Photo Credit: 2026 Annual NYU Law Magazine, 60,000 circulation distributed world wide
From an idea around the Grunin Foundation conference room table, through an endowment from Jay Grunin, the late Linda Kalmanowitz Grunin, and the Grunin Foundation, the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship at NYU School of Law became a reality in 2017. Now, as the Center approaches its 10th anniversary, we are reflecting on how far it has come thanks to the extraordinary team at NYU School of Law.
In 2027, the Center, with Jay as Board Chair since its inception, will transition into the Grunin Institute, a major milestone that will deepen its impact and expand its ability to engage additional lawyers, scholars, and thought leaders. Over the years, the Center has extended its reach far beyond the United States, fostering a global community of lawyers working in this field to make our world a better place for everyone.
Each year since 2018, the Center has presented the Grunin Prize at its annual conference, recognizing national and international innovative legal projects and creative and groundbreaking legal solutions that demonstrate significant potential for impact and replication. (As of today, there are two additional Grunin Prize awards - one for lifetime achievement, and the other for academic scholarship)
This year, the 2026 Grunin Prize was awarded to a legal team out of Amsterdam, Holland.
As the Center prepares to enter this exciting new chapter, Jay has made a special Chairman’s gift, continuing the Grunin family’s tradition of philanthropic support for education, health, the arts, and community initiatives. This fall, he will also
join NYU Law’s Board of Trustees.
To learn more about the story and impact of the Grunin Center, read Force of Impact, the cover story of the 2026 NYU Law Magazine https://www.law.nyu.edu/news/magazine-2026-impact-investing-grunin-center