The Fridolin Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,077,784 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $425,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; occasional international grants

Contact Details

Address: 599 Lexington Ave, 36th Fl., New York, NY 10022

Application Process: Does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants by invitation/trustee selection only.

Overview

The Fridolin Charitable Trust was established in 2006 as a private independent foundation and granted tax-exempt status by the IRS in October 2006. With assets of approximately $61 million and annual distributions of $3.3 million, the trust supports a diverse portfolio of charitable organizations. The foundation's mission encompasses education, medical research, cultural institutions, Jewish youth programs, ethical education, emergency relief, refugee support, and museum programs. The trust operates through trustee discretion, making grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. In 2024, the foundation made 58 grants with a median award of $28,000, demonstrating consistent philanthropic activity over recent years (46 awards in 2023, 52 in 2022, 40 in 2021).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants across multiple sectors. Recent grants (2024) include:

• Medical Education & Research: $387,500 to NYU School of Medicine for Prevention Education Partnership; $175,000 to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Cultural & Arts: $191,500 to Friends of Bezalel Academy for Jerusalem Initiative Project; $175,000 to Historical Royal Palaces
• Ethics & Holocaust Education: $175,000 to Fellowships at Auschwitz for Professional Ethics
• Various Causes: Grant amounts typically range from $1,000 to $425,000

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant-making patterns, the trust supports:

• Education (particularly universities and medical schools)
• Medical research and healthcare institutions
• Cultural institutions and museums
• Jewish youth programs and cultural initiatives
• Holocaust education and ethical education programs
• Emergency relief efforts
• Refugee support organizations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from any organizations. All grants are made to preselected organizations chosen by the trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by four trustees, each working approximately 5 hours per week with annual compensation of $31,000:

• Neal Lewin, Trustee
• Herbert Kozlov, Trustee
• Bonnie Kaye, Trustee
• Ada Samuelsson, Trustee

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Fridolin Charitable Trust explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and selection. The foundation identifies organizations through the trustees' networks and existing relationships in the philanthropic, educational, medical, and cultural sectors.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the Fridolin Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no traditional application process. Organizations that receive funding are selected by the trustees based on their own research and networks.

Pattern Analysis of Funded Organizations:

The trust's recent grant-making reveals clear preferences:

• Established Institutions: Major grants go to recognized institutions like NYU School of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Historical Royal Palaces
• Dual Focus Areas: Strong support for both medical/educational institutions and cultural/Jewish heritage organizations
• Ethics and Education: Notable emphasis on ethical education, particularly Holocaust education programs
• International Reach: While primarily focused on New York and surrounding states, the trust makes selective international grants (e.g., Friends of Bezalel Academy, Historical Royal Palaces)
• Multi-Year Relationships: The trustee-driven model suggests preference for ongoing relationships with vetted organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications under any circumstances - do not submit proposals
• Trustee-Driven Selection: All grants result from trustee research, networks, and discretionary decisions
• Broad Portfolio: The trust supports diverse causes from medical research to cultural institutions to Holocaust education
• Significant Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $1,000 to $425,000 and a median of $28,000, the trust makes both small and substantial awards
• Geographic Concentration: Primary focus on New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with selective international giving
• Established Institutions Preferred: Recent grants favor well-known universities, medical schools, museums, and established cultural organizations
• Not a Prospect for Cold Outreach: Organizations without existing connections to the trustees should not consider this foundation as a funding prospect

References

• Cause IQ - The Fridolin Charitable Trust Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/fridolin-charitable-trust-06282006,546717390/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Grantmakers.io - Fridolin Charitable Trust Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/546717390-fridolin-charitable-trust/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl - The Fridolin Charitable Trust 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/fridolin-charitable-trust (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Fridolin Charitable Tr Ua 06282006: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/546717390 (Accessed January 2026)