The Z S & M Wilf Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; any approach should be made only if you can reach it through a relationship or an invitation.
- Its stated themes are Jewish causes, social justice, education, housing, food and health care, so check that your work fits one of these before you make contact.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $2,500 and $110,000, and the median is $25,000, so a request near that size is the realistic one to plan around.
- The band is not a ceiling, since the largest grant, about $3,700,000, went to an organisation that regrants to others.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 76% of grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in the two earlier filings, and no geographic focus is stated, so do not rule yourself out on location alone.
Overview
The Z S & M Wilf 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 (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (wilffamilyfoundations.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation is listed as one of the Wilf Family Foundations, a family-led collection whose stated giving supports communities. The collection describes its support as providing education, housing, food, health care and other essential and life-saving services. It says most of its support is devoted to Jewish causes and also describes meaningful social justice efforts, including protecting voting rights and advancing criminal justice and law enforcement reform. Members of the Wilf family are involved in recommendations on support for specific programmes and in identifying opportunities to develop programmes in previously unsupported areas.
Themes
- Jewish causes
- Social justice
- Education
- Housing
- Food
- Health care
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 76% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 226 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to organisations The Z S & M Wilf Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 38% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 66 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $19,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Yeshiva University · General operating support$1,612,5002025 tax year
- Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center · Program support$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Jewish Museum · General operating support$500,0002025 tax year
- Birthright Israel Foundation · General operating support$500,0002025 tax year
- Secure Community Network · General operating support$250,0002025 tax year
- Clal - The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership · General operating support$160,0002025 tax year
- Friends of the Israel Football League · Program support$100,0002025 tax year
- PGA Tour First Tee Foundation · Program support$100,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Daniel Wilf — Trustee
- Rachel S Wilf — Trustee
- Stephanie Wilf — Trustee
- Steven Wilf — Trustee
- Jonathan Wilf — Trustee
- Jason Wilf — Trustee
- Elana Wilf Tanzman — Trustee
- Leonard Wilf — Trustee
- Elizabeth Wilf — Trustee
- Mark Wilf — Vice President, Secretary & Trustee
- Zygmunt Wilf — President, Treasurer & Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $12,056,597 | $12,039,533 | $147,653,426 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,182,026 | $9,167,733 | $164,768,426 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $6,012,424 | $5,584,483 | $174,729,600 | Filing for 2025 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 The Z S & M Wilf Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Short Hills, NJ
Applying to The Z S & M Wilf Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Short Hills, NJ