Lissy Family Foundation
The Lissy Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Needham, Massachusetts, established in 2014. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions as a grantmaking foundation with a focus on education and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$812K
-13.6% YoY
Grant Count
27
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+5.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on making higher education and other educational opportunities more accessible. According to the founders, "We believe strongly in the power of education to transform lives, and we created the Lissy Family Foundation, in part, based on our desire to make higher education and other educational opportunities more accessible."
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- STEM Education
- Science Education
Grantmaking
Notable grants made in 2023 include:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of 2023):
- Total assets: $4,053,002
- Total giving: $939,878
- Annual expenses: $955,813
- Giving rate: 23.1% of assets
Revenue (2023):
- Total grants and contributions received: $3,011,940
- Investment income and dividends: $64,422
Financial Trend: The foundation experienced significant growth in 2023, with total grants and contributions increasing 1,671.7% compared to 2022 ($170,000 in 2022).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
148 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ithaca University ($250,000), Jumpstart for Young Children ($200,000), Alzheimer's Association ($166,916).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION WALTHAM, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $166,916 |
| BOSTON MARATHON JIMMY FUND WALK BOSTON, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $250 |
| BRIGHT HORIZONS FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN NEWTON, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPY BOSTON, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| ITHACA UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| JOG YOUR MEMORY NEEDHAM, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $104 |
| JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN BOSTON, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| NEEDHAM STEPS UP NEEDHAM, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $103 |
| PAN MASS CHALLENGE NEEDHAM, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,531 |
| SALT LICK INCUBATOR INC BELMONT, MA | FOR OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by two trustees:
- David Lissy (Trustee) — Parent of an Elon University student (Class of 2024)
- Suzanne Lissy (Trustee) — Parent of an Elon University student (Class of 2024)
Both trustees serve on a voluntary basis with no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID LISSY | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| SUZANNE LISSY | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In November 2022, the Lissy Family Foundation made a generous gift to Elon University to endow the Lissy Family Elon Engagement Scholarship. The scholarship supports promising incoming students who embody Elon's values and are eager to benefit from the university's engaged learning programs. The gift was made as part of the Elon LEADS Campaign, which concluded December 31, 2022.
Lissy Family Foundation endows Elon Engagement Scholarship with generousThe Elon Engagement Scholarships funded by this gift provide one-time grants for students to participate in Elon's signature programs, including global study, internships, undergraduate research, service learning, and leadership development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lissy Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on making higher education and other educational opportunities more accessible. According to the founders, "We believe strongly in the power of education to transform lives, and we created the Lissy Family Foundation, in part, based on our desire to make higher education and other educational opportunities more accessible." Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • STEM Education • Science Educa…
How do I apply for a grant from Lissy Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $50–$356,113 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Grant type: Primarily operating support **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable grants made in 2023 include: • University Church of Christ of Ithaca: $356,113 (operating support) • Jumpstart for Young Children: $200,000 (operating support) • Salt Lick Incubator: $75,000 (operating support) The foundation made 16 grants in 2023 totaling approximately $935,000. **Application Process:** The foundation operat…
Where does Lissy Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina.
What size grants does Lissy Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Lissy Family Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $812K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Lissy Family Foundation's EIN?
Lissy Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5181325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lissy Family 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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