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.
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)
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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
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 |
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Yeshiva Schools ($180,000), Friends of United Hatzalah ($100,000), Classrooms Without Borders ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALEPH INSTITUTE PITTSBURGH, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $13,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL TEANECK, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BETH EL CONGREGATION PITTSBURGH, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $1,615 |
| BNEI EMUNAH CHABAD PITTSBURGH, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $24,123 |
| CAMP GAN ISRAEL BNEI EMUNAH CHABAD PITTSBURGH, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $20,000 |
| CAMP GAN ISRAEL CHABAD OF SQUIRREL HILL PITTSBURGH, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $15,000 |
| CHABAD OF MONROEVILLE MONROEVILLE, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $7,890 |
| CHABAD OF PSU STATE COLLEGE, PA | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE | $7,500 |
| CHABAD OF SQUIRREL HILL PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,602 |
| 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)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA KATCH | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| MICHAEL KATCH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
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…
Where does Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation makes grants nationally, with documented giving in California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois, as well as Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
What size grants does Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust awarded 33 grants totaling $577K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Herman & Helen Lipsitz Charitable Trust'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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