Well Told Grants

Foundations / New York

Four Friends Foundation

Preselected recipients only Albany, New York · EIN 954292739

Four Friends Foundation is a private foundation in Albany, New York. In tax year 2024 it gave $1.2 million in 38 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $110,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.

Giving in 2024 was up from $1.0 million the year before.

74% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$1.0 million21$40.4 million
2024$1.2 million38$51.5 million

How to apply

Four Friends Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What Four Friends Foundation funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 6 states, the most to New York.

StateGrantsAmount
New York26$733,829
California4$230,000
Michigan5$199,400
Massachusetts1$50,000
Connecticut1$10,000
Vermont1$3,000

Grants paid in 2024

All 38 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Cedars Sinai Women's Guild
West Hollywood, CA
Unrestricted$110,000
Inside Out Literary Arts
Detroit, MI
Restricted to capacity building$104,400
Urban Arts Partnership
New York, NY
Capacity building$103,200
Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
Brooklyn, NY
Capacity building$100,600
L A County Museum of Art
Los Angeles, CA
Unrestricted$65,000
Bronx Documentary Center
Bronx, NY
Unrestricted$50,000
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$50,000
City Meals on Wheels
New York, NY
Unrestricted$50,000
Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network
West Bloomfield Townsh, MI
Unrestricted$50,000
The Arts Connection Inc
Boston, MA
Unrestricted$50,000
The Noel Pointer Foundation
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$50,000
Upbeat NYC Inc
Bronx, NY
Unrestricted$50,000
National Dance Institute
New York, NY
Capacity building$30,461
Chrysalis
Los Angeles, CA
Unrestricted$30,000
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
New York, NY
Unrestricted$25,000
Impact Society Global
New York, NY
Unrestricted$25,000
Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
Detroit, MI
Unrestricted$25,000
Motion Picture & TV Fund
Woodland Hills, CA
Unrestricted$25,000
Peoples Theatre Project
New York, NY
Unrestricted$25,000
Young People's Chorus of New York City
New York, NY
Unrestricted$25,000
Perfect Earth Project
East Hampton, NY
Unrestricted$22,000
Art Students League of New York
New York, NY
Unrestricted$20,000
American Museum of Natural History
New York, NY
Unrestricted$19,568
Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
Albany, NY
The giving fund$18,000
Beam Center
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$10,000
Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$10,000
Central Park Conservancy
New York, NY
Unrestricted$10,000
Intempo Music
Stamford, CT
Unrestricted$10,000
Mind-Builders Creative Art Center
Bronx, NY
Unrestricted$10,000
Shakespeare in Detroit
Detroit, MI
Unrestricted$10,000
Sphinx Organization
Detroit, MI
Unrestricted$10,000
Red Hook Initiative
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$9,000
Actvf PTA
New York, NY
Unrestricted$5,000
Alex House Project
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$5,000
College Access Research & Action
New York, NY
Unrestricted$5,000
Foundation for Advancement of Haitian Midwives
New York, NY
Unrestricted$5,000
Zeno Mountain Farm
Lincoln, VT
Capacity building$3,000
Extreme Kids & Crew
Brooklyn, NY
Unrestricted$1,000

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2024 filing.

Questions people ask

Does Four Friends Foundation accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does Four Friends Foundation give?

$1.2 million in tax year 2024, across 38 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.

Who runs Four Friends Foundation?

Its 2024 filing lists Robert Shaye (Trustee), Eva Shaye (Trustee) and Katja Shaye (Trustee).

What does Four Friends Foundation fund?

Based on its grants, mainly arts and culture, youth programs and education.

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