Neubauer Family Foundation

The Neubauer Family Foundation was established in 1998 by Joseph Neubauer and Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer. Joseph Neubauer, born in 1941 in what is now Israel, built his wealth as the long-tenured chairman and CEO of Aramark, the global food and facility services company. The foundation focuses on people-driven and data-driven initiatives with the potential for transformative impact, concentrating on three areas: education (K-12 and higher education), the arts (performing arts institutions), and Jewish causes (in Israel and beyond). The foundation takes a distinctly hands-on approach—Joseph Neubauer is personally involved in innovative efforts to improve graduation rates and other educational outcomes. The organization operates with a small staff, preferring a low-profile, proactive grantmaking model. Notably, the foundation intentionally does not maintain a public website, reflecting its preference for relationship-driven philanthropy over open solicitation. The next generation of the Neubauer family, including two adult children and grandchildren, are increasingly involved in directing the foundation, particularly in Jewish cause funding.

In 2024, the Neubauer Family Foundation made 199 awards with annual giving of approximately 30 million dollars. Grant sizes range from 500 dollars to approximately 12 million per grant. The foundation has made transformative investments across its three focus areas. In education, it has invested 31 million dollars in Philadelphia public schools, including more than 8 million for the 9GOT initiative, and has given over 125 million dollars lifetime to the University of Chicago. In the arts, the foundation provided a 10 million dollar gift to the Metropolitan Opera in 2023 as a founding sponsor of Live in HD broadcasts, along with significant support for Barnes Foundation, Carnegie Hall, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. Jewish causes receive support through grants to American Friends of Tel Aviv University, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Temple Beth Zion Beth Israel, and the Jewish Museum. The foundation also directed 22.6 million to a donor-advised fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, indicating strategic long-term giving plans.

Among Philadelphia-based foundations, the Neubauer Family Foundation occupies a distinctive niche as a high-impact, hands-on funder that punches above its weight relative to asset size. Its 30 million in annual giving represents an approximately 8% payout rate, well above the 5% IRS minimum, reflecting aggressive deployment of capital. The foundation is unique among Philadelphia peers for its substantial Jewish cause funding and its deep investment in elite arts institutions (Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall) beyond the local region. Compared to the much larger William Penn Foundation, Neubauer is more concentrated and relationship-driven, with no public application portal.

In 2023, the foundation made a landmark 10 million dollar gift to the Metropolitan Opera, becoming a founding sponsor of the Met Live in HD broadcasts. Joseph Neubauer and Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer received a 2025 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy on May 7, 2025, recognizing their decades of philanthropic impact. The foundation continues its deep investment in Philadelphia education through the 9GOT initiative and the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders. The Neubauer Family Foundation Assistant Professors Program at the University of Chicago remains a flagship initiative, having provided over 125 million dollars in lifetime giving to the university. In 2024, the foundation directed 22.6 million to a donor-advised fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, suggesting strategic repositioning or expansion of giving vehicles. The next generation of the Neubauer family is taking increasing roles in foundation governance, with grandchildren particularly active in directing Jewish cause funding.

The Neubauer Family Foundation prefers proactive, relationship-driven grantmaking over open solicitation. Key tips: (1) Use the National Network of Grantmakers Common Grant Application format when submitting a request—this is the foundation stated preference; (2) Contact Executive Director Rebecca Cornejo directly at rebecca@neubauerfoundation.org or (215) 606-1784—the foundation small staff means direct communication is valued; (3) Demonstrate data-driven, transformative potential—the foundation explicitly values people and data-driven initiatives with measurable impact; (4) Philadelphia-area organizations have the strongest geographic advantage, but nationally significant arts and education institutions also receive major funding; (5) Education organizations should emphasize graduation rates, school leadership, and systemic improvement rather than single-program asks; (6) Arts organizations should demonstrate broad public accessibility, similar to the Met Live in HD model; (7) Jewish organizations should align with either Israeli institutions or American Jewish community strengthening; (8) The foundation has no stated deadlines, so applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; (9) Network through Philadelphia philanthropic circles—the Neubauers are deeply embedded in the city civic and cultural life.