Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation
The Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Oakland, California. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working on international partnerships, voter education and registration, trade justice education, democracy, research and advocacy, and humanitarian relief.
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation gave $1.7M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $93K), mostly in California. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,673,864
- +70.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $92,992
- +108.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $2,804,680
- -32.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (8 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3610, Oakland, CA 94609
Phone: (510) 227-8620
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Global Exchange ($685K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 80 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as California 62%, District of Columbia 11%, Arizona 9%, Washington 7%, and an unspecified state category 7%. The grant purposes also included support for projects in Guatemala, Honduras, and Gaza.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 18 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $134K. How we count
Medians: $32K first-time, $53K 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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $762K (2020) to $1.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,804,680 | $586,854 | $1,908,684 | $1,673,864 | 18 | $1,855,404 | $534,724 | $322,686 |
| 2023 | $4,126,510 | $33,666 | $1,226,337 | $983,000 | 22 | $1,165,644 | $45,479 | $349,197 |
| 2022 | $5,319,181 | $34,964 | $1,466,357 | $1,252,200 | 21 | $1,413,391 | $53,760 | $390,833 |
| 2021 | $6,750,574 | $223,662 | $987,056 | $836,550 | 9 | $914,358 | $1,090,016 | $463,294 |
| 2020 | $7,513,968 | $224,396 | $820,627 | $761,727 | 10 | — | $128,273 | $434,779 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for charitable organizations whose work includes public education, advocacy, democracy, and humanitarian aid. For example, Global Exchange says its goal is to increase global awareness and move the U.S. public to action while building international and domestic partnerships. Working America Education Fund says it educates the public about issues important to working families. The Middle East Children's Alliance says it works for the rights and well-being of children in the Middle East and sends aid to Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $1,673,864. Grants ranged from $864 to $685,000, with a median of $40,000. Among the largest were $685,000 to Global Exchange for general support and support for international partners; $150,000 to California Trade Justice Coalition c/o Earth Island Institute for trade justice education; $150,000 to Mi Familia Vota Education Fund for nonpartisan voter education and registration; and $125,000 each to Working America Education Fund and Native Organizers Alliance for nonpartisan voter education and registration.
Other notable 2024 grants included $70,000 to Social Focus for general support, $50,000 to Fundación Derechos Económicos Sociales y Culturales para América Latina for research and advocacy projects in Guatemala, $40,000 to Centro de Estudio para la Democracia for work to expand and solidify democracy in Honduras, and $40,000 to Middle East Children's Alliance for food aid and humanitarian relief in Gaza.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Scott Handleman is listed as a trustee.
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation is led by Scott Handleman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Scott Handleman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation
How much does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation give each year?
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation gave $1.7M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $983K across 22 grants.
What is Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $92,992, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation give grants?
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were 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).
Does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Global Exchange ($685,000), California Trade Justice Coalition Co Earth Island Institute ($150,000) and Mi Familia Vota Ed Fund ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation?
Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $323K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for charitable organizations whose work includes public education, advocacy, democracy, and humanitarian aid. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lynn-handleman-charitable-foundation-morg_7ea6d31c77244bd79fabe9878ae7892f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_656263327_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lynn-handleman-charitable-foundation-morg_7ea6d31c77244bd79fabe9878ae7892f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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