Paul E. Singer Foundation
The Paul E. Singer Foundation (EIN: 27-2009342) is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation established in 2008 by Paul Singer, founder and president of Elliott Management Corporation. As of the most recent available filings (fiscal year ending November 2024), the foundation has disbursed hundreds of millions in grants, with a strong focus on conservative policy research, free-market economics, U.S. national security, the future of Israel as a Jewish democratic state, Jewish continuity and education, LGBT equality, and health-care innovation.[1] The foundation is one of the funders of A Wider Bridge, an Israeli LGBT rights group which has been accused of 'pinkwashing' Israel's international image.[2][3]
Mission
The foundation's website describes its objectives as follows:
- The mission of The Paul E. Singer Foundation is to support innovative and effective organizations that work to strengthen our American democracy and democracies around the world. The PESF’s work to date has focused on supporting research and scholars in the areas of free-market economics, the rule of law, U.S. national security, and the future of Israel, as well as LGBT equality efforts and health-care delivery innovation.[1]
Its profile on the Jewish Funders Network International Conference provides further detail:
- The mission of The Paul E. Singer Foundation is to ensure Israel’s survival as an independent and vibrant Jewish state by increasing and broadening support for Israel.
- The PESF takes a targeted, results-oriented approach to philanthropy, seeking measurable outcomes of its work in the medium to long term. In addition, The PESF prides itself on its ability to pivot as new challenges present themselves. Currently, the tactics PESF uses include:
Promote Israeli literacy—the ability to make informed opinions about Israel, through education Fighting the media barrage of anti-Israel propaganda, including the BDS movement Promote positive stories/narratives of Israeli global aid Draw young professionals back into their Judaism by providing new points of engagement for them Promote deeper, emotional connections to/relationship with Israel Promote/highlight the work of exceptional Jewish companies or organizations doing meaningful work. Provide volunteer/internship/travel opportunities to give students a transformative professional or personal experience in Israel Draw attention to bias to stymie its growth
- Whenever possible, The PESF seeks to leverage its own philanthropic investments by partnering with proven nonprofits and like-minded donors.
- In addition, The Paul E. Singer Foundation is a core funder for The Shabbat Project, the Philos Project, and Start-Up Nation Central.[4]
Stand Up for Heroes
In November 2010 the Bob Woodruff Foundation announced that the Paul E. Singer Foundation would serve as the title sponsor for its 4th Annual Stand Up for Heroes event. The event was held to raise funds for injured military personnel and their families.[5]
Grants
The foundation has disbursed hundreds of millions in grants since inception, with a focus on conservative think tanks, pro-Israel organizations, Jewish education and continuity programs, national security initiatives, and select LGBT equality efforts. Large portions of funding are routed through donor-advised funds such as the J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund (administered by National Philanthropic Trust), which serve as pass-through vehicles. Below is a summary table of major and recurring grants based on IRS Form 990-PF filings (fiscal years ending November 2021–2024). Amounts are in USD and represent direct grants or DAF contributions visible in public excerpts. Full exhaustive lists are available in the complete 990-PF PDFs on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 27-2009342).
| Grantee | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total donations ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund (via National Philanthropic Trust) | — | — | — | — | 46,000,000 | 68,000,000 | 161,500,000 | — | — | 275,500,000+ |
| Manhattan Institute for Policy Research | 325,000 | 600,000 | 500,000 | — | 2,735,000 | — | 2,075,000 | 1,800,000 | — | 8,035,000 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | — | — | 1,162,500 | — | 1,145,000 | — | — | 3,807,500 |
| UJA Federation of New York | — | — | — | — | 1,005,000 | 755,000 | 2,376,000 | 2,340,000 | — | 6,476,000 |
| Jewish Agency for Israel | — | — | — | — | 550,000 | — | — | — | — | 550,000 |
| Jewish Agency for Israel – NA Council | 400,000 | — | — | — | 535,830 | — | 300,000 | — | — | 1,235,830 |
| Success Academies | — | — | — | — | 300,000 | — | 300,000 | 700,000 | — | 1,300,000 |
| Tamid Israel Investment Group | — | — | — | — | 635,000 | — | 175,000 | 700,000 | — | 1,510,000 |
| The Areivim Philanthropic Group | — | — | — | — | 50,000 | — | 150,000 | 1,445,000 | — | 1,645,000 |
| BBYO Inc | — | — | — | — | 175,000 | 100,000 | 206,000 | 150,000 | — | 631,000 |
| Jewish Funders Network | — | 25,000 | 10,000 | — | 125,000 | — | 1,360,000 | — | — | 1,520,000 |
| iTrek Inc | — | — | — | — | 50,000 | — | 200,000 | 175,000 | — | 425,000 |
| Abraham Joshua Heschel School | — | — | — | 250,000 | — | — | 200,000 | 100,000 | — | 550,000 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University | — | — | — | 50,000 | 50,000 | — | — | — | — | 100,000 |
| American Israel Education Foundation | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | — | 1,250,000 | — | — | — | — | — | 2,750,000 |
| Artis Contemporary Israeli Art Fund Inc | — | — | — | 75,000 | 75,000 | — | — | — | — | 150,000 |
| Aspen Jewish Community Center | — | — | — | 50,000 | 50,000 | — | 50,000 | — | — | 150,000 |
| Chabad of Martha's Vineyard | — | — | — | — | — | 103,700 | 575,000 | — | — | 678,700 |
| Congregation Beth Elohim | — | — | — | — | 100,000 | — | 260,000 | — | — | 360,000 |
| Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America | — | — | — | — | 5,000 | 5,000 | 250,000 | — | — | 260,000 |
| Hebrew Academy of Nassau County | — | — | — | 1,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 10,000 | — | — | 91,000 |
| HelpUsAdopt.org | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7,500 | — | 7,500 |
| Hudson Institute | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 100,000 | — | 100,000 |
| Jewish Community Center in Manhattan | — | — | — | — | 75,000 | — | 75,000 | — | — | 150,000 |
| Jewish Leadership Academy | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 400,000 | — | 400,000 |
| Kehilat Romemu | — | — | — | — | 50,000 | — | 50,000 | — | — | 100,000 |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida | — | — | — | — | — | 50,000 | 25,000 | — | — | 75,000 |
| Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation | — | — | — | 50,000 | — | 50,000 | — | — | — | 100,000 |
| Palm Beach Orthodox Synagogue | — | — | — | — | — | 150,000 | — | 399,000 | — | 549,000 |
| Police Athletic League Inc | — | — | — | — | 25,000 | — | 25,000 | — | — | 50,000 |
| The Jewish Museum | — | — | — | — | 25,000 | — | — | 150,000 | — | 175,000 |
| Trustees of the Congregation Shearith Israel | — | — | — | — | 50,000 | — | 150,000 | — | — | 200,000 |
| Young Judaea Global | — | — | — | — | — | — | 250,000 | — | — | 250,000 |
| Additional smaller grants (remaining entries; est. dozens per year) | ~5–8M | ~5–10M | ~10–20M | ~8–10M (est.) | ~5–8M | ~5–10M | ~10–20M | ~10–30M (est.) | — | ~58–106M+ (2010–2024 combined est.) |
| Approximate Total Grants/Disbursements | ~58.5M (est. range) | ~75.8–83.6M | ~122.9–135M | ~200M+ | — | ~457–477M+ (2021–2024 combined est.) | (full historical total higher) |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Paul E. Singer Foundation Website About. Accessed 22 May 2015; updated with recent 990-PF data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
- ↑ A Wider Bridge Website Our Funders. Accessed 30 June 2015.
- ↑ Toshio Meronek, 'Exposing Israel’s ‘Pinkwashing’', Common Dreams, 23 June 2014, accessed 30 June 2015
- ↑ Jewish Funders Network International Conference Website Paul E. Singer Foundation. Accessed 23 June 2015; updated with current priorities.
- ↑ PR Newswire The Paul E. Singer Foundation to Serve as Title Sponsor for the Bob Woodruff Foundation 4th Annual Stand Up for Heroes. Accessed 23 June 2015.