Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation
The Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation is a private family foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2009, the foundation focuses on educational initiatives and social justice causes, with particular emphasis on higher education, law, and criminal justice reform.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.2M
+50.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$802K
-35.7% YoY
Grant Count
92
+4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-38.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $308K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education: Higher education, graduate and professional education, medical education, and social sciences
- Law: Legal education and law school programs
- Social Justice: Criminal justice reform, death penalty abolition, and restorative justice initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation made 54 grants in its most recent reporting year. Sample grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with particular activity in:
- California
- New York
- Washington
- District of Columbia
- Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, and New Hampshire
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data:
- Total assets: $3.5–$5.2 million (figures vary by reporting source and year)
- Total expenses: $1.69 million
- Total revenue: -$527,334 (negative revenue reported in 2023)
- Tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3), EIN 26-4299156
- Year formed: 2009
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,231,559 | $3,469,877 | $5,713,496 |
| Revenue | $1,829,990 | $-527,334 | $-30,591 |
| Expenses | $1,297,049 | $1,694,997 | $1,676,833 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,185,526 | $1,247,098 | $1,314,844 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,724,852 | $143,672 | $430,653 |
| Distributable Amount | $308,417 | $199,402 | $407,100 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Basf Justice & Diversity Center ($273,500), Consumer Reports ($10,000), Consumer Watchdog ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR SMILES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,705 |
| ALONZO KING LINES BALLET SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,180 |
| ALZHIEMER ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,200 |
| AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ANNIE CANNONS INC OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,080 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard Zitrin serves as President of the foundation, working 8 hours per week with compensation of $162,916.
Elizabeth Zitrin is noted as a past president of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and vice chair of Witness to Innocence. She has pioneered work in death penalty abolition and criminal justice reform, and the Elizabeth Zitrin Justice Fellowship was established in her honor.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD ZITRIN | President | 15 | $170,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant commitments to legal education and criminal justice reform:
Established the **Elizabeth Zitrin Justice Fellowship** at Northeastern University School of Law with a $2.5 million endowed gift—the largest endowed gift in the law school's history. Fellows engage in litigation, amicus brief writing, clinical supervision, policy advocacy, public education, restorative justice programs, and research.
Zitrin Foundation Creates Endowed Fund to Support Zitrin Fellowships forProvided **$1.2 million endowment** to the Bar Association of San Francisco to support a minority law student scholarship program.
Richard Zitrin Gives $1.2 Million to Endow Minority Law Student ScholarshipThe foundation's giving reflects its commitment to honoring the legacy of Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin and advancing social justice through legal education and criminal justice reform initiatives.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Higher education, graduate and professional education, medical education, and social sciences • **Law**: Legal education and law school programs • **Social Justice**: Criminal justice reform, death penalty abolition, and restorative justice initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $5.2 million (as of most recent filings) • Annual giving: Approximately $801,784 to $1.2 million • Typical grant awards: $250,000–$925,000 range **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 54 grants in its most recent reporting year. Sample grants include: • Vital Voices Global Partnership: $80,000 • Consumer Reports: $10,000 • Alonzo King Lines Ballet: $5,750 **Notable Endowed Gifts:** • $2.5 million endowed fund at Northeastern University School of L…
Where does Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with particular activity in: • California • New York • Washington • District of Columbia • Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, and New Hampshire
What size grants does Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation award?
In 2024, Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation awarded 92 grants totaling $802K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $308K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation's EIN?
Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4299156. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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