes
- Arts & Culture
- Community Services
- Education
- Emergency Relief
- Health
- Jewish Causes
- Social Justice
Geographic Focus
United States; Israel; world.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% 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 274 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations The L.A.W. Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 26% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 94 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- New York Presbyterian Fund · Campaign pledge$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federation Of Greater Metrwest NJ · Israel emergency support$1,583,3332024 tax year
- Yeshiva University · General support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- New York University School of Law · Pledge to public interest law$500,0002024 tax year
- Hun School of Princeton · Residence hall pledge$500,0002024 tax year
- UJA-Federation of New York · Annual support$360,0002024 tax year
- National Library of Israel USA · Capital support$300,0002024 tax year
- American National Red Cross · Hurricane helene relief$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Leonard Wilf — Chairman, President & Trustee
- Halle Wilf — Trustee
- Zygmunt Wilf — Trustee
- Beth Wilf — Treasurer, Secretary & Trustee
- Orin Wilf — Vice President & Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $10,855,829 | $9,924,970 | $209,531,901 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $12,945,192 | $11,857,784 | $228,436,477 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,408,758 | $9,817,633 | $249,280,011 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to The L.A.W. Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required