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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jack Chester Foundation reported a distributable amount of $442K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
**
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Miami Jewish Federation ($100,000), Holocaust Memorial Committee ($30,000), Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF BERGENFIELD, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AISH SOUTH FLORIDA HOLLYWOOD, FL | GENERAL OPERATING | $3,000 |
| ALGEMEINER INC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ALYN HOSPITAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT RUTH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BAR-ILAN UNIV NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF FEUERSTEIN INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIVNOT BOCA RATON, FL | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL ELWYN PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jack Chester Foundation fund?
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 …
How do I apply for a grant from Jack Chester Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • From 2001 through 2019, the foundation provided approximately $10 million in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations • In 2023, the foundation made 84 grants totaling $505,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $175,000 • Median grant size: $3,000 • Average grant size: $6,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Greater Miami Jewish Federation: $175,000 (General Operating) • Holocaust Memorial Committee: $30,000 (General Operating) • Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami: $25,000 (G…
Where does Jack Chester Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Jack Chester Foundation award?
In 2024, Jack Chester Foundation awarded 84 grants totaling $442K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jack Chester Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jack Chester Foundation reported a distributable amount of $442K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jack Chester Foundation's EIN?
Jack Chester Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6660664. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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