Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. Established in 1999, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation is a small grantmaker with limited staffing and operates on a preselected basis, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Key facts about Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc
In short: Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc gave $111K across 100 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Maryland. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 52-2135417
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $111,250
- Grants made (2024)
- 100
- Average grant
- $1,113
- Median grant
- $213
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (45 of 100, 2024)
- Total assets
- $92,095
- Primary geography
- Maryland (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Quick answers about Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc
How much does Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc give each year?
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc gave $111K across 100 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $175K across 112 grants.
What is Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $213, and its average grant was $1,113, across 100 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc that year got $911 on average.
Where does Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc give grants?
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (18%) and New Jersey (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (27 grants), Baltimore, MD (17 grants), Lakewood, NJ (10 grants) and Pikesville, MD (6 grants).
Does Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 100 grants with a stated purpose on Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (37 grants), "Charity" (31 grants) and "Religious" (30 grants).
Who are Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Bhoh- Bais Haknesses Ohr Hachaim ($26,000), Talmudical Academy ($15,875) and Agudath Israel of Greenspring ($10,865), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Is Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 45 of 100 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $911; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $400 repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$92K
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$111K
-36.5% YoY
Grant Count
100
-10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-28.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on Jewish organizations and Jewish education. Additional funding interests include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with particular emphasis on organizations in the Jewish community.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$213–$500 (varies by reporting year)
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily makes grants to organizations in New York, Maryland, and New Jersey, with a concentration in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 100 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $92,095
- Total Revenue: $104,622
- Total Expenses: $111,250
- Total Giving: $111,250
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total Assets: $99,000
- Total Giving: $154,000–$175,000
The foundation's giving rate exceeds its asset base annually, indicating it distributes more than its investment returns in most years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $92,095 | $98,723 | $1,929 |
| Revenue | $104,622 | $272,158 | $130,223 |
| Expenses | $111,250 | $175,364 | $145,041 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $111,250 | $175,323 | $145,082 |
| Net Investment Income | $7 | — | $2 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,699 | $2,479 | $460 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
553 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BHOH- BAIS HAKNESSES OHR HACHAIM Baltimore, MD | RELIGIOUS | $26,000 |
| TALMUDICAL ACADEMY Baltimore, MD | EDUCATION | $15,875 |
| AGUDATH ISRAEL OF GREENSPRING Baltimore, MD | RELIGIOUS | $10,865 |
| AGUDATH ISRAEL CHARITY FUND Baltimore, MD | CHARITY | $5,838 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF KOIDENOV INC Baltimore, MD | RELIGOUS | $5,430 |
| MOADIM B'SIMCHA Lakewood, NJ | CHARITY | $4,398 |
| THE CHESED FUND Lincolnwood, IL | CHARITY | $3,448 |
| MOSDOS BOTOSHAM Brooklyn, NY | RELIGIOUS | $2,500 |
| KUPAT TZEDAKA OF BEITAR | CHARITY | $2,500 |
| TIFERES YAAKOV Lakewood, NJ | RELIGIOUS | $2,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Zvi Guttman – Director (unpaid position, 0 hours per week compensation reported)
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc is led by Zvi Guttman, Director on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Zvi Guttman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 32308, Baltimore, MD 21282-2308
Phone: 410-580-0500
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on Jewish organizations and Jewish education. Additional funding interests include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with particular emphasis on organizations in the Jewish community.
How do I apply for a grant from Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc?
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's EIN?
Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2135417. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gemsy Zay Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.