Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation
The Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Oakland, California. Also known as the Left Tilt Fund, it is a family foundation established in Florida in 1998 and has been tax-exempt since May 1998. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization supporting advocacy and community-based work aligned with progressive social change.
Key facts about Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation
- EIN
- 65-6263327
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,673,864
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $92,992
- Median grant
- $40,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (9 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,804,680
- Primary geography
- California (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's 18 itemized 2024 grants were California (62%), District of Columbia (11%) and Arizona (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Berkeley, CA (2 grants). 56% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 18 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $132K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 100% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 575% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation
- How to evaluate Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
-32.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+70.3% YoY
Grant Count
18
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
+108.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $323K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote social change, resist oppression, and empower marginalized communities. The foundation supports organizations that address the root causes of economic, political, and social injustice through community-based organizing, education, legal advocacy, and other innovative means.
Primary funding interests include:
- Economic equality
- Civil liberties
- Prisoners' rights
- Labor issues
- Racial justice
- Homelessness
- Environmental issues
- The arts
- International work pertaining to Palestine, the Middle East, and Latin America
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$20,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds work in California, the District of Columbia, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on international work related to Palestine, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 18 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $4,126,510
- Total revenues: $33,666
- Total expenses: $1,226,337
- Number of employees: 1
- Giving rate: 23.8% of assets
Earlier Data (2024 filing):
- Total assets: $2,804,680
- Total giving: $1,673,864
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,804,680 | $4,126,510 | $5,319,181 |
| Revenue | $586,854 | $33,666 | $34,964 |
| Expenses | $1,908,684 | $1,226,337 | $1,466,357 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,855,404 | $1,165,644 | $1,413,391 |
| Net Investment Income | $534,724 | $45,479 | $53,760 |
| Distributable Amount | $322,686 | $349,197 | $390,833 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
80 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Global Exchange ($685,000), California Trade Justice Coalition Co Earth Island Institute ($150,000), Mi Familia Vota Ed Fund ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GLOBAL EXCHANGE San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT AND SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS | $685,000 |
| CALIFORNIA TRADE JUSTICE COALITION CO EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE Berkeley, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR TRADE JUSTICE EDUCATION | $150,000 |
| MI FAMILIA VOTA ED FUND Phoenix, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR MVF NON-PARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION AND REGISTRATATION PROGRAMS | $150,000 |
| WORKING AMERICA EDUCATION FUND Washington, DC | SUPPORT FOR NON-PARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION | $125,000 |
| NATIVE ORGANIZER ALLIANCE Seattle, WA | SUPPORT FOR NON-PARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION | $125,000 |
| SOCIAL FOCUS Redwood City, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| FUNDACION DERECHOS ECONOMICOS SOCIALES Y CULTURALES PARA AMERICA LATINA | SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY PROJECTS IN GUATEMALA | $50,000 |
| CENTRO DE ESTUDIO PARA LA DEMOCRACIA - CESPAD | SUPPORT FOR MISSION TO EXPAND AND SOLIDIFY DEMOCRACY IN HONDURAS | $40,000 |
| MIDDLE EAST CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE Berkeley, CA | SUPPORT FOR FOOD AID AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN GAZA | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Scott Handleman — Trustee
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Handleman | Trustee | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 3610, Oakland, CA 94609-0610
Phone: 510-227-8620
EIN: 65-6263327
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote social change, resist oppression, and empower marginalized communities. The foundation supports organizations that address the root causes of economic, political, and social injustice through community-based organizing, education, legal advocacy, and other innovative means. Primary funding interests include: • Economic equality • Civil liberties • Prisoners' rights • Labor issues • Racial justice • Homelessness • Environmental issues • The arts • Internati…
How do I apply for a grant from Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds work in California, the District of Columbia, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on international work related to Palestine, the Middle East, and Latin America.
What size grants does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $323K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6263327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.