After four decades, Lauder awards $75M as foundation exits European Jewish school funding

After four decades of backing Jewish education across Europe, the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation is preparing to end support for seven flagship school systems in 2027, pairing the sunset with a round of grants totaling $75 million. The funding will help schools in Athens, Berlin, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Budapest and Sofia become financially and operationally self-sufficient. It includes $40 million for new facilities, with the remainder supporting operations and transition needs through 2028. Since 1987 the foundation has helped open 30 schools across Europe with more than 40,000 alumni. The sunset comes as the foundation, beginning in 2022, has focused on expanding non-Orthodox Jewish day schools and Jewish community in the United States.