Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation
The Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation is a private foundation based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Its 2023 grants supported organizations working in areas including ALS treatment and research, Jewish faith and education, arts and culture, and community services.
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation at a glance
In short: Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation gave $287K across 17 grants in 2023 (avg $17K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 6% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $287,200
- -32.4% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 17
- -55.3% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $16,894
- +51.0% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $336,459
- -36.8% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 17, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (87% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Contact Ellyn Phillips. No specific form is required. Awards are generally, but not specifically, limited to the Philadelphia area and are for social services and educational purposes.
- Contact
Application contact: Ellyn Phillips
Mailing address: Premier Dental Products, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Phone: (610) 239-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was ALS Association ($157K). Together the top 10 received $275K.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 141 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 12% to recipients in New York, and 1% to recipients in Florida. The foundation’s filing describes awards as generally, but not specifically, limited to the Philadelphia area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 1 of 17 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 82% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 41% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 631% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $287K (2023) to $512K (2021). In 2023 it made 17 grants totaling $287K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALS Association Ambler, PA | To Support ALS Treatment & Research | $157,000 |
| American Friends Hebrew University New York, NY | To support hebrew university of jerusalem continues to be israel's foremost institution of academic excellence and research | $25,000 |
| Germantown Jewish Center Philadelphia, PA | To Support Jewish Faith & Community | $20,000 |
| The Schechter Institutes Inc- Pledge Payment Philadelphia, PA | To Support and Offer Jewish Education | $17,000 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA | To Support Culture, Community, and Arts | $15,000 |
| Philadelphia Orchestra Philadelphia, PA | To Support Performing Arts | $15,000 |
| Rabbinical Assembly Scholarship Fund Henkintown, PA | To Support Jewish Faith & Community | $10,000 |
| Phillies Charities - the ALS Association Ambler, PA | To Support Local Community | $7,000 |
| Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism New York, NY | To Support the Masorti Judaism Faith & Community | $6,000 |
| Israel Guide Dog Warrington, PA | To support care & imrovement of quality of life for blind & visually impaired israelis | $2,700 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $336,459 | $135,099 | $288,814 | $287,200 | 17 | $287,200 | $45,073 | $45,489 |
| 2022 | $532,174 | $185,729 | $586,028 | $425,150 | 38 | $425,150 | $125,716 | $62,745 |
| 2021 | $824,473 | $182,705 | $453,981 | $511,814 | 44 | — | $182,694 | $78,422 |
| 2020 | $1,198,465 | $67,504 | $425,920 | $488,464 | 42 | — | $66,493 | $98,362 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation reported a distributable amount of $45K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for Jewish community and education, the arts, and health-related work. The ALS Association, a 2023 grantee, describes its mission as assisting people with ALS and their families through care and support and supporting research. The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, another 2023 grantee, says it raises funds for scientific research at the Weizmann Institute.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $287,200. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $157,000, with a median of $6,000. The largest awards included $157,000 to the ALS Association for ALS treatment and research; $25,000 to American Friends Hebrew University; $20,000 to Germantown Jewish Center; $17,000 to The Schechter Institutes Inc.; and $15,000 each to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ellyn Phillips — Executive Director
- Gary Charlestein — Secretary/Treasurer
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation is led by Ellyn Phillips, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2023 is compensated.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Ellyn Phillips
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $35K (2023)
Gary Charlestein
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $35K, to Ellyn Phillips (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation
How much does Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation give each year?
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation gave $287K across 17 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $425K across 38 grants.
What is Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's typical grant size?
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $6,000, and its average grant was $16,894, across 17 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation give grants?
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (5 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Ambler, PA (2 grants).
Does Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's largest grantees?
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include ALS Association ($157,000), American Friends Hebrew University ($25,000) and Germantown Jewish Center ($20,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation?
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation reported $336K in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $287K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $45K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for Jewish community and education, the arts, and health-related work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's EIN?
Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2310090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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