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.
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.
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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
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 |
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 include Multiple Grantees ($21,000), American Federation of Arts ($15,000), Hunter College ($12,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EAST SIDE HOUSE SETTLEMENT BRONX, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| BROOKLYN ACACEMY OF MUSIC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| 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 |
| NEW MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SAY - STUTTERING ASSOCIATION FOR THE YOUNG IRVINGTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HUNTER COLLEGE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Chai Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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