Gorlitz Foundation Ltd
The Gorlitz Foundation (also known as Samuel J Gorlitz Foundation) is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Washington, DC. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with EIN 52-1439097.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$154K
-53.2% YoY
Grant Count
75
-51.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gorlitz Foundation Ltd reported a distributable amount of $131K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for the arts and Jewish organizations. Recent grantmaking has expanded to include support for community health centers in Latin America, international medical aid, nutrition and cooking classes for underserved communities, environmental law and conservation, civil rights advocacy, and animal welfare programs.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in the District of Columbia, California, and New York, with additional support for international work in Latin America.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,301,002 | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $204,911 | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $166,939 | 2024 |
| Total Giving | $154,000 | 2024 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,080,000 | 2023 |
The foundation maintains zero employees and operates as a family foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,301,002 | $2,263,030 | $2,478,157 |
| Revenue | $204,911 | $327,843 | $339,323 |
| Expenses | $166,939 | $352,418 | $130,365 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $154,000 | $329,000 | $94,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $189,450 | $304,425 | $123,307 |
| Distributable Amount | $131,372 | $120,388 | $130,744 |
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
232 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Earthjustice ($6,000), Environmental Defense Fund ($6,000), Partners in Health ($6,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | NATIONAL LEGAL DEFENSE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS & CIVIL RIGHTS | $5,000 |
| ALIGHT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES/DISPLACED PERSONS | $2,000 |
| ALLEY CAT ALLIES BETHESDA, MD | MARYLAND FERAL CAT RESCUE | $1,000 |
| ALLIES IN ARTS LOS ANGELES, CA | TO SUPPORT ARTISTS WHO ARE WOMEN, BIPOC, AND QUEER ALL OF WHOM ARE UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.T | $500 |
| AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST WASHINGTON, DC | FARM LAND PRESEVATION | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE (JDC) NEW YORK, NY | JEWISH REFLIEF AND HUMANITARIAN AID | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE ETNA, NH | INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUGEE AID (ANERA) WASHINGTON, DC | PROVIDE RESOURCES AND AID TO PEOPLE IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES | $2,000 |
| ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS EVERYWHERE | $1,000 |
| BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA RIDGEFIELD, WA | EMPLOY MAASAI RANGERS TO PREVENT BIG GAME POACHING AND SAFEGUARD LAND | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ariel Zuckerman — President (as of 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAULA GORLITZ | VICE PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER T SMITH | TREASURER | 20 | — |
| ARIEL ZUCKERMAN | PRESIDENT | 50 | $8,000 |
| ERIC ZUCKERMAN | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| STEVEN ZUCKERMAN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 20 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gorlitz Foundation Ltd fund?
The foundation gives primarily for the arts and Jewish organizations. Recent grantmaking has expanded to include support for community health centers in Latin America, international medical aid, nutrition and cooking classes for underserved communities, environmental law and conservation, civil rights advocacy, and animal welfare programs.
How do I apply for a grant from Gorlitz Foundation Ltd?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 46 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical grant awards range from $500–$8,000 • Total giving: $154,000 (2024) **Recent Grants (2024):** • Earthjustice: $6,000 (International Environmental Law Group) • ACLU Foundation: $5,000 (National Legal Defense for Vulnerable Populations & Civil Rights) • Friends of the Earth: $5,000 (International Environmental Group Network) • Planned Parenthood Federation of America (among other grantees)
Where does Gorlitz Foundation Ltd make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in the District of Columbia, California, and New York, with additional support for international work in Latin America.
What size grants does Gorlitz Foundation Ltd award?
In 2024, Gorlitz Foundation Ltd awarded 75 grants totaling $154K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gorlitz Foundation Ltd required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gorlitz Foundation Ltd reported a distributable amount of $131K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gorlitz Foundation Ltd's EIN?
Gorlitz Foundation Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1439097. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gorlitz Foundation Ltd'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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