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Kislak Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$11.6M
Grant Range
$100K - $10.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11.6 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $10,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Florida, with select national institutional partnerships

Contact Details

Email: Info@KislakFamilyFoundation.org
Website: https://kislakfamilyfoundation.org
Address: Miami Lakes, FL
EIN: 65-0350930

Overview

The Kislak Family Foundation was established to continue the philanthropic vision of Jay I. Kislak (1922-2018), an entrepreneur, aviator, and bibliophile who believed "in succeeding in business, one should also succeed in doing good for society." With assets exceeding $173 million and annual giving of approximately $11.6 million, the foundation supports leadership and innovation in education, arts and humanities, animal welfare, and environmental preservation. The foundation is led by Paula A. Kislak (President and Chair), Philip T. Kislak (Vice President), and Thomas Bartelmo (CEO). Notable recent recognition includes the 2022 donation of $10 million to create the "Voices of the Early Americas" gallery at the Library of Congress, and expanding the Library of Congress Literacy Awards program in 2024 with a new $100,000 annual prize.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through invitation-only grant-making across four core pillars:

  • Education: $100,000 - $5,500,000 (includes scholarships, academic programs, institutional support, real estate education)
  • Arts and Humanities: $100,000 - $10,000,000 (includes museums, cultural institutions, historical preservation)
  • Animal Welfare: $250,000 (recent grant to South Florida Wildlife Center)
  • Environmental Preservation: Varies by project

Priority Areas

Education

  • Real estate education and professional development (FSU, Monmouth University)
  • Early childhood education programs (Jack & Jill Center - $200,000)
  • Literacy initiatives (Library of Congress Literacy Awards - $100,000 annual prize, plus $10,000 per successful practices honoree)
  • Scholarship programs for students in financial need
  • Institutions of higher learning

Arts and Humanities

  • Museum exhibitions and galleries
  • Historical preservation and collections
  • Early Americas history and indigenous cultures
  • Music and cultural archives (Bruce Springsteen Archives at Monmouth - part of $2.125M pledge)

Animal Welfare

  • Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation (South Florida Wildlife Center - $250,000)
  • Community education initiatives related to wildlife

Environmental Preservation

  • Projects aligned with conservation and environmental stewardship

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made by invitation only based on trustees' strategic priorities.

Governance and Leadership

Paula A. Kislak - President and Chair
Paula Kislak leads the foundation in continuing her father's legacy. On the foundation's approach to education funding, she stated: "My father was deeply passionate about education, business, and giving back. These contributions to Monmouth University are an enduring tribute to him, as he understood and valued the importance of education and investing in the future of real estate professionals."

Philip T. Kislak - Vice President
Philip is Jay I. Kislak's son and a 1970 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, representing the second generation of Kislak family leadership.

Thomas Bartelmo - CEO
Bartelmo is also President and CEO of the Kislak Organization, with extensive experience managing over $3 billion in investments. He serves on the Board of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and the James Madison Council at the Library of Congress. On the foundation's philanthropic philosophy, Bartelmo stated: "We believe strongly in the dedication of the University and business school leaders to allocate the funds in ways that best meet the needs of the school and the students." He added that the foundation anticipates "continuing to focus on the foundation's four core pillars, but remains open to adjust and expand according to world changes."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Kislak Family Foundation does not have a public application process. Grant proposals are accepted by invitation only. The foundation proactively identifies organizations and projects that align with their strategic priorities across their four core pillars.

Organizations interested in learning more about potential opportunities may contact the foundation at Info@KislakFamilyFoundation.org, though this does not guarantee consideration for funding.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies grant recipients through:

Board and Leadership Networks: Foundation leadership serves on prestigious boards including the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and the Library of Congress's James Madison Council, suggesting networking within museum, library, and cultural preservation sectors may be relevant.

University Connections: The Kislak family has multi-generational ties to the University of Pennsylvania (Jay I. Kislak graduated from Wharton in 1943, Philip T. Kislak in 1970, and granddaughter Elizabeth Kislak from Wharton in 2010). The family maintains relationships with FSU, Monmouth University, University of Miami, Miami Dade College, and University of Florida.

Geographic Focus: While the foundation supports select national institutions (Library of Congress, Smithsonian), there is a strong emphasis on Florida-based organizations, particularly in South Florida and Miami Lakes.

Real Estate Sector: Given the family's business background in real estate and mortgage banking, institutions with real estate education programs have received significant multi-year support.

Previous Grant Recipients: The foundation has demonstrated sustained partnerships with organizations, making repeat grants and expanding commitments over time (e.g., Monmouth University received multiple pledges totaling over $3 million since 2006).

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The invitation-only nature means timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates exclusively through invitation.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, their documented giving patterns reveal key alignment factors:

Strategic Pillars Alignment: Every funded project clearly aligns with one or more of the four core pillars (education, arts and humanities, animal welfare, environmental preservation). The foundation does not appear to fund outside these areas.

Educational Excellence and Need: In education grants, the foundation emphasizes both academic excellence and financial need. As Bartelmo stated, they "believe strongly in the dedication of the University and business school leaders to allocate the funds in ways that best meet the needs of the school and the students."

Honoring Jay I. Kislak's Legacy: Projects that connect to the founder's passions—education, aviation (WWII aviation history), early Americas history, collecting and preservation, and real estate—are particularly aligned with the foundation's mission.

Multi-Year Partnerships: The foundation demonstrates commitment to sustained relationships rather than one-time grants. For example, support for Monmouth University has spanned nearly two decades since 2006, with multiple additional pledges over time.

Institutional Credibility: Recipients include nationally recognized institutions (Library of Congress, Smithsonian, major universities) and accredited local organizations (NAEYC-accredited Jack & Jill Center).

Flexibility During Challenges: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bartelmo noted: "We made an effort as a foundation to address some of the needs that we saw right in front of us," suggesting responsiveness to urgent community needs.

Recent Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Library of Congress: $10 million for "Voices of the Early Americas" gallery featuring the Jay I. Kislak Collection (2022)
  • Library of Congress Literacy Awards: $100,000 annual prize for organizations with outsized impact on literacy (2024)
  • Jack & Jill Center: $200,000 for NAEYC-accredited early childhood education (2024)
  • South Florida Wildlife Center: $250,000 for wildlife rescue and community education (2023)
  • Monmouth University: $2,125,000 for Kislak Real Estate Institute and Bruce Springsteen Archives (2024)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application processes. Focus on building relationships and visibility within their priority sectors and geographic areas.

  • Four pillars are non-negotiable: Every grant aligns clearly with education, arts and humanities, animal welfare, or environmental preservation. Projects outside these areas are not funded.

  • Florida focus with select national exceptions: While major institutional partnerships exist with Library of Congress, Smithsonian, and select universities, there is strong preference for Florida-based organizations, particularly in South Florida.

  • Multi-generational education commitment: The foundation shows particular strength in funding educational institutions with real estate programs, early childhood education, literacy, and institutions with Kislak family connections (especially University of Pennsylvania).

  • Legacy preservation matters: Projects that honor Jay I. Kislak's passions—particularly early Americas history, aviation history, rare books and collections, and education—are core to the foundation's identity.

  • Think partnership, not transaction: Successful recipients often receive multiple grants over many years, suggesting the foundation values long-term relationships over one-off funding requests.

  • Significant giving capacity: With grants ranging from $100,000 to $10 million, this foundation can fund both programmatic work and major capital/endowment projects for well-aligned partners.

References

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