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Joyce & Irving Goldman Family Foundation
Irving Goldman, a New York real estate entrepreneur and brother of legendary investor Sol Goldman, established this private foundation with his wife Joyce...
Joyce & Irving Goldman Family Foundation
Irving Goldman, a New York real estate entrepreneur and brother of legendary investor Sol Goldman, established this private foundation with his wife Joyce in 1984. The foundation operates from the family's real estate hub at 417 Fifth Avenue, sharing leadership with BLDG Management, the Goldman family's operating company. Today, the next generation — Dorian, Lloyd, and Katja Goldman — lead the foundation's board alongside Executive Director Ben Binswanger. Grant-making concentrates on three program areas: Jewish Life, Sustainable Agriculture, and Health. The foundation's endowment targets investments across buyout, early-stage venture, and fund-of-funds commitments. Confirmed grantees include Ben-Gurion University, where the Goldman family announced a $2 million matching grant in October 2025, and American Farmland Trust. The foundation participates actively in the Jewish Funders Network and the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, reflecting a strategy that blends direct grants with a sophisticated institutional investment program. Operating from a single office in New York, the foundation is deeply intertwined with the Goldman family's broader ecosystem. Lloyd Goldman serves as President of BLDG Management, while Michael Sonnenfeldt — husband of director Katja Goldman and founder of the Tiger 21 peer network — co-funds climate initiatives alongside the family. In May 2026, the foundation highlighted its work on Jewish food creators and constructive dialogue training at CUNY, signaling an active operational cadence. This foundation deploys a hybrid model rarely seen at its scale — a grant-making institution whose endowment invests in early-stage venture and co-investments typically reserved for family offices. That architecture, run by the real estate family's operating leadership, allows philanthropic capital to be patient and direct while the investment portfolio mirrors the opportunistic posture of a single-family office.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1984
AUM
$197 million (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
417 5th Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016, United States
Principals
Dorian Goldman
President
Ben Binswanger
Executive Director
Altss tracks 2 additional named team members for this firm — including direct investment leads, IR, and operating principals not listed on the public website.
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Frequently asked questions
How is the foundation related to the Sol Goldman real estate empire?
Irving Goldman was the brother of Sol Goldman, the legendary New York City real estate investor. The foundation operates from the Goldman family's office at 417 Fifth Avenue, sharing leadership with BLDG Management, the family's real estate operating company. Lloyd Goldman, the foundation's Treasurer, is President of BLDG Management, and Dorian Goldman serves as a VP of the group while also acting as foundation President.
Who runs the foundation's investment decisions?
The foundation's board — led by Dorian Goldman (President), Lloyd Goldman (Treasurer), and Katja Goldman (Secretary) — oversees investment decisions alongside an estimated $197 million endowment. The investment strategy spans buyout, early-stage venture, and fund-of-funds commitments. Specific investment committee members are not publicly disclosed beyond the named directors.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited grant proposals?
No. The foundation explicitly states on its website that it does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or meeting requests. Prospective grantees are directed to a specific 'begin here' page for guidance on the application process.
What is the foundation's connection to Tiger 21?
Michael Sonnenfeldt, founder of the Tiger 21 peer network for ultra-high-net-worth investors, is married to Katja Goldman, the foundation's Secretary and a director. The Goldman family is deeply integrated into the Tiger 21 network, and Sonnenfeldt co-funds climate initiatives alongside the foundation.
Does the foundation invest directly in companies or only make grants?
The foundation operates a dual-purpose endowment. While its primary mission is grant-making in Jewish Life, Sustainable Agriculture, and Health, its investment strategy includes direct buyout and venture capital investments, co-investments, and fund-of-funds commitments. This hybrid approach mirrors the posture of a single-family office rather than a purely grant-making foundation.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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