Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust
The Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust is a private foundation established around 1972 in Pennsylvania. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, the trust operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust
In short: Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust gave $577K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 25-6134327
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $576,660
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $17,475
- Median grant
- $6,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (5 of 33, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,645,168
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Quick answers about Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust
How much does Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust give each year?
Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust gave $577K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $676K across 36 grants.
What is Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $6,500, and its average grant was $17,475, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust that year got $8K on average.
Where does Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust give grants?
Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (21 grants), Monroeville, PA (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Religious Community Service" (22 grants) and "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Yeshiva Schools ($180,000), Friends of United Hatzalah ($100,000) and Classrooms Without Borders ($55,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Is Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 33 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 194% of 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 Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust
- How to evaluate Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust 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
$3.6M
-6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$577K
-14.7% YoY
Grant Count
33
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $309K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's primary purpose is to use all income to further its exempt purpose through grantmaking. The foundation focuses on three main areas:
- Religious Community Service — Supporting religious organizations and community service initiatives
- Education — Funding educational programs, particularly K-12 schools and youth education
- General Support — Providing general operating support to eligible organizations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$200–$220,000
Average Grant
amount: $8,772–$39,375 (varies by program area)
Ready to take the next step with Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes grants nationally, with documented giving in California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois, as well as Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 33 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total assets: $3,645,168
- Total revenue: $418,767
- Total expenses: $607,609
- Total giving: $576,660
Prior Year (2023):
- Total assets: $3,897,712
- Total revenue: $449,171
- Total expenses: $708,199
- Total giving: $700,833
Giving Rate: 17.4%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,645,168 | $3,897,712 | $4,142,567 |
| Revenue | $418,767 | $449,171 | $241,635 |
| Expenses | $607,609 | $708,199 | $609,134 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $598,858 | $700,833 | $602,832 |
| Net Investment Income | $282,088 | $181,796 | $186,698 |
| Distributable Amount | $309,345 | $291,836 | $300,140 |
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
157 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YESHIVA SCHOOLS Pittsburgh, PA | EDUCATION | $180,000 |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS Pittsburgh, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| LUBAVITCH CENTER Pittsburgh, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $31,557 |
| BNEI EMUNAH CHABAD Pittsburgh, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $24,123 |
| CAMP GAN ISRAEL BNEI EMUNAH CHABAD Pittsburgh, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $20,000 |
| OHR CHADASH Denver, CO | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| CAMP GAN ISRAEL CHABAD OF SQUIRREL HILL Pittsburgh, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $15,000 |
| ALEPH INSTITUTE Pittsburgh, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $13,000 |
| CHABAD OF THE SOUTH HILLS Pittsburgh, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $12,097 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Barbara Katch — Trustee (20 hours/week)
- Michael Katch — Trustee (1 hour/week)
Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara Katch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Katch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Contact Information
Address: 1900 Murray Ave Ste 203, Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1657
Phone: 412-521-5859
EIN: 25-6134327
Tax-Exempt Status: July 1972
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust fund?
The trust's primary purpose is to use all income to further its exempt purpose through grantmaking. The foundation focuses on three main areas: • **Religious Community Service** — Supporting religious organizations and community service initiatives • **Education** — Funding educational programs, particularly K-12 schools and youth education • **General Support** — Providing general operating support to eligible organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $576,660–$700,833 (recent fiscal years) • Typical grant range: $200–$220,000 • Median grant amount: $29,804 • Average grant amount: $8,772–$39,375 (varies by program area) • Number of grants awarded: 28–54 annually **Grant Programs:** • Religious Community Service: averaging $8,772 per grant to 26 recipients • General Support: averaging $29,804 per grant to 21 recipients • Education: averaging $39,375 per grant to 7 recipients **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Fr…
How much is Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $309K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's EIN?
Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6134327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.