Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation
The Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 and based in New York City. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking with a focus on Jewish education and support for Israel.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.9M
-7.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-51.3% YoY
Grant Count
54
-6.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-47.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $904K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to inspiring passion for Jewish education and strengthening the security and vibrancy of the State of Israel. To build strong support for Israel, the foundation advances initiatives that educate and engage opinion leaders to become effective advocates of Israel and research issues impacting the Jewish community.
The foundation pursues these goals by fostering strategic partnerships, collaboration, and ongoing communication with other foundations, organizations, and individuals to leverage opportunities for cooperation and change.
Primary funding areas include:
- Jewish education and causes
- Israel-related initiatives
- Education and youth programs
- Jewish community organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
approximately $49,000
Average Grant
approximately $49,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- District of Columbia
- California
- Florida
These three states account for approximately 72% of all grants. The foundation also supports initiatives in international locations, including Jerusalem.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $18.3 million
- Annual revenue: $2.17 million
- Annual expenses: $4.46 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Asset Trends: Total assets have decreased from $27.9 million in 2011 to $16.9 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,878,879 | $18,294,719 | $16,397,301 |
| Revenue | $1,999,513 | $2,167,474 | $3,555,670 |
| Expenses | $3,388,320 | $4,455,645 | $2,139,329 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,768,053 | $4,179,570 | $1,700,643 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,589,452 | $1,921,909 | $2,616,234 |
| Distributable Amount | $903,555 | $786,388 | $983,864 |
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
232 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Israel Education Foundation ($262,240), Uja Federation of New York ($200,000), Greater Miami Federation ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A WIDER BRIDGE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION | $262,240 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY | $25,000 |
| AVENTURA TURNBERRY JEWISH CENTER AVENTURA, FL | RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION | $2,875 |
| BROTHERS FOR LIFE SEATTLE, WA | PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR INJURED IDF SOLDIERS | $1,000 |
| CENTER FOR ISRAEL EDUCATION ATLANTA, GA | EDUCATION | $40,000 |
| CENTER FOR PEACE COMMUNICATIONS BROOKLYN, NY | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| CL CENTER NURSERY SCHOOL NEW ROCHELLE, NY | EDUCATION | $2,500 |
| COMMENTARY MAGAZINE NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND MEDIA | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers:
- Michael Leffell – Officer (5 hours per week, uncompensated)
- Lisa Leffell – Officer (5 hours per week, uncompensated)
- Stacey Popovsky – Manager (40 hours per week)
Background on Michael Leffell: Michael Leffell holds a B.A. from Clark University (1981) and a J.D. from Columbia Law School (1984). He was previously a litigation associate at the New York law firm Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler and served as deputy executive managing member at Davidson Kempner Capital Management. He founded Portage Advisors in 2010.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL LEFFELL | OFFICER | 5 | — |
| LISA LEFFELL | OFFICER | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 10 E 53rd Street, Floor 18 New York City, NY 10022-5285
Phone: 646-532-2445
EIN: 31-6633021
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since January 2000
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to inspiring passion for Jewish education and strengthening the security and vibrancy of the State of Israel. To build strong support for Israel, the foundation advances initiatives that educate and engage opinion leaders to become effective advocates of Israel and research issues impacting the Jewish community. The foundation pursues these goals by fostering strategic partnerships, collaboration, and ongoing communication with other foundations, organizations, and i…
How do I apply for a grant from Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $1.4 million • Average grant size: approximately $49,000 • Median grant size: approximately $15,000–$20,000 • The foundation has made 238 grants totaling $11.6 million across its history • The foundation has supported 94 unique organizations **Recent Activity:** • Annual giving has grown from $1.7 million in 2020 to $3.9 million in 2023 • Total distributions in 2023 were $4.2 million • The foundation makes contributions to pre…
Where does Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • District of Columbia • California • Florida These three states account for approximately 72% of all grants. The foundation also supports initiatives in international locations, including Jerusalem.
What size grants does Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation award?
In 2024, Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $904K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation's EIN?
Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6633021. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Reich Family Charitable Trust
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$689K
Grants
1
Total Given
$453K
Launa Beuhler Foundation for
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$2K
Grants
4
Total Given
$20K
The Hilary Grace Foundation Inc
EAST AMHERST, NY
Assets
$126K
Grants
2
Total Given
$36K
Uw E J Madden Mem Open Hearts Club 10-214880
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$307K
Hindy's Foundation
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$142K
Grants
8
Total Given
$225K
Jeanne & Thomas Hardy Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Lisa & Michael Leffell 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
Go from researching Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation to a real strategy.