American Chai Trust
American Chai Trust is a private foundation based in New York City, established in 1964. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking to charitable organizations.
Key facts about American Chai Trust
- EIN
- 13-6130992
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $91,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $8,273
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025)
- Total assets
- $612,532
- Primary geography
- New York (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who American Chai Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for American Chai Trust's 11 itemized 2025 grants were New York (95%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is American Chai Trust open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with American Chai Trust
- How to evaluate American Chai Trust as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$613K
+11.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$91K
-24.5% YoY
Grant Count
11
-52.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+57.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, American Chai Trust reported a distributable amount of $121K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
American Chai Trust is a private foundation focusing on charities in the tri-state area. The foundation's grantmaking priorities include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
American Chai Trust awards grants typically ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The foundation accepts grant applications via email only. Organizations interested in applying should send a request for an application to the foundation's email address, with submission requirements provided upon request.
Review Cycle
with submission deadlines generally falling on January 31 and August 31 of each year. While organizations may apply during either grant cycle, grants are awarded only once per year per organization. Organizations that are not selected may reapply in subsequent grant cycles.
Ready to take the next step with American Chai Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
American Chai Trust primarily funds organizations serving New York, New Jersey, and Florida, with particular emphasis on the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $548,698
- Total Revenue: $77,600
- Total Expenses: $144,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $120,500
The foundation has maintained its tax-exempt status since September 1964 (EIN: 13-6130992).
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $612,532 | $548,698 | $607,661 |
| Revenue | $123,337 | $77,592 | $75,104 |
| Expenses | $145,233 | $143,601 | $119,000 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $114,992 | $136,301 | $52,748 |
| Net Investment Income | $113,946 | $70,772 | $68,152 |
| Distributable Amount | $120,839 | $115,132 | $4,361 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Multiple Grantees ($21,000), American Federation of Arts ($15,000), Hunter College ($12,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MULTIPLE GRANTEES New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $21,000 |
| AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| HUNTER COLLEGE New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| NEW MUSEUM New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SAY - STUTTERING ASSOCIATION FOR THE YOUNG Irvington, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HERITAGE MANAGEMENT Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| NEW SCHOOL (VERA LIST CENTER) New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BROOKLYN ACACEMY OF MUSIC Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifford Perlman | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Aaron Doynow | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Michael Cohn | Trustee | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Chai Trust fund?
American Chai Trust is a private foundation focusing on charities in the tri-state area. The foundation's grantmaking priorities include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from American Chai Trust?
American Chai Trust awards grants typically ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The foundation accepts grant applications via email only. Organizations interested in applying should send a request for an application to the foundation's email address, with submission requirements provided upon request. The foundation operates on a semi-annual grant cycle with submission deadlines generally falling on January 31 and August 31 of each year. While organizations may apply during either grant cycle, gran…
Where does American Chai Trust make grants?
American Chai Trust primarily funds organizations serving New York, New Jersey, and Florida, with particular emphasis on the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
What size grants does American Chai Trust award?
In 2025, American Chai Trust awarded 11 grants totaling $91K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is American Chai Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, American Chai Trust reported a distributable amount of $121K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is American Chai Trust's EIN?
American Chai Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6130992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.