When was the Righteous Persons Foundation founded and why?

The Righteous Persons Foundation was established by Steven Spielberg in 1994 using $100 million in profits from the film Schindler's List. Spielberg described the proceeds as blood money that belonged to the Jewish community.

Who controls the Righteous Persons Foundation?

Steven Spielberg serves as Chairman and retains final approval authority on all major grants. The board includes Kate Capshaw Spielberg (spouse), Kristie Macosko Krieger (producer), Gerald Breslauer, Michael Rutman, Tammy Anderson, and Meghan Christiansen. Margery Tabankin has served as Executive Director since 1994.

What is the $3M network the foundation funded?

Between 2020 and 2024, the foundation directed approximately $3.065 million to four organizations: Bend the Arc ($1.2M), T'ruah ($690K), Jews United for Justice ($925K), and the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable ($250K). All four oppose the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Did RPF-funded organizations support Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor?

Yes. In September 2025, Bend the Arc (which received $250K annually from RPF) made its first-ever mayoral endorsement for Zohran Mamdani. Bend the Arc ran ground and air campaigns, and Mamdani was elected NYC mayor in November 2025.

What was the January 2026 meeting between Spielberg and Mayor Mamdani?

In January 2026, Steven Spielberg hosted newly inaugurated Mayor Zohran Mamdani at his Central Park West apartment. The meeting lasted approximately 60 minutes. This occurred four days after Spielberg moved his primary residence to Manhattan on January 1, 2026.

Where can I find the Righteous Persons Foundation's tax records?

All tax records are available through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer at https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954497916 using EIN 95-4497916.

Righteous Persons Foundation: Spielberg's $160M Charity & Jewish Progressive Network

Q: How much has the Righteous Persons Foundation given away?

The foundation has disbursed over $160 million in grants since 1994. Since 2020, grantmaking shifted toward Jewish progressive advocacy organizations, directing $3.065 million (2020-2024) to Bend the Arc, T'ruah, Jews United for Justice, and the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable.

Q: What is the Righteous Persons Foundation's current financial status?

The foundation's 2024 financials show Revenue $9.31M, Expenses $9.35M, and Total assets $36,549. The foundation has effectively spent down its original endowment and now operates on annual inflows.

Steven Spielberg's $160+ million charitable vehicle for Jewish philanthropy. Founded 1994 with Schindler's List proceeds. Named after the gentile rescuers of Holocaust survivors. Headquartered in Los Angeles. EIN 95-4497916. Website: righteouspersons.org.

Spielberg Foundation Investigation Series:

Part 1: Where Schindler's List Money Went: RPF grantmaking to Jewish progressive organizations (2020-2024)
Part 2 (MAIN INVESTIGATION): Spielberg's Foundation Funds Jews for Mamdani: The $3M network and Mamdani's mayoral election
Part 3: Bend the Arc's Money Map: The $50M+ foundation ecosystem beyond Spielberg & Soros
Part 4: The Other Spielberg Foundation: Hearthland: $26.7M in voter mobilization, media, and racial justice
Entity Pages: Righteous Persons Foundation (this piece) | Bend the Arc: Jewish Action | T'ruah | Jews United for Justice
Hub: Global Jewish Philanthropy

How Much Has the Righteous Persons Foundation Given Away?

Founded: 1994

Founder: Steven Spielberg

Initial capital: $100 million in Schindler's List profits. Spielberg called the money "blood money" that belonged to the Jewish community.

Additional capital: Profits from Munich (2006) and Lincoln

Total disbursed (to date): $160+ million in grants

2024 financials: Form 990-PF (filed Nov 14, 2025): Revenue $9.31M. Expenses $9.35M. Total assets: $36,549. The foundation has effectively spent down its endowment and now operates on annual inflows.

2024 grantmaking: Approximately 30 grants totaling $8.9 million to 102 grantees. Recent recipients include USC Shoah Foundation ($30M endowment), Jewish Story Partners, and Jewish Funders Network.

EIN: 95-4497916

Grantmaking categories: Arts & Culture, Applying Jewish Wisdom, Bridging Communities, Film, Holocaust Education/Survivor Aid, Media Fund for Coexistence, Next Generation, Social Justice.

Where Can You Find RPF's IRS Form 990-PF Filings?

All Righteous Persons Foundation tax records are publicly available through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer:

2024 Form 990-PF (filed Nov 14, 2025): View complete filing: Revenue $9.31M | Expenses $9.35M | Charitable Disbursements $9.35M | 30 grants, ~$8.9M total
2023 Form 990-PF (filed Nov 15, 2024): View complete filing: Revenue $4.03M | Expenses $4.07M | Charitable Disbursements $4.06M
2022 Form 990-PF: Browse via ProPublica
2021 Form 990-PF: Browse via ProPublica
2020 Form 990-PF: Browse via ProPublica
Complete ProPublica profile: Righteous Persons Foundation (EIN 95-4497916)
2020-2022 aggregate: $3.065M directed to Bend the Arc, T'ruah, Jews United for Justice, and Jewish Social Justice Roundtable

Who Sits on the Righteous Persons Foundation's Board?

Steven Spielberg, Chairman (1994 to present, 32-year tenure). Founder and final approval authority on all grants and strategic decisions. Retains personal control of foundation direction. Forbes 2026 billionaire celebrities list.

Kate Capshaw Spielberg, Director. Spouse. Board-level approval authority on major grants.

Kristie Macosko Krieger, Director. Board-level approval authority on major grants. Also producing Spielberg's next feature film (Universal, May 2026).

Gerald Breslauer, President and Director (through 12/31/2024). Exited President role on 12/31/2024. Remains Director.

Michael Rutman, CFO; President as of 12/31/2024.

Tammy Anderson, Secretary and Director; CFO as of 12/31/2024.

Meghan Christiansen, Secretary (as of 12/31/2024).

Margery Tabankin, Executive Director and Senior Advisor (1994 to present, 32 years). Shapes grantmaking strategy and organizational priorities. Background: VISTA National Director under President Carter (1977 to 1981); Arca Foundation Executive Director (1981 to 1988); met Yasser Arafat on Arca Foundation funds in West Bank (1989); director, Hollywood Women's Political Committee (1988 to 1994).

Board compensation: $0 across all members. Source: Form 990-PF, Part VII (Compensation)

How Has RPF's Grantmaking Changed Since 1994?

1994 to 2020: Holocaust Memory and Jewish Institutional Preservation. For its first 25 years, the foundation deployed capital into Holocaust education, Holocaust survivor support, Yiddish cultural preservation, Center for Jewish History, USC Shoah Foundation endowment and operations, and Jewish memory infrastructure. This grantmaking aligned with Spielberg's stated founding mission: returning blood money to Holocaust memory and Jewish continuity.

2020 to present: Jewish Progressive Political Infrastructure. Beginning in 2020, grantmaking shifted significantly toward Jewish progressive advocacy organizations with documented positions on Israeli policy, Gaza, occupation, BDS, and IHRA antisemitism framework opposition.

2026 grants (disclosed): $25,000 to Beth Israel Congregation Rebuilding Fund (arson attack response; congregation founded 1860). $75,000 to The Blue Card (Holocaust survivor aid, funded by RPF since 1996).

Where Did RPF's Post-2020 $3 Million Network Go?

Between 2020 and 2024, the foundation directed approximately $3 million, 13% of annual operating disbursements, to four organizations. All figures below are sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the RPF Grants Archive, cross-referenced with InfluenceWatch 990 analysis:

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action: $1.2 million (2020 to 2024). Annual grants: $200K (2020), $250K (2021), $275K (2022), $225K (2023), $250K (2024). CEO: Jamie Beran. Board Co-chairs: Ginna Green, Rabbi Sue Reinhold. Documented positions: opposes IHRA antisemitism definition; frames Palestinian advocacy and opposition to IHRA as free speech rights; endorsed BDS co-founder Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor (September 2025, first-ever mayoral endorsement); mobilized ground and air campaigns for Mamdani's successful mayoral campaign (November 2025).

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: ~$690,000 (2020 to 2024). Annual grants: $120K (2020), $130K (2021), $150K (2022), $140K (2023), $150K (2024). CEO: Rabbi Jill Jacobs. Network: ~1,900 rabbis and cantors across U.S., Canada, Israel, Palestinian territories. Documented positions: frames Israeli occupation as "violent military occupation" requiring termination; opposes IHRA antisemitism definition; called expanded Israeli military control of Gaza "moral disaster" (2025); defends BDS as protected political speech; called for U.S. admission of BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti; co-produced Breaking the Silence educational material.

Jews United for Justice: ~$925,000 (2020 to 2024). Annual grants: $150K (2020), $175K (2021), $200K (2022), $200K (2023), $200K (2024). Executive Director: Jacob Feinspan. Regional footprint: Washington D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, Virginia. Operating budget: $3.7M. Staff: 32. Volunteers: 1,877. Documented positions: co-signed letter opposing IHRA antisemitism definition (April 2025); part of Jewish progressive coalition opposing federal antisemitism framework.

Jewish Social Justice Roundtable: ~$250,000 (2020 to 2024). Annual grants: $50K (2020), $55K (2021), $60K (2022), $50K (2023), $35K (2024). Function: coordinating coalition orchestrating multi-organizational messaging, legislative strategy, and joint advocacy campaigns across Bend the Arc, T'ruah, JUFJ, and adjacent organizations. Primary focus: coordinated opposition to IHRA antisemitism definition.

What Is the Total Post-2020 Grantmaking Ledger?

Bend the Arc: $1,200,000. T'ruah: $690,000. Jews United for Justice: $925,000. Jewish Social Justice Roundtable: $250,000.

Total: $3,065,000 (2020 to 2024). Average annual deployment: $613,000 per year to this network. Consistent, strategic allocation representing 13% of RPF's annual operating disbursements.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF filings (EIN 95-4497916), 2020 to 2024, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Grant commitments cross-referenced with RPF Grants Archive and InfluenceWatch.

What Happened at RPF Between 2024 and 2026?

Late 2024: RPF awards $30 million endowment grant to USC Shoah Foundation for continued Holocaust survivor testimony collection. Source: Form 990-PF filing

September 26, 2025: Bend the Arc (RPF-funded $250K annually) issues first-ever mayoral endorsement: Zohran Mamdani, BDS co-founder and vocal BDS supporter since 2014, candidate for NYC mayor.

November 4, 2025: Zohran Mamdani elected Mayor of New York City. Bend the Arc claims credit for the outcome.

January 1, 2026: Mamdani inaugurated as NYC mayor. Sworn in by Sen. Bernie Sanders and AG Letitia James. On the same day, Steven Spielberg officially becomes a New York City resident.

January 5, 2026: Steven Spielberg hosts newly inaugurated Mayor Mamdani at Spielberg's Central Park West apartment. Meeting lasted approximately 60 minutes, with no set agenda. Confirmed by Spielberg spokeswoman Terry Press and City Hall. Not on Mamdani's public schedule. First reported by The New York Times, subsequently covered by Hollywood Reporter, Fox News, The Wrap. Spielberg had moved primary residence to Manhattan in late 2025, during months when wealthy New York residents were threatening to leave over Mamdani's proposed high-earner tax hike.

Investigations and Reporting

Olam Investigation Part 1 (June 2026): Where Schindler's List Money Went: Documentation of RPF grantmaking to Jewish progressive organizations, their positions on Israel/Palestine, and electoral outcome.

Olam Investigation Part 2 (August 2026): Spielberg's Foundation Funds Jews for Mamdani: Deep investigation of $3M network, board structure, Tabankin background, grantmaking causal chain to Mamdani mayoral victory, entity-level detail on all four grantee organizations.

Olam Investigation Part 3 (August 2026): Bend the Arc's Money Map: The $50M+ foundation ecosystem beyond Spielberg & Soros funding pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Olam Investigation Part 4 (August 2026): The Other Spielberg Foundation: Hearthland: How Hearthland Foundation's $26.7M in voter mobilization, media narrative, and racial justice funding amplifies RPF's anti-Israel infrastructure across the progressive ecosystem.

Olam Hub: Global Jewish Philanthropy

Other coverage (2025 to 2026): The New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, Fox News, The Wrap, Frontpage Magazine, New York Sun, JFeed, Israel National News, Future of Jewish, Ynetnews.

Institutional Accountability Questions

1. Has Steven Spielberg explicitly approved each grant to organizations opposing the IHRA antisemitism definition? Source: Board records in Form 990-PF filings show he retains final approval authority.

2. Is the post-2020 pivot toward Jewish progressive political advocacy compatible with Spielberg's stated founding mission in 1994, "blood money returned to the Jewish community," for Holocaust memory and Jewish institutional preservation?

3. How does Spielberg reconcile his public antisemitism advocacy and warnings about campus extremism with funding organizations that frame Palestinian advocacy and BDS speech rights as Jewish civil-rights priorities?

4. Was Spielberg aware that Bend the Arc would endorse a BDS co-founder for NYC mayor before or after approving the $250K annual grants?

5. What strategic alignment exists between Spielberg's January 1, 2026 relocation to Manhattan, on Mamdani's inauguration day, and his hosting of Mayor Mamdani at his Central Park West apartment four days later?

Sources

Primary Tax Records: IRS Form 990-PF: Righteous Persons Foundation (EIN 95-4497916), 2020 to 2024, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Specific Filings (Clickable):

Grant Archive: Righteous Persons Foundation Grants Archive: Official grant announcements and descriptions.

990 Cross-Reference: InfluenceWatch: Righteous Persons Foundation: 990-PF grant payment data confirming annual disbursements.

Additional Sources: Olam investigations and reporting, 2026. Steven Spielberg public statements, USC Shoah Foundation, 2023 to 2024. Bend the Arc, T'ruah, Jews United for Justice organizational materials and positions. The New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, Fox News, The Wrap (Spielberg-Mamdani meeting, January 2026). Instrumentl 990 Report, Grantable Foundation Profile.