Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9.6 million (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable
• Grant Range: $100 - $1,200,000
• Geographic Focus: New York, New Jersey, Illinois (95% of grants)

Contact Details

• Phone: (516) 747-0300
• Address: Uniondale, NY 11556
• Email: Not publicly available
• Website: None
• Application Inquiries: Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation is a private grant-making foundation established in Uniondale, NY, that distributed $9.6 million in grants during fiscal year 2023. With total assets of $15.3 million, the foundation has made 696 grants totaling $19.6 million to 459 unique organizations since tracking began. The foundation operates as a family foundation under the leadership of trustee Barry Karfunkel, focusing primarily on supporting Jewish religious and educational institutions. The foundation's grant-making is concentrated in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, which together receive 95% of all distributions. Notable for its selective approach, the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not maintain a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single discretionary grant program:

• General Support Grants: $100 - $1,200,000 (trustee-selected organizations only)
• Distribution method: Trustee discretion based on pre-existing relationships
• No public application process

Priority Areas

Based on analysis of 696 grants made:

• Jewish religious institutions and synagogues
• Religious education and yeshivas
• Orthodox Jewish community organizations
• Torah study centers
• Jewish social services
• Support for Israeli charitable organizations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not fund:

• Organizations outside their preselected network
• Unsolicited applications from any organization
• Non-Jewish religious organizations
• General secular causes

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Barry Karfunkel

• Member of the prominent Karfunkel philanthropic family
• Known for substantial support of Orthodox Jewish causes
• Maintains low public profile regarding foundation activities

The foundation operates with minimal administrative structure, reflecting its nature as a family foundation with predetermined beneficiary relationships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS Form 990-PF filings, the Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the trustee to organizations with which the foundation has existing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's closed application process and focus on Orthodox Jewish institutions, organizations seeking support would need:

• Existing connections within Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community where the Karfunkel family is active
• Alignment with Orthodox Jewish religious and educational missions
• Established reputation within the Orthodox Jewish philanthropic network
• Personal introduction through mutual contacts rather than direct outreach

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a discretionary basis without formal application timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates through preselected relationships only.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their giving patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

• Established Orthodox Jewish institutions with strong community reputations
• Organizations already known to the Karfunkel family or their advisors
• Yeshivas and religious schools with demonstrated impact
• Institutions serving the Orthodox communities in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois

Grant Size Patterns:

• Median grants of $22,000 - $52,000 suggest standard support levels
• Larger grants ($100,000+) go to flagship institutions
• Maximum grant of $1.2 million indicates capacity for transformational gifts to key partners

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a foundation that accepts grant applications - relationship building within the Orthodox Jewish philanthropic community is the only path
• The foundation distributed $9.6 million in 2023, demonstrating substantial grant-making capacity
• Geographic focus on NY/NJ/IL is strict - 95% of grants stay in these three states
• Grant sizes vary dramatically ($100 to $1.2M), suggesting different tiers of organizational relationships
• The foundation's name "Zichron Yechiel Mechel" (meaning "In Memory of Yechiel Mechel") suggests commemorative philanthropy honoring Jewish values
• With 239 grants made in 2023, the foundation maintains an extensive network of preselected beneficiaries
• Organizations outside the Orthodox Jewish community are unlikely to receive consideration

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation Form 990-PF (2022, 2023). Accessed March 10, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/856822856
• Grantmakers.io - Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation Profile. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/856822856-zichron-yechiel-mechel-foundation/
• IRS Form 990-PF, Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation, Tax Year 2023
• IRS Form 990-PF, Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation, Tax Year 2022
• GrantedAI Database - Zichron Yechiel Mechel Foundation Grant History. Accessed March 10, 2026
• The Shareway - Foundation Profile and Grant Analysis. Accessed March 10, 2026
• Foundation for Financial Journalism - "The Karfunkels: A Family's Philanthropic Impact" (Referenced for context on family giving patterns)