The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation (Weinberg Foundation) is the family foundation of Harry and Jeanette Weinberg. It makes upwards of $130 million in grants annually to nonprofit organizations providing social services in Israel and Hawaii and in the Baltimore, New York City, northeastern Pennsylvania, and San Francisco metropolitan and surrounding areas. ^{1 2}

The Weinberg Foundation is funded by the fortune of real estate investor and entrepreneur Harry Weinberg. In the 1930s, Weinberg committed his philanthropic efforts towards helping German Jews find refuge in America, and the Weinberg Foundation states, “This commitment remains at the core of the Weinberg Foundation’s identity.” ³

Regarding its grantmaking in the New York City area, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation states that it funds organizations housing homeless individuals, constructing below-market rate rental units, and job-placement services. It also provides social services specific to Jewish individuals and LGBT people who are impoverished or whom the foundation deems need an increased “quality of life.” ⁴

History

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation was founded in 1990 and funded by Harry Weinberg’s fortune as the largest real estate investor in the state of Hawaii and from creating his own bus lines in the 1950s and 1960s. ⁵ At its founding, it reported having $640 million in assets. ⁶

Between 1990 and 2005, the Weinberg Foundation distributed over $920 million in grants, $590 million of which went to Jewish community organizations, $240 million went to Maryland-based organizations, $200 million to Hawaii-based organizations, and $150 million went to Israel-based organizations. ⁷

In 2020, the Weinberg Foundation announced an equity initiative that would give support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and as a result, it also stated that it would begin prioritizing giving to organizations that are led by ethnic minorities and those that have a so-called “commitment to advancing racial equity.” ^{8 9}

Grantmaking

According to its website, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation requires its grantees to have a 501(c)(3) designation, be sponsored by one, or hold the Israeli-law equivalent. It also requires they have been active for three consecutive years, support “low-income” people, and not be a degree-granting institution. ¹⁰

The Weinberg Foundation makes around $130-$150 million in grants annually, ranging between $10,000 and $50,000 and supporting organizations or programs that provide housing, education, health, employment, and other social and community services. ^{11 12}

As of January 2024, the Weinberg Foundation reported that it has given out 1,387 grants to U.S.-based groups and 183 Israeli groups since 2018. Of these grants, it stated that $172 million was spent on its community services grantmaking program, $166 million on its health program, $145 million on its housing program, $103 million on its jobs program, and $66 million on its education program. ¹³

Regarding its highest-funded locations, the Weinberg Foundation reports an annual commitment of $35 million to the Baltimore area, $18 million a year to Israel, and $12 million a year to Hawaii. ¹⁴

Payments to Environmentalist For-Profits

In 2022, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation paid $5 million in “environmental consulting” fees to Ensafe Inc, a consulting firm that advises companies on how they can operate in alignment with environmentalist ideals and engages in its own conservation efforts on their behalf. ¹⁵ Among which, it participates in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Green Power Switch program, purchasing “blocks” on behalf of other businesses. The blocks are an upcharge by TVA to pay for the additional cost of using environmentalist energy sources when opting out of using conventional energy sources. ¹⁶

Financials

In 2022, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation reported $107 million in total revenue from its $118 million in net investment income, according to its tax returns. ¹⁷ It also reported $177 million in total expenses, including $155 million in grants paid. ¹⁸

Leadership

Since 2010, Rachel Monroe has worked as president and CEO of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and is said to be behind its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Monroe is also a board member of Baltimore Gas and Electric, Laurel Strategies, and Kolker-Saxon-Hallock Family Foundation. Prior to the Weinberg Foundation, Monroe worked as COO for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, as director of marketing for Owings & Merril, and as marketing manager for Jewish Community Centers of Chicago. ¹⁹

1. IP Staff. “Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.” Inside Philanthropy, January 12, 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/grants-w/harry-and-jeanette-weinberg-foundation.
2. “Grant FAQ.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/grants/grant-faq/.
3.  “Who We Are.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/.
4. “Where We Give.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/grants/where-we-give/.
5. “Who We Are.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/.
6. ^[1] “Foundation Timeline.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/timeline/.
7. “Foundation Timeline.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/timeline/.
8. ^[1] “Foundation Timeline.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/timeline/.
9. “Foundation Statements.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, September 23, 2022. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/foundation-statements/.
10. “Apply for a Grant.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, October 5, 2023. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/grants/how-to-apply/apply-for-a-grant/.
11. ^[1] “Who We Are.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/.
12. IP Staff. “Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.” Inside Philanthropy, January 12, 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/grants-w/harry-and-jeanette-weinberg-foundation.
13. “Grants.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/grants/.
14. “Where We Give.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/grants/where-we-give/.
15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc. 2022. Part VII, Section 3a.
16. “Sustainability & Service.” EnSafe, January 9, 2024. https://www.ensafe.com/our-company/sustainability-service/.
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc. 2022. Part I, Line 12.
18. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc. 2022. Part I, Line 26.
19. “Rachel Garbow Monroe.” The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Accessed January 14, 2024. https://hjweinbergfoundation.org/who-we-are/leadership/rachel-garbow-monroe/.