Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.0M
+7.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$372K
-10.7% YoY
Grant Count
20
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $112K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's official purpose is identified as making gifts, grants, or loans to other organizations. Primary funding interests include:
- Theater arts
- Community service
- Educational institutions
- Art museums
Grantmaking
The foundation made 24 grants in 2023, with total giving of $416,290. Recent grantees have included:
Review Cycle
are provided by the foundation; interested organizations are advised to approach the foundation directly for more information.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Washington, DC area and has supported institutions nationally, including universities and cultural organizations across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of the most recent 2023 tax filing:
- Total assets: $1,868,933
- Total revenues: $508,584
- Total expenses: $440,841
- Total giving: $416,290
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,014,980 | $1,868,933 | $2,234,554 |
| Revenue | $552,454 | $508,584 | $298,340 |
| Expenses | $395,430 | $440,841 | $178,910 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $371,603 | $423,547 | $173,020 |
| Net Investment Income | $128,627 | $91,290 | $89,974 |
| Distributable Amount | $112,140 | $99,749 | $101,400 |
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
114 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alzheimer's Drug Discover ($93,399), ADAS Israel Congregation ($50,176), University of Pennsylvania ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Drug Discover New York, NJ | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $93,399 |
| ADAS Israel Congregation Washington, DC | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $50,176 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University New York, NY | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $15,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $45,000 |
| Brem Foundation Prince Frederick, MD | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $4,500 |
| Children's Hospital Found Richmond, VA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $12,500 |
| Human Rights Campaign Washington, DC | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $26,000 |
| Washington Hebrew Congregation Washington, DC | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $12,528 |
| Georgetown Day School Washington, DC | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $20,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Group Homes Rockville, MD | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Major donors associated with the foundation include Melvin Gelman, Estelle Gelman, Elise Lefkowitz, and Elaine Miller.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elise Lefkowitz | Co-Director | — | — |
| Elaine Miller | Co-Director | — | — |
Contact Information
Telephone: 202-872-9070
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation fund?
The foundation's official purpose is identified as making gifts, grants, or loans to other organizations. Primary funding interests include: • Theater arts • Community service • Educational institutions • Art museums
How do I apply for a grant from Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation?
The foundation made 24 grants in 2023, with total giving of $416,290. Recent grantees have included: • University of Pennsylvania ($60,000 in 2023) • Adas Israel Hebrew Congregation ($31,117 in 2023) • The Washington Ballet ($23,000 in 2023) The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. No confirmed application deadlines are provided by the foundation; interested organizations are advised to approach the foundation directly for more information.
Where does Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Washington, DC area and has supported institutions nationally, including universities and cultural organizations across the United States.
What size grants does Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation award?
In 2024, Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $372K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $112K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation's EIN?
Melvin & Estelle Gelman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6042344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Melvin & Estelle Gelman 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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