Lisz Foundation Inc
Lisz Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $82K. Net investment income was $78K.
Lisz Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Lisz Foundation Inc gave $82K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $81,800
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,360
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,300
- Total assets
- $1,553,195
- -0.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Lisz Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cambridge in America ($21K). Together the top 5 received $82K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 28 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Lisz Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $78K (2023) to $83K (2022). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $82K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge in America New York, NY | Szeming SZE Fund | $20,700 |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Szeming SZE Scholarship | $20,400 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Li Ming Scholarship | $20,300 |
| Emma Willard School Troy, NY | L.I.S.Z. Foundation | $10,200 |
| Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | Alice Tong SZE Scholarship | $10,200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,553,195 | $85,782 | $94,382 | $81,800 | 5 | $87,603 | $78,272 | $92,128 |
| 2024 | $1,561,799 | $100,802 | $89,843 | $77,700 | 5 | $83,172 | $94,131 | $88,403 |
| 2023 | $1,550,862 | $58,427 | $91,137 | $77,700 | 6 | $83,218 | $50,594 | $82,024 |
| 2022 | $1,583,995 | $14,350 | $102,020 | $82,600 | 6 | $87,858 | $32,345 | $82,998 |
| 2021 | $1,671,687 | $328,651 | $91,694 | $77,800 | 6 | $83,161 | $320,279 | $88,185 |
| 2020 | $1,434,774 | $55,660 | $91,946 | $80,420 | 6 | — | $45,114 | $78,744 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lisz Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $92K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lisz Foundation Inc is led by Chia-Ming Sze, Chairman on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chia-Ming Sze
Chairman
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maurice Wei
Director
Secretary → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Wei-Haas
Director
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Sze
Secretary & Treasury
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Chia Ming Sze (2020) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Lisz Foundation Inc
How much does Lisz Foundation Inc give each year?
Lisz Foundation Inc gave $82K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $78K across 5 grants.
What is Lisz Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Lisz Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,300, and its average grant was $16,360, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lisz Foundation Inc give grants?
Lisz Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (25%) and Connecticut (25%).
Does Lisz Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Lisz Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Lisz Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Lisz Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cambridge in America ($20,700), University of Pittsburgh ($20,400) and Yale University ($20,300), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lisz Foundation Inc?
Lisz Foundation Inc reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $88K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $92K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Lisz Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lisz Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2401804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
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