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The Knapp Family Foundation Inc. is a private corporation based in NEW YORK, NY. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1979. It holds total assets of $13.1M. Annual income is reported at $6.2M. Total assets have grown from $1.2M in 2011 to $12.8M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 4 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2023. Funding is distributed across 10 states, including New York, Connecticut, Vermont. According to available records, The Knapp Family Foundation Inc. has made 84 grants totaling $5.1M, with a median grant of $50K. Annual giving has grown from $993K in 2021 to $1.5M in 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $2.6M distributed across 40 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $274K, with an average award of $61K. The foundation has supported 24 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in New York, Vermont, Virginia, which account for 82% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 6 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Knapp Family Foundation is one of the more accessible family foundations, with a stated application deadline and contact information. To approach this foundation:
1. Submit by June 30: The foundation has a clear annual deadline. Prepare and submit a project outline with budget well in advance. 2. Contact Charles Knapp directly: The president can be reached at (914) 722-0826 in Roxbury, CT. A preliminary conversation before submitting may be beneficial. 3. Demonstrate alignment with Jewish heritage/history: The foundation states a preference for Jewish history in its application materials and demonstrates strong support for Jewish institutions. 4. Higher education institutions have strong track records: Americans for Oxford, Hebrew University, Central European University, and Middlebury College are repeat recipients. 5. Health research is also funded: JDRF received $100K, indicating openness to medical research organizations. 6. International scope is welcomed: The foundation funds globally — Israel, Australia, Iceland, Austria — not just New York.
The Knapp Family Foundation distributed $1,551,355 across 21 grants in 2024, maintaining steady output from $1,508,677 across 24 grants in 2023. Grant sizes range from $1,000 to $274,000 with a median of $50,000 — notably high for a foundation of this size, indicating a strategy of fewer, larger commitments.
Top recipients consistently include Americans for Oxford ($274K, $240K, $200K across years), Museum of Jewish Heritage ($114,820), Hebrew University of Jerusalem ($110,000), Central European University ($100,000), JDRF ($100,000), and Middlebury College ($100,000). The concentration of large grants to a relatively small number of institutions suggests long-term partnership relationships rather than broad, competitive grantmaking.
Annual award counts have been remarkably stable: 27 (2020), 20 (2021), 20 (2022), 24 (2023), 21 (2024). Total giving has been relatively consistent as well, reflecting disciplined distribution from the endowment.
| Foundation | Location | Assets | Grants/Year | Median Grant | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knapp Family Foundation | New York, NY | $13.1M | 21, $1.55M | $50,000 | Education, Jewish Heritage, Health |
| Devlin Foundation | New York, NY | $13.1M | 23, $660K | $2,500 | General |
| Bulova Stetson Fund | Garden City, NY | $13.1M | 45, $621K | $10,000 | General |
| McCormick Family Foundation | New York, NY | $13.1M | 13, $783K | $25,000 | General |
| Jean & Louis Dreyfus Foundation | New York, NY | $13.1M | 47, $745K | $15,000 | General |
The Knapp Family Foundation stands out among its New York peers for having the highest total annual giving ($1.55M) and highest median grant ($50,000) despite similar asset levels. This suggests a higher payout rate and a strategy focused on making meaningful contributions to a curated set of organizations, rather than spreading funding broadly. The Dreyfus and Bulova Stetson foundations make more grants but at lower individual amounts.
The foundation maintained strong giving in 2024 with $1,551,355 distributed across 21 grants, consistent with recent years. Americans for Oxford continues as the top recipient with multi-hundred-thousand-dollar annual grants. The foundation's international reach expanded to include grants in Australia and Iceland alongside its longstanding support in Israel and Central Europe. The foundation website (theknappfamilyfoundation.org) exists but provides minimal information; most substantive details come from 990 filings. No board member receives compensation, consistent with family foundation practices.
1. Meet the June 30 deadline: This is the stated annual deadline for applications — submit an outline of your project and budget 2. Call first: Contact Charles Knapp at (914) 722-0826 before submitting to gauge interest and alignment 3. Jewish heritage alignment is preferred: The foundation explicitly states a preference for Jewish history in its guidelines — organizations with this focus have the strongest positioning 4. Higher education is a sweet spot: Universities are the largest recipients — academic institutions should highlight specific programs or initiatives 5. Aim for $50K-$100K requests: The median grant is $50K and several grantees receive $100K+, so requests in this range are well-supported by precedent 6. Show long-term potential: Top recipients receive multi-year funding, suggesting the foundation values sustained partnerships over one-time grants 7. International projects welcome: Do not assume US-only — the foundation funds in Israel, Europe, Australia, and Iceland
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Smallest Grant
$2K
Median Grant
$28K
Average Grant
$51K
Largest Grant
$250K
Based on 28 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
Grants to universities including Oxford, Middlebury College, Central European University, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Support for Jewish institutions including Museum of Jewish Heritage and Hebrew University
Funding for medical research organizations including JDRF
Support for arts programming and STEM/science education initiatives
The Knapp Family Foundation distributed $1,551,355 across 21 grants in 2024, maintaining steady output from $1,508,677 across 24 grants in 2023. Grant sizes range from $1,000 to $274,000 with a median of $50,000 — notably high for a foundation of this size, indicating a strategy of fewer, larger commitments. Top recipients consistently include Americans for Oxford ($274K, $240K, $200K across years), Museum of Jewish Heritage ($114,820), Hebrew University of Jerusalem ($110,000), Central European.
The Knapp Family Foundation Inc. has distributed a total of $5.1M across 84 grants. The median grant size is $50K, with an average of $61K. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $274K.
The Knapp Family Foundation is one of the more accessible family foundations, with a stated application deadline and contact information. To approach this foundation: 1. Submit by June 30: The foundation has a clear annual deadline. Prepare and submit a project outline with budget well in advance. 2. Contact Charles Knapp directly: The president can be reached at (914) 722-0826 in Roxbury, CT. A preliminary conversation before submitting may be beneficial. 3. Demonstrate alignment with Jewish he.
The Knapp Family Foundation Inc. is headquartered in NEW YORK, NY. While based in NY, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 6 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Knapp | SECRETARY | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Larry Ginsberg | TREASURER | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Charles Knapp | PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Emily Knapp | VICE PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$1.7M
Total Assets
$12.8M
Fair Market Value
$20.3M
Net Worth
$12.8M
Grants Paid
$1.5M
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
$975K
Distribution Amount
$918K
Total: $7.9M
Total Grants
84
Total Giving
$5.1M
Average Grant
$61K
Median Grant
$50K
Unique Recipients
24
Most Common Grant
$100K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia UniversityGENERAL | New York, NY | $80K | 2023 |
| Americans For OxfordGENERAL | New York, NY | $274K | 2023 |
| Museum Of Jewish HeritageGENERAL | New York, NY | $115K | 2023 |
| Hebrew University Of JerusalemGENERAL | Jerusalem | $110K | 2023 |
| Jerusalem FoundationGENERAL | New York, NY | $100K | 2023 |
| JdrfGENERAL | New York, NY | $100K | 2023 |
| Central European UniversityGENERAL | Herndon, VA | $100K | 2023 |
| The Jewish MuseumGENERAL | New York, NY | $100K | 2023 |
| Middlebury CollegeGENERAL | Middlebury, VT | $100K | 2023 |
| Fordham UniversityGENERAL | Bronx, NY | $60K | 2023 |
| New York UniversityGENERAL | New York, NY | $50K | 2023 |
| JdcGENERAL | New York, NY | $50K | 2023 |
| University Of ViennaGENERAL | Vienna | $50K | 2023 |
| Ct Public Broadcasting IncGENERAL | Hartford, CT | $50K | 2023 |
| American Friends Of Hebrew UniversityGENERAL | New York, NY | $40K | 2023 |
| American Jewish Historical SocietyGENERAL | New York, NY | $35K | 2023 |
| American UniversityGENERAL | Washington, DC | $16K | 2023 |
| Association For Jewish StudiesGENERAL | New York, NY | $15K | 2023 |
| Oxford Centre For Hebrew And Jewish StudiesGENERAL | Oxford | $12K | 2023 |
| American Jewish Jt Disribution CommGENERAL | New York, NY | $10K | 2023 |
| Association Of American Indian PhysiciansGENERAL | Oklahoma City, OK | $5K | 2023 |
| Jewish Book CouncilGENERAL | New York, NY | $2K | 2023 |