Farlight Foundation

Farlight Foundation is a Levy family private foundation established in May 2022 with an initial endowment of approximately $19.5 million — funded through a single private contribution that set the asset base. All four trustees — Harold J. Levy, Dana A. Levy, Jenna Rose Levy, and Jonathan H. Levy — serve without compensation, making this a tightly held family philanthropy with no professional grants staff. The foundation is classified under NTEE code T22 (Private Grantmaking Foundation) and holds assets of $20.9 million as of fiscal year 2024.

The giving philosophy is personal and relationship-driven. Every documented grant carries the identical purpose statement "to support the organization's mission," signaling that awards are not made against a defined RFP or competitive process — they reflect the trustees' direct knowledge of and personal commitment to grantee organizations. The foundation's website (farlightfoundation.org) remains in pre-launch status as of mid-2026, offering only a newsletter signup with no published application guidelines, program descriptions, or contact information. The foundation record confirms a preselected-only status with no formal application instructions, meaning this is not an open-application funder in any conventional sense.

For first-time applicants, the only viable path runs through the existing grantee network and the Levy family's personal and professional circles. The 48 documented grantees cluster in New England (Massachusetts leads with 17 grantees), the Philadelphia area, and New York. The family's ties to Jewish community institutions, private preparatory schools in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, arts and literacy organizations in Boston and Philadelphia, and conservation efforts — notably two National Geographic grants totaling $112,000 — suggest a network rooted in educated, civic-minded communities in these geographies.

Grant sizes range from $5,000 to $125,000. The median is approximately $10,000, and most grants to new organizations likely begin in the $5,000–$15,000 range as relationship-building investments. Larger grants ($50,000 and above) appear reserved for organizations where the trustees have deep personal investment. First-time applicants should frame initial outreach as a brief introduction rather than a funding request, and should not approach the trustees with a formal proposal before an invitation is explicitly extended.

Farlight Foundation's grantmaking trajectory reflects a foundation that moved from symbolic giving to active philanthropy within two fiscal years. Total giving was just $150 in fiscal year 2021 (the founding year, while the $19.5 million endowment was being established), $90,305 in fiscal year 2022 (with $43,400 in grants paid), and $915,805 in fiscal year 2023 (with $839,000 in grants paid) — a 21-fold increase year over year. Fiscal year 2024 data shows charitable disbursements of approximately $933,716, confirming a sustained annual giving pace near $1 million against a $20.9 million asset base — roughly a 4.5% payout rate, close to the IRS-mandated 5% minimum for private foundations.

Across the 48 documented grants totaling $882,400, the average grant is $18,383 and the median is approximately $10,000. The most common grant amount is $5,000, awarded to approximately 20 organizations across a wide range of causes. Six grants exceeded $50,000: Palliative Care for Uganda ($125,000), Jewish Agency for Israel — Operation Falcon ($100,000), Play On Philly ($85,000), Friends of United Hatzalah ($72,000), National Geographic Society ($62,000), and National Geographic Society Pristine Seas ($50,000).

Thematically, Jewish community and Israel-related giving represents the largest cluster — approximately 29% of the portfolio at roughly $257,000 across 7 grants, encompassing synagogues, United Hatzalah, Operation Falcon, and Camp Ramah. Environmental and conservation causes follow at approximately 18% ($162,000), anchored by the twin National Geographic commitments and supplemented by Mass Audubon, the National Forest Foundation, and Philadelphia Parks Alliance. Arts, literacy, and culture — Play On Philly, Westport Country Playhouse, 826 Boston, Mighty Writers, and public libraries — account for another 18% ($158,000). International humanitarian work (Palliative Care for Uganda alone) represents 14% ($125,000). Education, including Wesleyan University and several independent preparatory schools, contributes approximately 6% ($53,400).

Geographically, Massachusetts dominates: 17 grantees (35% of all grants) are based there. Connecticut accounts for 9 (19%), Pennsylvania for 7 (15%), New York for 6 (12%), and the Washington D.C. area for 5 (10%). Florida — despite being the foundation's registered state — received only 1 grant, a reminder that the Levy family's active philanthropic geography is New England and the mid-Atlantic corridor, not South Florida.

Farlight Foundation sits in a cohort of mid-size private family foundations with assets in the $20.85–20.88 million range, all classified under NTEE category T22 (Philanthropy & Grantmaking). The five closest asset-matched peers share a similar financial footprint but differ in geography, public profile, and operational history.

Farlight distinguishes itself from this peer group in one critical respect: it has achieved a documented annual giving rate of approximately $934,000 — approaching the 5% IRS minimum payout threshold — while still in its founding years. Most comparable family foundations at this asset level build up slowly before reaching this disbursement level. Farlight's rapid acceleration suggests trustees who are actively motivated to deploy capital rather than preserve assets. For grantseekers, Farlight's early-stage status represents a meaningful opportunity. The foundation's preferred grantee relationships have not yet fully solidified, and the trustees are actively exploring program areas. Early relationship-building carries more upside here than approaching a mature peer whose grantee list has calcified over decades of established giving.

Farlight Foundation's public footprint as of mid-2026 is minimal by design. The foundation's website (farlightfoundation.org) remains in pre-launch mode, displaying only a "Launching Soon" notice with a newsletter signup. No press releases, media coverage, or public grant announcements were identified through web research — consistent with the profile of a first-generation family foundation building its grantmaking practice quietly before committing to public-facing operations.

What public records reveal is a foundation in active acceleration. The 2023 Form 990-PF — submitted November 11, 2025 — documents $839,000 in grants paid across 48 recipients, representing the foundation's first significant grantmaking year. The 2024 fiscal year filing shows charitable disbursements of approximately $933,716, indicating the annual giving pace has been sustained and slightly increased. Revenue in 2024 reached $3.27 million (up from $2.25 million in 2023), driven primarily by investment gains representing 81.9% of revenue and dividends at 14.8%, expanding the asset base to $20.9 million.

All four Levy family trustees — Harold J., Dana A., Jenna Rose, and Jonathan H. Levy — have served continuously since the foundation's May 2022 inception. Officer compensation remains $0 across all years on record. No leadership changes, additions, or staff hires have been recorded in any public filing.

The "Launching Soon" website status suggests an intentional public-facing launch is planned but has not yet occurred. Organizations interested in Farlight should monitor the website and subscribe to the newsletter for advance notice when formal program guidelines or an application process is published. No specific public launch date has been announced as of June 2026.

Work through the existing grantee network. With no open application process and a website in pre-launch status, the only viable path to a Farlight grant is a warm introduction. The 48 documented grantees are the network to mine: Play On Philly, 826 Boston, Westport Country Playhouse, National Geographic Society, Camp Ramah in New England, Friends of United Hatzalah, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation all represent established trustee relationships. Board members, executive directors, or major donors connected to any of these organizations may be positioned to facilitate an introduction to the Levy family.

Align with demonstrated giving interests — specifically. Farlight trustees are making personal philanthropic decisions based on direct knowledge of organizations and causes. A compelling connection to Jewish community, New England arts and literacy, environmental conservation, or veterans' welfare will open more doors than a polished budget narrative. If your organization works in marine conservation, for instance, referencing National Geographic Pristine Seas as a scale-of-impact analogue the foundation has already funded is more persuasive than a generic conservation pitch.

Size your initial ask appropriately. The median grant is $10,000 and most new grantee relationships appear to begin in the $5,000–$15,000 range. A first-time ask of $25,000–$50,000 may be appropriate if a strong trustee connection exists and your organization has a documented track record, but never lead with six figures. The $100,000+ grants in the portfolio represent deeply established personal commitments.

Lead with geography. Massachusetts-based organizations receive 35% of all grants. If your work is rooted in greater Boston, the Connecticut coast, or the Philadelphia area, make that the first thing you communicate. Florida-based organizations received only 1 grant despite the foundation's registered Boca Raton address — do not assume geographic proximity to the mailing address signals priority.

Monitor the website launch and subscribe to the newsletter. Farlight Foundation's website is expected to launch publicly. When it does, it may publish formal application guidelines or a grants portal that changes access substantially. Subscribe at farlightfoundation.org now.

Contact respectfully. The publicly listed phone number is (212) 309-6817 — a New York City area code, suggesting the Levy family's primary presence is in New York. A brief, professional inquiry about the foundation's areas of interest (not a pitch) is appropriate as an exploratory first contact, ideally preceded by a warm introduction from a known grantee.