Cyrus Katzen Foundation Inc
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $1.5 - $2.9 million
- Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only)
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000+ (historical major gifts up to $15 million)
- Geographic Focus: Washington DC metro area, with some national reach
Contact Details
- Website: Not available
- Phone: Not publicly listed
- Email: Not publicly listed
- EIN: 52-1756979
- Address: Baileys Crossroads, VA
Overview
The Cyrus Katzen Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1993 by the late Dr. Cyrus Katzen, a prominent physician-scientist and philanthropist who passed away in 2009. With total assets of approximately $36.4 million and annual grant distributions ranging from $1.5 to $2.9 million, the foundation continues Dr. Katzen's legacy of supporting arts, education, healthcare, and Jewish causes primarily in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The foundation has made significant transformational gifts in the past, including $15 million to American University for the Katzen Arts Center and $10 million to George Washington University for cancer research. Currently led by Jay E. Katzen (Dr. Katzen's son) and Millard S. Bennett, the foundation operates as a private grantmaker without a public application process, making grants through board discretion and established relationships.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants across several focus areas:
- Arts & Culture Grants: $10,000 - $100,000 (supporting museums, visual arts, and art conservation)
- Education Grants: Variable amounts (supporting higher education institutions)
- Healthcare/Research Grants: Variable amounts (with historical major gifts for cancer research)
- Jewish Community Support: $10,000 - $100,000 (supporting Jewish cultural and religious organizations)
Priority Areas
- Visual arts and art conservation
- Museums and cultural institutions
- Higher education
- Cancer research and healthcare
- Jewish cultural and religious organizations
- Children's welfare (specifically The Children's Inn at NIH as a strategic partner)
What They Don't Fund
Based on available grant history, the foundation does not appear to fund:
- Individual scholarships or personal assistance
- Organizations outside their established focus areas
- International projects (focus is primarily domestic US)
Governance and Leadership
Board of Directors:
- Jay E. Katzen - Director (son of founder Dr. Cyrus Katzen)
- Millard S. Bennett - Director
Both directors receive compensation for their service. The foundation was established by Dr. Cyrus Katzen, a renowned physician-scientist who served as Chief of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at George Washington University Medical Center and founded the medical contrast agent manufacturing company Advanced Medical Systems, Inc.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through board discretion and pre-existing relationships. The foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants based on trustee recommendations and established partnerships.
Getting on Their Radar
Based on the foundation's giving patterns and partnerships:
- The foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through existing relationships with major institutions in the Washington, DC area
- They maintain multi-year partnerships with organizations like The Children's Inn at NIH
- Major educational institutions where the Katzen family has connections receive significant support
- Jewish community organizations in the DC area are regularly supported
Decision Timeline
Not publicly available due to the private nature of grant decisions.
Success Rates
Not applicable - invitation only foundation.
Reapplication Policy
Not publicly available.
Application Success Factors
Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns:
- Geographic alignment: Organizations in the Washington, DC metro area (Maryland, Virginia, DC) receive the majority of support
- Mission alignment: Clear connection to visual arts, art conservation, Jewish culture, education, or healthcare
- Institutional credibility: The foundation primarily supports established institutions rather than new or grassroots organizations
- Transformational potential: Historical major gifts suggest the foundation values projects that create lasting impact
- Existing relationships: Most grants appear to go to organizations where the foundation has established connections
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The Cyrus Katzen Foundation is a private family foundation without a public application process
- Focus areas include arts (particularly visual arts), education, healthcare/cancer research, and Jewish causes
- Geographic priority is the Washington, DC metropolitan area
- The foundation makes both annual operating support grants and major transformational gifts
- Building relationships with board members or existing grantees may be the only path to receiving support
- The foundation maintains multi-year partnerships with select organizations
- Average recent grants range from $25,000 to $40,000, with capacity for much larger transformational gifts
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Cyrus Katzen Foundation Inc Form 990-PF filings (Accessed January 2025)
- Candid Foundation Directory Profile - Cyrus Katzen Foundation (Accessed January 2025)
- The Children's Inn at NIH - Katzen Foundation Partnership Page (Accessed January 2025)
- Capital Jewish Museum - Donor Recognition (Accessed January 2025)
- American University - Katzen Arts Center History (Accessed January 2025)
- Washington Post - Dr. Cyrus Katzen Obituary (2009)
- GuideStar Profile - Cyrus Katzen Foundation Inc (Accessed January 2025)
- Cause IQ - Cyrus Katzen Foundation Analysis (Accessed January 2025)
- Instrumentl - Cyrus Katzen Foundation 990 Report (Accessed January 2025)