2026-04-24 11:03:PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #Donor #Lobby ![[image-277.png|675x224]] # Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) - The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) is an American Jewish pro-Israel grantmaking and program-oriented nonprofit founded by Jewish real estate developer [[Harold Grinspoon]]. - The HGF was founded in 1991 and has since "invested more than $700 million in programs that make Jewish life and Jewish community more vibrant and connected."[^1] #### Grants - HGF's most recent financial disclosures show over $1 billion in total assets.[^2] - HGF funds hundreds of organizations through grants totaling tens of millions annually (~$22.5 million in FY 2024).[^3] - Harold Grinspoon Foundation grants include:[^4][^5][^6][^7][^8][^9][^10][^11][^13][^12][^14][^17][^18][^19][^20][^21] | Year | Recipient | Total | Extra | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2016-2024 | [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]] | $290,500 | | | 2016 | [[American Zionist Movement (AZM)]] | $5,000 | | | 2008, 2011-2013 | Areivim Philanthropic | $1,356,000 | [Areivim](https://www.areivim.org/copy-of-mission-and-values) is a pro-Israel consortium of Jewish donors including [[Michael Steinhardt]], [[Bill Davidson]], [[Daniel Och]], [[Harold Grinspoon]], [[Leon Cooperman]], [[Paul Singer]], and [[Jan Koum]]. | | 2013-2024 | [[Birthright Israel]] | $864,000 | In addition, HGF contributed over a million a year to Birthright for most of the early 2000s | | 2013-2024 | [[B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO)]] | $136,985 | | | 2012-2013, 2018-2020 | [[Brandeis University]] | $179,734 | | | 2013-2022 | [[Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)]] | $430,000 | | | 2011, 2013 | [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]] | $10,000 | | | 2013-2022 | [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] | $43,300,076 | | | 2017-2019 | [[Keshet]] | $60,000 | | | 2015-2024 | [[Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)]] | $5,617,847 | | | 2013-2024 | Dozens of [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)\|Federations]], [[JCC Association of North America\|JCCs]], [[Hillel International\|Hillel chapters]], [[B'nai B'rith\|B'nai B'rith programs/camps]], [[Chabad Lubavitch\|Chabad centers]] | Millions | | | 2017 & 2024 | [[Hillel International]] | $113,460 | | | 2017 & 2020 | [[Young Judaea]] | $118,977 | | | - | [[Israel Bonds]] | - | HGF has millions invested in state of Israel bonds | | 2009 | [[New Israel Fund]] | $37,000 | | | 2007, 2009 | [[Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO)]] | $30,787 | | | 2005-2011 | [[Hadassah]] | $61,161 | | | 2005 | [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]] | $12,000 | | | 2005, 2008 | [[Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI)]] | $62,500 | | | 2005-2024 | [[Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)]] | $100,000+ | | | 2005-2007 | [[The David Project]] | $5,000 | | | 2006 | [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] | $10,000 | "For award dinner honoring [[Les Wexner\|Leslie Wexner]]" | | 2007 | [[American Jewish World Service]] | $10,000 | "for dinner in honor of [[Bill Clinton]]" | | 2008, 2011-2012 | [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP)]] | $80,833.85 | | | 2008, 2011 | [[The Israel Project]] | $15,000 | | | 2008 | [[World Union for Progressive Judaism]] | $5,000 | | | 2012 | [[Orthodox Union]] | $10,000 | | #### Programs - PJ Library - Signature HGF program supplying Jewish books and educational material to American Jewish children.[^23] - PJ: Library donors include:[^24] - [[Azrieli Foundation]] - [[Crown Family Philanthropies]] - [[Jan Koum]]'s foundation - [[Marcus Foundation]] - Molly Blank Fund of The [[Arthur Blank|Arthur M. Blank]] Family Foundation - [[Jonathon Jacobson]]'s One8 Foundation - [[Mark Wilf]]'s family foundation - [[Leon Cooperman|Leon]] and Toby Cooperman family foundation - [[UJA-Federation of New York]] - Rita and [[Charles Bronfman]] - [[Seth Klarman]]'s family foundation - [[Jim Joseph Foundation]] - JCamp 180 - HGF program founded in 2004 to aid the ecosystem of Jewish summer camps and their related nonprofits. - JCamp 180 is partnered with, among others, the Foundation for Jewish Camp, the [[JCC Association of North America]], the [[Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)]] camp and Israel programs, and [[Young Judaea]]. - Keren Grinspoon Israel - HGF counterpart in Israel. - Keren Grinspoon Israel, with backing from the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], works to support education in Israel in order to "ensure a strong and thriving State of Israel."[^25] - Sifriyat Pijama - Hebrew language version of PJ Library in Israel. Sifriyat Pijama works closely with the Israeli Ministry of Education to supply books to Israeli schools and daycares. - Sifriyat Pijama is described as the "result of a partnership between HGF, the Israeli Ministry of Education, and private funders."[^22] - Sifriyat Pijama was created in 2009 by Keren Grinspoon Israel (mentioned above).[^1] #### Notable Figures - [[Harold Grinspoon]] - Founder, figurehead, and trustee - Addie Goodman - Board member - Goodman is president and CEO of [[JCC Association of North America|JCC]] Chicago. - Goodman's work areas are described as "education, female empowerment, social justice and, for the past 12 years, Jewish life." - Michael Hoffman - Board member - Hoffman is president and CEO of the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] of Palm Beach County. - Hoffman is an associate member of the board of governors of the [[World Zionist Organization]].[^15] - Jeremy Pava - Board member - Pava is a recipient of the [[ADL]]'s Torch of Liberty Award. - Deborah Hochberg - Board member - Hochberg is a senior advisor to the [[Paul E. Singer Foundation]]. - According to her Grinspoon foundation bio, "She switched to non-profits after Sept 11, 2001 in an effort to strengthen Israel, American foreign policy, and the relationship between the two countries." *9/11 happens and your instinct as an American is to aid Israel?* - Diane Troderman - Board member - Troderman is the former chair of [[Hillel International|Hillel]] at UMass and the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] at UMass. - Rabbi Elie Kaunfer - Board member - Kaunfer is the co-founder, president, and CEO of the Hadar Institute, a religious Jewish educational organization. - Kaunfer is a [[Wexner Foundation]] graduate.[^16] #### References [^1]: Harold Grinspoon Foundation, “History,” [https://hgf.org/about/history/](https://hgf.org/about/history/). [^2]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation,” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725). [^3]: Cause IQ, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF),” [https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/harold-grinspoon-foundation%2C046685725/](https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/harold-grinspoon-foundation%2C046685725/). [^4]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending December 2013),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201401969349301015/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201401969349301015/full). [^5]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2015),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201620609349300312/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201620609349300312/full). [^6]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending August 2016),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201721989349301807/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201721989349301807/full). [^7]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending August 2017),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201831989349301043/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201831989349301043/full). [^8]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2018),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201921969349301937/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/201921969349301937/full). [^9]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2019),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202011849349300711/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202011849349300711/full). [^10]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending August 2020),” [http://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202101959349300425/full](http://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202101959349300425/full). [^11]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending August 2021),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202241369349312134/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202241369349312134/full). [^12]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending June 2023),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202411369349313556/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202411369349313556/full). [^13]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending June 2022),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202301359349315575/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202301359349315575/full). [^14]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending June 2024),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202510929349300926/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46685725/202510929349300926/full). [^15]: The Jewish Agency for Israel, “Michael Hoffman,” [https://www.jewishagency.org/michael-hoffman/](https://www.jewishagency.org/michael-hoffman/). [^16]: Hadar Institute, “Rabbi Elie Kaunfer,” [https://www.hadar.org/about/people/rabbi-elie-kaunfer](https://www.hadar.org/about/people/rabbi-elie-kaunfer). [^17]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2009),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2010_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_200908](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2010_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_200908). [^18]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2005),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2006_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_200508](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2006_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_200508). [^19]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2006),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2007_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_200608](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2007_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_200608). [^20]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2011),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2012_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_201108](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2012_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_201108). [^21]: ProPublica, “Harold Grinspoon Foundation - Form 990 (fiscal year ending August 2012),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2013_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_201208](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/46685725/2013_08_EO%2F04-6685725_990_201208). [^22]: PJ Library, “Sifriyat Pijama,” [https://pjlibrary.org/about-pj-library/sifriyat-pijama](https://pjlibrary.org/about-pj-library/sifriyat-pijama). [^23]: Harold Grinspoon Foundation, “PJ Library,” [https://hgf.org/what-we-do/pj-library/](https://hgf.org/what-we-do/pj-library/). [^24]: PJ Library, “Donor Wall,” [https://pjlibrary.org/giving/donor-wall](https://pjlibrary.org/giving/donor-wall). [^25]: Harold Grinspoon Foundation, “Keren Grinspoon Israel,” [https://hgf.org/keren-grinspoon-israel/](https://hgf.org/keren-grinspoon-israel/).