Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation

OAKLAND, CA EIN: 65-6263327

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.

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

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

10states
+2 more states

Cities

AtlantaBerkeleyBronxDurhamIndianapolisNew YorkOaklandPhoenixPittsburghRedwood CitySalemSan FranciscoSeattleTucsonWashingtonWatsonville

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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$525K$1M$2M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$418K$837K$1M$2M10 grants20209 grants202121 grants202222 grants202318 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

GLOBAL EXCHANGE$685KCALIFORNIA TRADE JUSTICE…$150KMI FAMILIA VOTA ED FUND$150KWORKING AMERICA EDUCATIO…$125KNATIVE ORGANIZER ALLIANCE$125KSOCIAL FOCUS$70KALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL AND …$55KFUNDACION DERECHOS ECONO…$50KCENTRO DE ESTUDIO PARA L…$40KMIDDLE EAST CHILDREN'S A…$40K

Grant Size Distribution

80 grants across all recorded years

43<$50K19$50–100K14$100–250K3$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Global Exchange ($685,000), California Trade Justice Coalition Co Earth Island Institute ($150,000), Mi Familia Vota Ed Fund ($150,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE SAN FRANCISCO, CAGENERAL SUPPORT$55,000
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD SF BAY AREA SAN FRANCISCO, CAEDUCATION ADVOCACY$30,000
GLOBAL EXCHANGE SAN FRANCISCO, CAGENERAL SUPPORT AND SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS$685,000
CALIFORNIA TRADE JUSTICE COALITION CO EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE BERKELEY, CAGENERAL SUPPORT FOR TRADE JUSTICE EDUCATION$150,000
LATIN AMERICA WORKING GROUP WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$35,000
JOHN F TINKER FOUNDATION SALEM, WIGENERAL SUPPORT FOR OPENING MINDS TO PEACE IN PALESTINE PROJECT$15,000
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
CENTER FOR ECONOMIC AND POLICY RESEARCH WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT FOR MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS$20,000
NISGUA DURHAM, NCGENERAL SUPPORT TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN GUATEMALA$20,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Scott Handleman — Trustee

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
SCOTT HANDLEMANTRUSTEE5

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?

**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $983,000–$1,673,864 (varies by fiscal year) • Number of grants: 22 grants annually (2023 data) • Median grant size: $20,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$340,000 • Typical awards: $864–$685,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Global Exchange: $340,000 and $191,000 • Trade Justice Education Fund: $50,000

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.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

What could you do with Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities

Go from researching Lynn Handleman Charitable Foundation to a real strategy.

Plan your approach