Naon Inc.

Naon Inc. is a New York-based private grantmaking foundation holding approximately $28.2M in assets that operates as a tightly relationship-driven funder focused almost exclusively on Jewish communal organizations. Classified under Philanthropy & Grantmaking (NTEE T20), the foundation has maintained a consistent annual grantmaking program of $1.6–2.0M since at least 2012, funded entirely by investment income from its endowment — the foundation receives no contributions and pays no officer compensation, the hallmark of a family or peer-group private foundation.

The foundation's giving philosophy strongly favors established Jewish community institutions in the New York metropolitan area, with 65% of documented grants (24 of 37) going to New York-based organizations. The foundation has demonstrated sustained appetite for Jewish educational programming, elder care services, poverty relief through Jewish human service agencies, Holocaust memory programming, and Israeli institutional support. It has also invested deliberately in Jewish nonprofit leadership capacity through governance-training programs explicitly framed 'through a Jewish lens.'

For first-time applicants, the most important strategic reality is that Naon Inc. does not publish grant guidelines, does not operate a public application portal, and is flagged as 'preselected only' — meaning grantees are identified by foundation leadership, not through open solicitation. This is not a foundation one applies to cold. Every documented grantee is a Jewish communal institution, and every funding relationship appears to have originated through existing network connections.

Multi-year relationships are the norm: Legacy Heritage Programming XIII LLC received 3 grants totaling $2.6M; the Association of Jewish Aging Services has been funded across at least two separate grant cycles; and the Jewish Theological Seminary has received 3+ separate grants. Organizations entering the portfolio should expect a long cultivation runway — typically 12–24 months of relationship building before any funding materializes — and should plan for multi-year partnerships rather than one-time awards.

The foundation's address (575 Lexington Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10022) suggests it operates from a law or financial services firm address, which is typical for private foundations of this type and reinforces the closed, professionally managed character of its grantmaking.

Naon Inc. has distributed between $1.26M and $1.96M annually over the decade from 2012 to 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 3.2%. Total giving peaked at $1.96M in FY2022 before moderating to $1.80M in FY2023. FY2024 data shows total revenue of $2.68M from the endowment but final giving figures are not yet filed. The endowment has grown from $21M in 2012 to $28.2M in 2024, a roughly 2.3% CAGR, providing a stable and growing base for future distributions.

Across 37 documented grant transactions totaling $6,028,587, the average grant is $162,935. However, this average is skewed upward by the dominant Legacy Heritage relationship. The foundation's own grant-size data (from a sample of 7 recent grants) shows a range of $50,000 to $508,390 with a median of approximately $130,000 and average of $239,433 — indicating the foundation has capacity for substantial six-figure grants when the relationship and program are right.

By program area, Jewish education accounts for the largest share: roughly 60–65% of documented giving flows to educational institutions and programming (Legacy Heritage $2.6M, Jewish Theological Seminary $448K combined, Yeshiva University $115K, Brandeis University $133K, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations $166K, 929 English $60K, Bar-Ilan University $31K). Jewish aging services represent approximately 12–15% ($715K to Association of Jewish Aging Services plus $131K to Covenant Place). Jewish poverty and human services account for approximately 12% (Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies $452K, American Friends of Yad Eliezer $250K). Holocaust education (Names Not Numbers $200K) and Israel-focused giving (Israel Association for Community Centers $200K, PEF Israel Endowment Funds $50K) each represent approximately 4–5%. Jewish youth special needs programs (Bnei Akiva, Camp Ohel, Tamarack Camps, Keshet) collectively represent approximately 4%.

Geographically, New York dominates at 65% of grants (24/37). Maryland accounts for 8%, Massachusetts 5%, with single grants to New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Missouri. Three grantees are Israel-connected despite being US-based entities.

The following peer foundations share a similar asset profile (~$28M), all categorized under Philanthropy & Grantmaking.

Within this peer cohort of similarly sized private foundations, Naon Inc. stands out for three characteristics. First, it is the only foundation with a clearly documented, mission-specific grantmaking focus — Jewish communal organizations — while the others disclose little about their priorities. Second, Naon Inc.'s annual giving ($1.6–2.0M from a $28M endowment) implies a payout rate of approximately 5.7–7.1%, which exceeds the federally required 5% minimum and signals an actively distributing rather than asset-accumulating foundation. Third, unlike the Sam L. Cohen Foundation and Albatross Foundation, which maintain public websites, Naon Inc. operates with essentially no public profile, making relationship access the only viable entry point for prospective grantees.

No public grant announcements, program launches, or leadership changes for Naon Inc. were identified through web research conducted in June 2026. The foundation maintains no public-facing communications infrastructure — no press releases, social media presence, or grantee spotlights — consistent with the closed, relationship-driven character of this type of private foundation.

Based on the most recent available 990-PF data, the FY2023 filing shows $1.80M in total giving and $1.59M in grants paid, with net investment income of $1.95M — a strong year for the endowment that likely supported giving stability. Assets recovered to $27.1M after a modest decline in FY2022 ($26.7M). Leadership remains unchanged with S. Wexner holding the combined President/Secretary/Treasurer role alongside a volunteer board of directors including W. Stern, R. Kanner, G. Levy, R. Agus, D. Weissman, W. Feinstein, R. Feit, G. Graff, and B. Lopata.

The most notable recent programmatic signal from 990 data is the sustained multi-grant investment in the Association of Jewish Aging Services for tele-health services ($403,000 in one cycle, $312,000 in another), suggesting this remains an active priority area. The OnBoard NYC Executive Leadership Program grant ($223,921) represents a relatively newer grantee relationship in the nonprofit governance space. The 929 English program (daily Torah study text programming) received 3 grants totaling $60,000, indicating ongoing interest in accessible Jewish learning platforms.

Because Naon Inc. operates as an invitation-only funder with no published application process, effective strategy requires bypassing conventional grant-seeking entirely and focusing on relationship access within the Jewish philanthropic community.

Map existing network connections first. Before any outreach, identify whether your organization has any board members, major donors, or program partners with connections to current Naon Inc. grantees — particularly Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, OnBoard NYC, Association of Jewish Aging Services, Jewish Theological Seminary, or Legacy Heritage Fund. A warm introduction from an established grantee is the most reliable entry point.

Align language precisely to documented priorities. The foundation's 990 data reveals specific language patterns in grant descriptions: 'combat poverty and hunger,' 'tele-health services,' 'religious educational programming,' 'summertime special needs programming,' 'Holocaust educational programming,' and 'break the cycle of poverty.' Proposals (once solicited) should echo this framing and demonstrate Jewish communal benefit explicitly — not generic nonprofit impact.

Target the right person. Susan R. Wexner is simultaneously president, secretary, and treasurer, and is listed as the foundation's sole contact. All relationship-building efforts should ultimately aim to establish a connection with her. Research her other philanthropic affiliations, board memberships, and community involvement to identify shared venues and interests.

Anchor grant requests in the $75,000–$200,000 range for initial asks. The foundation's documented grant history shows most single-cycle grants in this band. Larger commitments (above $200K) appear to reflect mature multi-year relationships. Avoid requesting above $500K without an established track record with this funder.

Build credibility through Jewish communal infrastructure. Membership or formal affiliation with UJA-Federation of New York, the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, or Jewish Federations of North America signals embeddedness in the community this foundation serves. These affiliations substitute for a track record with Naon Inc. itself.

Plan for a 12–24 month cultivation horizon. No cold outreach has ever resulted in a documented first grant from this foundation. Budget for patience and relationship maintenance across multiple communal touchpoints before expecting any funding.