Colton Family Foundation
Short Hills, NJ · EIN 22-2520918. Reported 232 grants totalling $52.6M to 116 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation told the IRS it does not accept unsolicited requests: it contributes only to organizations it selects itself.
Does this foundation accept applications?
No -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation to check a box if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds". Colton Family Foundation checked it on its most recent filing, as 78% of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered did. An unsolicited request is unlikely to go anywhere.
Organizations it funds that make grants of their own
4 of the organizations Colton Family Foundation funded make grants themselves, and it reported 5 grants totalling $181,100 to them. That is 2% of the $11.6M of its giving we could match to a registered organization. Each is classified by the IRS as a philanthropy or grantmaking organization, reported grants to at least 25 organizations of its own, and has at least 10 funders behind it.
All of them file Form 990, which never asks whether an organization funds only groups it picks, so there is no answer on record either way.
What that does not mean. It does not mean an application to any of them reaches this foundation's money. A private foundation's grant to a community foundation or a federated campaign is often a donor-advised fund or a gift designated for a purpose the foundation chose, and has nothing to do with any open programme the receiving organization runs. Its return's purpose text sometimes names a family fund or a designated purpose, which is the plainest case of money no applicant can reach; where it names none, neither return says which. The list is who this foundation paid that also makes grants. Whether any of them would fund you is a question for its own page.
| Grantmaker | Kind | State | Received | Grants | Years | Last | Only funds organizations it picks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of New Jersey | community foundation | New Jersey | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 | Its form does not ask |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest Nj | federated giving programme | New Jersey | $74,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 | Its form does not ask |
| Focusing Philanthropy Inc | grantmaking organization | California | $5,100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Greater Miami Jewish Federation Inc | federated giving programme | Florida | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 | Its form does not ask |
A floor, not a full list. A grantmaker appears here only where this foundation's return named it clearly enough for us to match the name to an EIN, which we manage for about two thirds of 990-PF grant rows, and only where that grantmaker has a page on this site. There may be more. Dollars here are summed by EIN across every spelling on its returns, so a figure can differ from the matching row in the full list below, which groups names as written. And the IRS classification cannot tell a grantmaker from a funders' association or a donor-advised fund sponsor, so a payment to one of these may be dues or an account rather than support for a grants programme.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $55 and the largest $12.3M.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $34.4M | 6 | 5 | 2024 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | $4,520,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| American Friends of Tel Aviv Univ | New York, NY | $4,210,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Jersey Performing Arts Center | Newark, NJ | $3,251,026 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Jersey Symphony Orchestra | Newark, NJ | $1,423,100 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Nyu Langone Health | New York, NY | $1,300,860 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| New York University | New York, NY | $1,100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| New York Philharmonic | New York, NY | $417,532 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| American Friends Israel Philharmoni | New York, NY | $346,113 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | Boston, MA | $178,802 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| American Red Cross | Fairfield, NJ | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Community Foundation of New Jersey | Morristown, NJ | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Connecticut Public Broadcasting | Hartford, CT | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Newark Community Street Team | Newark, NJ | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Pef Israel Endowment Funds Inc | New York, NY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $81,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrow | Whippany, NJ | $74,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| America Gives Inc | Washington, DC | $55,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jewish Center of Jackson Heights | Jackson Heights, NY | $54,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Little Kids Rock | Verona, NJ | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Weill Cornell Medicine | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Allicance for Decision Education | Bala Cynwyd, PA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| WNET | New York, NY | $37,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Doctors Without Borders | Hagerstown, MD | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Jewish Community Housing Corp | Livingston, NJ | $32,440 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Newark Museum | Newark, NJ | $26,400 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Alliance for Decision Education | Bala Cynwyd, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ameinu | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wildwood School | Schenectady, NY | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Interfaith Food Pantry | Orange, NJ | $23,600 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wnyc | New York, NY | $23,100 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| People for the American Way | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Congregation Beth El | South Orange, NJ | $16,511 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Community Food Bank of New Jersey | Hillside, NJ | $10,138 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Anti Defamation League | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Facing History & Ourselves | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| International Rescue Committee | Elizabeth, NJ | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Liberty Science Center | Jersey City, NJ | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan Opera | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wallace Foundation | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Wilderness Society | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Community Food Bank of Nj | Hillside, NJ | $9,105 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Heifer International | Little Rock, AR | $9,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center | Great Barrington, MA | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Equal Justice Foundation | Montgomery, AL | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Smile Train | New York, NY | $7,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Jewish Family Services | Denver, CO | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Jsdd | West Orange, NJ | $5,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Focusing Philanthropy Inc | Santa Monica, CA | $5,100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bershire Theatre | Stockbridge, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Coalition for the Homeless | New York, NY | $5,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Facing History and Ourselves | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lighthouse | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New York Public Radio | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Rwj Barnabas Health | West Orange, NJ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| New Jewish Narrative | Washington, DC | $4,730 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jespyhouseorg | South Orange, NJ | $3,623 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jespy House | South Orange, NJ | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Volunteer Lawyers for Justice | Newark, NJ | $3,100 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| 92Y | New York, NY | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Lisa B Fishman Foundation | Montville, NJ | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Golda Och Academy | West Orange, NJ | $2,600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Morris Museum | Morristown, NJ | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jewish Federation | Whippany, NJ | $2,180 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ahavas Sholom | Newark, NJ | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| American Jewish World Service | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Boys & Girls Club | Woodland Park, NJ | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Cancer Research Institute | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Dudamel Foundation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greater Miami Jewish Federation | North Miami, FL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Greenagers Inc | South Egremont, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jewish Vocational Service | East Orange, NJ | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lighthouse | Pontiac, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Park Cultural District | Newark, NJ | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stockbridge Bowl Association | Stockbridge, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Jchc | Livingston, NJ | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mrcc Foundation Inc | Caldwell, NJ | $1,600 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Jewish Committee | Philadelphia, PA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| International Fund for Animal Welfa | Yarmouth Port, MA | $1,440 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Madd | Roselle, NJ | $1,400 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Stockbridge Bowl Assoc | Stockbridge, MA | $1,122 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Feeding Texas | Austin, TX | $1,030 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Cleveland Orchestra | Cleveland, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Friends-Israel Museum | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Glassroots | Newark, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hias | Washington DC, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Mostly Music | Brooklyn, NY | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New Jersey Institute for Social Jus | Newark, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Nj Sharing Network | New Providence, NJ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Pef Israel Endowment Fund | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Save the Children | Fairfield, CT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shelter Music Boston | Arlington, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Simmons College | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Highline | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Washington Institute for Near East | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Feed Israel | Brooklyn, NY | $792 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Rutgers University Foundation | New Brunswick, NJ | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Ajc | Philadelphia, PA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Branch Brook Park Alliance | Newark, NJ | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Millburn Fire Department | Millburn, NJ | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Safe Water Network | New York, NY | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Paper Mill Playhouse | Millburn, NJ | $430 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mountain Ridge Foundation | West Caldwell, NJ | $400 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bnai Jeshrun | Short Hills, NJ | $283 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Federation Northern Nj | Paramus, NJ | $185 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children's Brain Tumor Foundation | New York, NY | $150 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gowanus Canal | Brooklyn, NY | $106 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Heart Association | Dallas, TX | $105 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cleveland Symphony | Cleveland, OH | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cmbc Inc | Chattanooga, TN | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gowanus Canal Conservancy | Brooklyn, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering | New York, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Release Recovery Foundation | Yorktown Heights, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Weill Cornell | New York, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pets in Need | Redwood City, CA | $55 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
53 of 116 (46%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 53%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one, and this foundation told the IRS it does not.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 131 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 58 | $4,761,530 | $2,000 |
| 2021 | 56 | $5,819,188 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 36 | $14.8M | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 47 | $17.0M | $2,180 |
| 2024 | 35 | $10.3M | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
66% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more. Unlike this foundation, none of them is on record as funding only organizations it picks, and each page says what its filings show.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Colton Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 232 Hartshorn Drive, Short Hills, NJ, 07078. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS.
EIN 22-2520918 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.