Lippes Family Charitable Foundation
The Lippes Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Buffalo, New York. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a focus on supporting nonprofit organizations through grants and charitable contributions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$546K
-16.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$177K
+70.7% YoY
Grant Count
16
+45.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+17.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lippes Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Health Care
- Arts and cultural organizations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$46,780 (largest grant on record)
Average Grant
$46,780 (largest grant on record)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Florida, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023):
- Total Assets: $655,614
- Total Revenues: $61,931
- Total Expenses: $116,663
- Investment Income and Dividends: $18,292
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $43,639
Staff: 0 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $545,620 | $655,614 | $710,795 |
| Revenue | $84,799 | $61,931 | $35,800 |
| Expenses | $194,793 | $116,663 | $182,511 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $176,606 | $103,480 | $178,476 |
| Net Investment Income | $76,114 | $54,559 | $32,314 |
| Distributable Amount | $30,720 | $34,940 | $36,746 |
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
106 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Artis Naples ($45,000), Gulfshore Playhouse ($35,000), The Whitney Museum ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTIS NAPLES NAPLES, FL | CHARTIABLE | $45,000 |
| BUFFALO AKG ART MUSEUM BUFFALO, NY | CHARTIABLE | $8,500 |
| MOMA NEW YORK, NY | CHARTIABLE | $1,500 |
| NAPLES BOTANICAL NAPLES, FL | CHARTIABLE | $6,666 |
| NAPLES ZOO NAPLES, FL | CHARTIABLE | $12,500 |
| ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION BUFFALO, NY | CHARTIABLE | $10,000 |
| TEMPLE BETH ZION BUFFALO, NY | CHARTIABLE | $1,500 |
| THE MET NEW YORK, NY | CHARTIABLE | $1,500 |
| THE WHITNEY MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | CHARTIABLE | $20,000 |
| UB FOUNDATION BUFFALO, NY | CHARTIABLE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Gerald S. Lippes - Associated with the foundation's leadership and serves as senior counsel with the law firm Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP. He serves on the boards of directors of Artis-Naples, Hamister Group of Companies, Inc., and City Mattress, Inc., and is a Life Trustee/Director of Buffalo Fine Arts Academy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GERALD S LIPPES | CHAIRMAN | 10 | — |
| TRACY G LIPPES | VICE PRES/SEC | 1 | — |
| ADAM S LIPPES | VICE PRES | 1 | — |
| DAVID F LIPPES | VICE PRES | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1700, Buffalo, NY 14202-2216
Telephone: 716-853-5100
EIN: 22-3019880
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lippes Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Health Care • Arts and cultural organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Lippes Family Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 27 grants in 2023 • Grant amounts range from $50 to $46,780 • Average grant size: $46,780 (largest grant on record) **Recent Grants (2023):** • Artis-Naples: $46,780 • Whitney Museum of American Art: $15,000 • Naples Zoo: $12,500 **Total Giving:** $176,606 (most recent reporting period)
Where does Lippes Family Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Florida, and Washington.
What size grants does Lippes Family Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Lippes Family Charitable Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $177K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lippes Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lippes Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lippes Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Lippes Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3019880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lippes Family Charitable Foundation'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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