Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation
The Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1984 and based in Iselin, New Jersey. The foundation operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions within the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+29.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-4.2% YoY
Grant Count
32
-27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+31.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $165K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports general charitable purposes with a primary emphasis on:
- Education
- Health
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded.
Grant Range
approximately $129
Average Grant
approximately $129
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states, including:
California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $3,476,054
- Total Revenue: $1,046,559
- Total Expenses: $1,294,503
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Expense Ratio: 123.7% of total revenue
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $1,000,000
- Investment income and dividends: $93,804
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 1984 EIN: 13-3217479
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,505,952 | $3,476,054 | $3,723,998 |
| Revenue | $2,249,730 | $1,046,559 | $394,205 |
| Expenses | $1,289,466 | $1,294,503 | $950,179 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,209,569 | $1,262,374 | $901,598 |
| Net Investment Income | $169,834 | $61,675 | $345,524 |
| Distributable Amount | $165,118 | $165,327 | $208,124 |
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
178 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Clinic Foundation ($600,065), Eisenhower Health Foundation ($350,000), College of the Desert ($71,079).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EYE CARE 4 KIDS MIDVALE, UT | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| WOODLAND STRIDES WOODLAND, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| HAITI CHILDREN CARBONDALE, CO | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| THE SMITH CENTER LAS VEGAS, NV | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $600,065 |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $350,000 |
| MCCALLUM THEATER PALM DESERT, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PUPOSE | $16,776 |
| LAUREN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION LAS VEGAS, NV | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| CARE USA ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $150 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS JERSEY CITY, NJ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gerald Wendel - Trustee (serves without compensation)
- David Dorfman - Trustee (serves without compensation)
Administrative Contact: Dorfman Mizrach & Thaler LLP 555 Route One South, Suite 300 Iselin, NJ 08830 Telephone: 732-404-1860
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GERALD WENDEL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| DAVID DORFMAN | SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation supports general charitable purposes with a primary emphasis on: • Education • Health • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 33 grants in 2023 • Made 44 grants in 2024 • Average grant size: approximately $129 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Woodland Strides: $50,000 • Haiti Children: $17,500 • The Smith Center for the Performing Arts: $10,000 **Total Annual Giving:** • 2023: $1,294,503 in expenses • 2024: $1.3 million in grants awarded The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded.
Where does Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states, including: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and others.
What size grants does Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation award?
In 2024, Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $165K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3217479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lisa Wendel Memorial 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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