Gabelli Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Gabelli Foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit without an existing relationship should not approach it cold.
- Its support spans educational institutions, hospitals and health organisations, cultural institutions, community groups and public-safety organisations, with recorded purposes including operating funds, campus building and improvement funds, business-school endowment, scholarships, emergency departments and annual funds.
- A realistic request would sit within its typical range of $5,000 to $400,000, with half of its 169 grants at $50,000 or less and the median grant $50,000, though the largest grant recorded was $2,000,000.
- Giving is strongly relationship-led rather than open-competition: 80% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so it tends to keep supporting organisations it already knows.
- Grants have mainly reached organisations in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, though some have reached organisations in other states too.
Overview
Gabelli Foundation is a US private foundation based in Reno, NV.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across its recorded grants, the foundation has supported educational institutions, including universities, colleges and schools, as well as hospitals and health organisations, cultural institutions, community groups and public-safety organisations. Its filings describe many contributions as operating funds; other recorded purposes include campus building and improvement funds, business-school endowment, scholarships, emergency departments and annual funds. The recipient-state pattern is concentrated in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, while grants also reach organisations in other states. The grants therefore span institutional support, capital and endowment purposes, scholarships and health-related costs.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 80% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 169 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to organisations Gabelli Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 62 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Boston College · Plaza fund -campus improvements$1,350,0002024 tax year
- Roger Williams University · Provide operating funds$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Fordham University · Business school endowment fund$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Columbia Business School · Manhattanville building fund$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Princeton University · Provide operating funds$750,0002024 tax year
- Brunswick School · Provide operating funds$400,0002024 tax year
- NYU Langone Health · Provide operating funds$250,0002024 tax year
- Hospital for Special Surgery · Provide operating funds$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elisa Gabelli Wilson — President
- Marc J Gabelli — Trustee
- Matthew R Gabelli — Trustee
- Elexa Wilson — Trustee
- Michael Gabelli — Trustee
- Tyler Wilson — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,363,677 | $7,777,500 | $174,358,662 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,295,901 | $8,425,255 | $200,379,940 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,777,180 | $8,736,500 | $251,332,642 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Gabelli Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Reno, NV
Applying to Gabelli Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Reno, NV