Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation
The Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation is a private foundation based in Forest Hills, New York. Established by Harry Fischel on January 4, 1932, it was created to perpetuate his name through philanthropic activity in the field in which he had spent much of his life.
Key facts about Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation
In short: Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation gave $524K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), top state New York. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-5677832
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $523,511
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $47,592
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2024)
- Total assets
- $19,853,586
- Primary geography
- New York (9% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. 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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.9M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$524K
-32.7% YoY
Grant Count
11
-56.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+53.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $947K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $73K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 66% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says Harry Fischel made sacrifices to intensify and revive Orthodox Judaism. Its recent activities and grants include support for Torah learning, Jewish education and outreach, religious publications, and community services.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. Yeshiva University describes itself as providing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and postdoctoral education and training, along with research and clinical programs. Jewish Soul says it provides Jewish educational programs, including webinars and in-person seminars and events. Hakshiva says it provides educational and socio-psychological direction and assistance to teens and parents. Yeshiva Har Torah describes itself as a religious school teaching Jewish faith, history, literature, life, and ideals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $523,511. Grants ranged from $500 to $461,461, with a median of $2,000. The largest grant was $461,461 to Harry Fischel Institute for a general contribution. Other notable grants included $26,250 to Yeshiva University, $11,500 to The Golden Network, $9,900 to Jewish Soul, and $7,500 to Hakshiva, each for a general contribution.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to recipients in New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts, as well as a recipient whose state is not identified in the available grant information. The reported distribution of grant dollars was 88% to the unidentified state, 9% to New York, 2% to Maryland, and 0% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $524K (2024) to $1.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $524K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harry Fischel Institute ($461K). Together the top 10 received $523K.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 95 (91%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Fischel Institute | General Contribution | $461,461 |
| Yeshiva University New York, NY | General Contribution | $26,250 |
| The Golden Network Silver Spring, MD | General Contribution | $11,500 |
| Jewish Soul Bethel, NY | General Contribution | $9,900 |
| Hakshiva Inc Cedarhurst, NY | General Contribution | $7,500 |
| Young Israel of Holliswood Holliswood, NY | General Contribution | $2,000 |
| American Friends of Hatzolah Beit Shemesh Brooklyn, NY | General Contribution | $1,500 |
| KEW Gardens Synagogue KEW Gardens, NY | General Contribution | $1,000 |
| Camera Boston, MA | General Contribution | $1,000 |
| Yeshiva HAR Torah Queens, NY | General Contribution | $900 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,853,586 | $1,841,188 | $1,887,826 | $523,511 | 11 |
| 2023 | $19,434,459 | $1,849,834 | $2,163,555 | $777,713 | 25 |
| 2022 | $19,019,175 | $1,550,205 | $2,247,136 | $1,085,419 | 23 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,853,586 | $19,434,459 | $19,019,175 |
| Revenue | $1,841,188 | $1,849,834 | $1,550,205 |
| Expenses | $1,887,826 | $2,163,555 | $2,247,136 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $621,462 | $878,693 | $1,264,736 |
| Net Investment Income | $616,743 | $786,269 | $709,201 |
| Distributable Amount | $946,793 | $967,594 | $973,130 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Seth M. Goldstein as president and director; Rabbi Aaron Reichel as board secretary and director; Rabbi Hillel Reichel as first vice-president and director; and Chaim Stepelman as second vice-president and director. Other directors listed are Deborah Stepelman, Jonathan Kraus, Avishai Kraus, David S. Locker, Stuart Shor, and Donald Moses.
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation is led by Seth M. Goldstein, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Seth M. Goldstein
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rabbi Hillel Reichel
Board Secretary Director, 1st Vice President & Director
Board Secretary Director A, 1st Vice President & Director → Board Secretary Director, 1st Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $42K (2024)
Avishai Kraus
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chaim Stepelman
2nd Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David S. Locker
Director
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Stepelman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Moses
Director
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Kraus
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Shor
Director
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yitzchak Dov Bronner
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Davis
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $42K, to Rabbi Aaron Reichel (Board Secretary Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 102-09 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375
Phone: (212) 599-2828
Website: https://fischelfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation
How much does Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation give each year?
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation gave $524K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $778K across 25 grants.
What is Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's typical grant size?
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $47,592, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation give grants?
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's top state is New York, with 9% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Does Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's largest grantees?
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Harry Fischel Institute ($461,461), Yeshiva University ($26,250) and The Golden Network ($11,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation?
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation reported $19.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $621K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $947K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says Harry Fischel made sacrifices to intensify and revive Orthodox Judaism. Its recent activities and grants include support for Torah learning, Jewish education and outreach, religious publications, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's EIN?
Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5677832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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