Founded in 1968 the Bialkin Family Foundation funds organizations that support the eradication of anti-Semitism, spread the popularity of the arts, expand education opportunities, and improve relations between Israel and the United States. ¹

The Bialkin Family Foundation was founded by the late Kenneth Bialkin and his wife Ann Bialkin in New York. Kenneth Bialkin was a retired partner at Skadden, Arps, Meaghter, & Flom, one of the most profitable and well-known law firms in the world. ²

He served in a variety of leadership positions in Jewish organizations (including as national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League from 1983 to 1986) and was a board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition and a donor to Republican candidates. ³

Organizational Overview

Founded and funded by Kenneth and Ann Bialkin, the Bialkin Family Foundation is active in funding a variety of Jewish organizations that seek to eradicate anti-Semitism and defend victims of anti-Semitism. It supports Zionism (the political ideology that the Jewish people should have a national home in the Holy Land) and the enhancement of relations between the United States and Israel. Secondarily, the foundation funds the arts primarily via grants to the Carnegie Hall Society. ⁴

Grants are spread across multiple organizations (172 in 2017) and are typically relatively small amounts. The largest recipients were ELEM: Youth in Distress, an organization focused on helping Israeli youth who are homeless or caught in the legal system in Israel from communities that typically do not seek help from traditional social services ($400,000); the American Israel Friendship League ($200,000); and the Carnegie Hall Society Inc ($86,322). ⁵

People

Kenneth Bialkin was known for his work as an attorney and leadership of Jewish organizations fighting anti-Semitism and supporting the safety and security of the Jewish people and the state of Israel. In 1998 he represented Travelers Group in its acquisition of Salomon Inc. and its merger with Citicorp. ⁶

Ann Bialkin is the widow of Kenneth Bialkin and co-founder of the Bialkin Family Foundation. She was a social worker, which spurred her to create ELEM to assist at-risk Israeli youth in the early 1980s. ⁷

She served as president of the Foundation for 28 years and is currently a member of the International Board and chair of the American Board. She also sits on the executive committee of the board of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and is a patron of Carnegie Hall. ⁸

Funding

In 2017 the Foundation reported income of $2,289,156 offset by expenses of $1,516,000 resulting in an increase of assets to $20,484,848 at fair market value. ⁹ Income was driven by an additional donation of stock by Kenneth and Ann Bialkin ($299,398) and the sale of assets ($1,661,103), while expenses were driven by grants of $1,276,386. ¹⁰

1. BIG Online: US Foundation Summary. Accessed October 7, 2019. http://www.bigdatabase.com/Big-DB/USFoundation-profiles/BIALKIN FAMILY FOUNDATION-237003181.HTML.
2. “Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates: Company Profile.” Vault. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://www.vault.com/company-profiles/law/skadden-arps-slate-meagher-flom-llp-and-affiliates.
3. Published 1 month ago on 08/25/2019, and Name *. “Kenneth Bialkin, Legendary Jewish Leader & Philanthropist Dies at 89.” The Jewish Voice, August 25, 2019. http://thejewishvoice.com/2019/08/25/kenneth-bialkin-legendary-jewish-leader-philanthropist-dies-at-89/.
4. Bialkin Family Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990-PF), 2017, Statement 9.
5. Bialkin Family Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990-PF), 2017, Page 11, Part XV
6. Roberts, Sam. “Kenneth Bialkin, Lawyer and Jewish Leader, Dies at 89.” The New York Times. The New York Times, September 3, 2019. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/nyregion/kenneth-bialkin-dies.html.
7. “OUR BOARD OFFICERS.” elem. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://www.elem.org/our-board-officers#
8. “ANN’S STORY.” elem. Accessed October 7, 2019. https://www.elem.org/anns-story
9. Bialkin Family Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part 1, Lines 12, 26 and Part II Line 16.
10. Bialkin Family Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form990-PF), 2017, Part I, Lines 1, 6a and 5.