Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah is a private foundation based in Orange Village, Ohio. It supports work advancing “Living Torah”—the use of Jewish wisdom to enrich people’s lives and help create a better world—and its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including Jewish learning and community, civic engagement, and social justice.
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah at a glance
In short: Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah gave $3.0M across 50 grants in 2024 (avg $60K), top state Ohio. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,986,000
- +16.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,720
- +28.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $32,500
- Total assets
- $14,187,924
- -15.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (6 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Organizations may submit an informal introductory email to the foundation’s information address. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Infolippmankanferorg
Mailing address: 23 Park Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (330) 255-6200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fidelity Charitable ($750K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 224 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (38%) and New York (27%), followed by Nevada (8%), California (6%), and the District of Columbia (5%). The listed grants also include recipients in other states, such as Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 50 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $201K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $88K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 63% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 392% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2018–2024). 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 2018 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2018) to $3.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 50 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable Orange Village, OH | Contribution to Donor-Advised Fund | $750,000 |
| A More Perfect Union Henderson, NV | General | $225,000 |
| Brooklyn Org Brooklyn, NY | General | $200,000 |
| Judaism Unbound Cincinnati, OH | General | $125,000 |
| Honeymoon Israel Atlanta, GA | General | $100,000 |
| Shalom Hartman Institute of NA New York, NY | General | $100,000 |
| Mechon Hadar New York, NY | General | $68,000 |
| At the Well Washington, DC | General | $50,000 |
| Ayin Press Brooklyn, NY | General | $50,000 |
| Beloved Orange Village, OH | General | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,187,924 | $2,037,185 | $4,632,179 | $2,986,000 | 50 | $2,986,000 | $1,862,287 | $761,555 |
| 2023 | $16,814,779 | $1,407,328 | $3,902,238 | $2,559,100 | 55 | $2,516,100 | $1,300,450 | $910,629 |
| 2022 | $19,273,328 | $1,955,469 | $3,061,484 | $2,034,500 | 41 | $2,043,765 | $1,870,239 | $1,097,533 |
| 2021 | $20,513,225 | $2,516,117 | $3,401,536 | $1,830,500 | 41 | $1,831,245 | $2,422,573 | $1,270,230 |
| 2020 | $21,504,881 | $4,200,114 | $3,128,227 | $1,497,971 | 37 | — | $2,588,750 | $1,264,127 |
| 2018 | $22,932,989 | $1,931,475 | $2,709,755 | $1,441,524 | 27 | — | $1,829,001 | $1,325,086 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah reported a distributable amount of $762K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated approach centers on helping Jews and fellow travelers apply Jewish wisdom to thrive and shape a better world. Its grants provide examples of the kinds of organizations it supports. The Jewish Studio Project describes its work as building a movement to activate the creative power of the Jewish community. SVARA says it empowers queer and trans people to shape new forms of Torah and tradition through Talmud study. American Jewish World Service describes its work as advancing human rights and ending poverty, inspired by the Jewish commitment to justice. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 50 grants totaling $2,986,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $750,000, with a median of $32,500.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $750,000 to Fidelity Charitable for a contribution to a donor-advised fund, $225,000 to A More Perfect Union, $200,000 to Brooklyn Org, and $125,000 to Judaism Unbound. The foundation also awarded $100,000 each to Honeymoon Israel and Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.
Other 2024 grants included $50,000 each to The One America Movement, The Jewish Studio Project, and SVARA. The One America Movement describes its work as supporting faith leaders and communities to build a more united society by eliminating toxic polarization. The Jewish Studio Project and SVARA describe their missions in the Mission & Focus Areas section.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mamie Kanfer Stewart as director and chair, and Joseph Kanfer, Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, and Joshua Rolnick as directors.
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah is led by Mamie Kanfer Stewart, Director & Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2018); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mamie Kanfer Stewart
Director & Chair
Director & Secretary → Director, 2020
Director → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2018
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Kanfer
Director
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Rolnick
Director
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcella Kanfer Rolnick
Director
Director & Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Aaron Dorfman (2018–2022) — President
- Former: Jp English (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Valerie Rosenberg (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Michael Moran (2018) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
How much does Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah give each year?
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah gave $3.0M across 50 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 55 grants.
What is Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's typical grant size?
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's median grant in 2024 was $32,500, and its average grant was $59,720, across 50 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah that year got $201K on average.
Where does Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah give grants?
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's top state is Ohio, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (27%) and Nevada (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (12 grants), Orange Village, OH (7 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's largest grantees?
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's largest 2024 grantees include Fidelity Charitable ($750,000), A More Perfect Union ($225,000) and Brooklyn Org ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah?
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah reported $14.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $762K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah fund?
The foundation’s stated approach centers on helping Jews and fellow travelers apply Jewish wisdom to thrive and shape a better world. Its grants provide examples of the kinds of organizations it supports. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's EIN?
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1811101. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Does Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS November 15, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2024
Live grants for the work Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lippman-kanfer-foundation-for-living-torah-morg_189d5c19039e4ff1b6288f45b2bc65f4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461811101_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lippman-kanfer-foundation-for-living-torah-morg_189d5c19039e4ff1b6288f45b2bc65f4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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