The Jack Chester Foundation is a private independent foundation established as a trust by Holocaust survivor Jack Chester, activated upon his death in 2001. Based in Orlando, Florida, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization dedicated to perpetuating Jack Chester's philanthropic legacy through support of Jewish institutions and programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.9M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$442K
-12.5% YoY
Grant Count
84
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-12.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Jack Chester Foundation seeks to support high quality and compelling programs in Israel and the U.S. Jewish community, primarily in Miami, through grants to Section 501(c)(3) organizations.
Primary funding areas include:
- Jewish education (formal and informal) and Jewish identity in Miami and Israel
- Social services for vulnerable segments of the Jewish communities of Miami and Israel, including people with disabilities and children at risk
- Israel Experience programs
- Higher education in Israel
- Holocaust education
- Israel education initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. All applications and grant-related inquiries should be mailed to:
Grant Range
$1,000 to $175,000
Average Grant
$6,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Jack Chester Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports programs in Israel and the Jewish community of Miami. Grant recipients have also been located in California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, with international support extending to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,793,687
- Total Revenues: $8,567
- Total Expenses: $680,241
- Total Giving: $505,000
- Investment Income and Dividends: $248,121
- Net Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 6.5% of assets
Historical Context: From 2001 through 2019, the foundation distributed approximately $10 million in grants.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,926,589 | $7,793,687 | $8,441,706 |
| Revenue | $745,925 | $8,567 | $412,890 |
| Expenses | $612,842 | $680,241 | $695,130 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $561,370 | $632,976 | $619,108 |
| Net Investment Income | $700,163 | $198,926 | $373,425 |
| Distributable Amount | $441,944 | $455,026 | $435,063 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Pedro Szwarc – Nephew and business associate of Jack Chester; Trustee (compensation: $36,000)
- Jorge Lerman – Accountant for Jack Chester with his firm Lerman & Lerman, PA; Trustee (compensation: $36,000)
- Norman H. Lipoff – Lawyer for Jack Chester with Greenberg Traurig; Chairman; active participant in the Jewish Community (compensation: $36,000)
Contact:
Norman H. Lipoff, Chairman
333 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 4400
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: (305) 579-0503
Fax: (305) 961-5503
Email: lipoffn@gtlaw.com
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEDRO SZWARC | TRUSTEE | 1 | $36,000 |
| JORGE LERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $36,000 |
| NORMAN H LIPOFF | TRUSTEE | 1 | $36,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Virgil P Warren Fdn Tr Ua
ORLANDO, FL
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
14
Total Given
$96K
The Fritch Foundation
FT LAUDERDALE, FL
Assets
—
Grants
17
Total Given
$167K
Leiman Asterisk Foundation Inc
DELRAY BEACH, FL
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
2
Total Given
$62K
Rachel Memorial Foundation
SANTA RSA BCH, FL
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$10K
My Brother'ssister's Keeper Charitable
ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL
Assets
$462K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
The Shore Lane Family Foundation Inc
BOCA GRANDE, FL
Assets
$335
Grants
20
Total Given
$430K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Jack Chester Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities