American Friends Of B Nai Levy Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $19,088,956 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only grantmaking)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $4,930,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and New Jersey, with international reach (USA, Israel, Europe)
• Number of Grants (2023): 115 awards
• Median Grant Size: $26,000

Contact Details

Address: C/O M Kanner CPA, 5417 18th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204

Phone: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No public website

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or readily available contact information for grant seekers.

Overview

American Friends Of B Nai Levy Foundation was established in 1999 as a New York private foundation serving as the U.S. arm of the B'Nai Levy Foundation, based in Kiryas Tosh, Quebec. The foundation supports Jewish education, synagogues, and charitable activities primarily within Hasidic Jewish communities. With total assets of approximately $584,000 and annual grantmaking exceeding $19 million in 2023, the foundation operates as a pass-through organization, receiving contributions and distributing them to recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Since 2014, the foundation has awarded 547 individual grants totaling $31,781,335. The parent organization in Quebec, founded in 2003, operates in Canada, the USA, Israel, and several European countries, maintaining a house of worship and strengthening the spiritual, ethical, and moral values of Jewish culture within the Tosh Hasidic community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grantmaking without formal grant programs or application cycles. All grants are awarded by invitation or through existing relationships with the foundation's leadership.

Grantmaking Overview:

• Grant Range: $5,000 to $4,930,000
• Median Grant: $26,000
• Total Annual Distribution: $19,088,956 (2023)
• Number of Recipients: 115 organizations (2023)

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes support for:

• Jewish Education: Yeshivas and Jewish educational institutions
• Synagogues and Houses of Worship: Congregations within Hasidic communities
• Religious Activities: Programs supporting Jewish religious observance and practice
• Support for Indigent Individuals: Assistance to individuals in financial need
• Recognized Charities: Other 501(c)(3) organizations aligned with the foundation's mission

Geographic Focus

Primary focus on:

• New York (particularly Brooklyn)
• New Jersey
• International support extending to Israel and Europe

Top Grant Recipients (2023)

Based on publicly available Form 990 data, recent major grants included:

1. Cong Shari Vaad Tov - $1,100,000
2. Gemilos Chasodim Chasdei Mosh - $896,000
3. Cong Shemesh Ztadukah - $817,000
4. Cong Ohel Mordche DTosh - $726,000
5. Yeshiva Tiferes Meshilem Feis - $717,000
6. Cong Mamleches Hatorah - $500,000
7. Cong Binyan Yerushalim - $461,000
8. Cong Bnei Yerushalyim - $402,000
9. Cong Mosdos Torah Veyirah Ye - $350,000
10. Cong Avoides Meshilem Feish - $328,000

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's grant history suggests it does not fund:

• Secular educational institutions
• Non-Jewish religious organizations
• General community development projects outside Jewish communities
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates with minimal staff (0 employees reported as of 2020) and pays no salaries, compensation, or benefits to employees. The organization works with M Kanner CPA (Mayer/Moshe Kanner), who is listed at the foundation's address and assists with preparation of annual 990 filings.

Specific information about trustees and board members is not readily available through public sources but can be found in the organization's Form 990 filings available through the IRS or nonprofit databases.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The American Friends Of B Nai Levy Foundation operates as a private foundation with trustee-discretionary grantmaking. Grants are awarded through:

• Invitation from foundation trustees
• Pre-existing relationships within the Tosh Hasidic community
• Direct identification of beneficiaries by board members

The foundation does not maintain a website, public contact information for grant seekers, or formal application procedures. Organizations seeking funding cannot submit unsolicited applications.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to the absence of a formal application process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation awarded 115 grants in 2023, suggesting a relatively closed network of beneficiary organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's grant history reveals clear patterns:

Organizational Profile of Successful Recipients:

• Primarily synagogues (congregations) within Hasidic Jewish communities
• Yeshivas and Jewish educational institutions
• Organizations with direct connections to the Tosh Hasidic community
• 501(c)(3) charitable organizations focused on Jewish religious activities

Grant Distribution Patterns:

• Wide range of grant sizes from $5,000 to over $4 million
• Median grant of $26,000 suggests accessibility for smaller organizations
• Consistent support to recurring beneficiaries (115 grants annually)
• Focus on New York and New Jersey-based organizations with some international reach

Strategic Alignment:

• Organizations must align with strengthening Jewish education and religious practice
• Support for maintaining houses of worship and synagogues
• Commitment to serving the spiritual, ethical, and moral values of Jewish culture
• Connection to the Kiryas Tosh community or similar Hasidic communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or maintain a formal grant process. Traditional grant writing strategies do not apply.

• Relationship-Based Grantmaking: All grants appear to flow through existing relationships within the Hasidic Jewish community, particularly connected to Kiryas Tosh, Quebec.

• Substantial Grantmaking Volume: With 115 grants totaling over $19 million annually, the foundation is a significant funder within its niche, despite having no public application process.

• Focus on Jewish Institutions: Nearly all funding supports synagogues, yeshivas, and Jewish educational organizations, with particular emphasis on Hasidic communities.

• Wide Grant Range: Grants range from $5,000 to nearly $5 million, with a median of $26,000, indicating flexibility in funding both small and large projects.

• Pass-Through Structure: The foundation operates with minimal assets ($584,000) compared to annual grantmaking ($19+ million), suggesting it functions primarily as a pass-through vehicle for donors supporting Jewish causes.

• International Reach: While based in Brooklyn, the foundation's parent organization in Quebec operates internationally in Canada, USA, Israel, and Europe, reflecting a global mission within the Tosh Hasidic community.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: American Friends Of B Nai Levy Foundation (EIN 311637285). Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311637285 (Accessed January 2026)

• Instrumentl 990 Report: American Friends Of Bnai Levy Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/american-friends-of-b-nai-levy-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• Foundation Directory Online (Candid): American Friends of B Nai Levy Foundation. Retrieved from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&key=AME0017 (Accessed January 2026)

• Charity Intelligence: B'Nai Levy Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/899-b-nai-levy-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• IRS Form 990 Filings for American Friends Of B Nai Levy Foundation (2020-2023)

• GrantExec Foundation Database: American Friends Of Bnai Levy Foundation. Retrieved from https://grantexec.com/foundations/311637285 (Accessed January 2026)