Perlow Family Foundation
The Perlow Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its 2023 filing is marked as a final return and states that the foundation liquidated all its assets during that tax year and distributed them to qualified public charities; it therefore appears to have wound down.
Perlow Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Perlow Family Foundation gave $149K across 18 grants in 2023 (avg $8K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 6% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $148,552
- -34.6% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 18
- -28.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $8,253
- -9.2% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 18, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (79% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Perlow Family Foundation
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Rodney Fink Esq
Mailing address: The Grant Building 310 Grant Street, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 623-8250
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Perlow Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh ($40K). Together the top 10 received $135K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 92 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing says grants are made primarily to organizations benefiting western Pennsylvania. In 2023, 79% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients, 10% to Massachusetts, 9% to New York, and 1% each to recipients in Maryland and a state listed as “?”.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Perlow Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 1 of 18 grantees (6%) 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 $2K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 94% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $149K (2023) to $268K (2021). In 2023 it made 18 grants totaling $149K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | General | $40,000 |
| Classrooms Without Borders Pittsburgh, PA | General | $18,000 |
| Via Art Fund Inc Boston, MA | General | $15,000 |
| Kollel Pittsburgh, PA | General | $13,500 |
| Community Day School Pittsburgh, PA | General | $12,000 |
| Friendship Circle Pittsburgh, PA | General | $12,000 |
| Congregation Beth Shalom Pittsburgh, PA | General | $9,152 |
| Art 21 New York, NY | General | $5,000 |
| Moving Traditions Jenkintown, PA | General | $5,000 |
| Shaare Torah Congregation Pittsburgh, PA | General | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $16,033 | $177,639 | $148,552 | 18 | $148,552 | — | $6,428 |
| 2022 | $161,590 | $14,349 | $233,625 | $227,211 | 25 | $227,211 | $9,885 | $14,709 |
| 2021 | $380,864 | $-13,131 | $277,028 | $268,286 | 28 | $268,286 | $398 | $27,215 |
| 2020 | $670,109 | $10,656 | $216,294 | $206,366 | 21 | — | $2,645 | $36,171 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Perlow Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2023 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for Jewish organizations, education, and arts organizations. For example, Community Day School describes its mission as educating students to become proud Jews, confident leaders, and accomplished learners; Moving Traditions says it emboldens Jewish youth through personal wellbeing, caring relationships, and a Jewish and feminist vision of equity and justice. Aperture Foundation describes its work as promoting appreciation of photography and visual arts through publications and an art gallery.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $148,552. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $40,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest grants included $40,000 to United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, $18,000 to Classrooms Without Borders, $15,000 to VIA Art Fund, $13,500 to Kollel, and $12,000 each to Community Day School and Friendship Circle. These grants were listed with a general purpose.
The 2023 filing says grant requests from section 501(c)(3) organizations should be made in writing to Rodney Fink, Esq. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Because the filing is marked final and says the assets were liquidated in 2023, these instructions should not be treated as current.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Charles S. Perlow and Lori Perlow as directors and vice presidents, and Rodney W. Fink as secretary and treasurer.
Perlow Family Foundation's 2023 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Charles S. Perlow
Director & V.p.
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Perlow
Director & V.p.
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rodney W. Fink
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "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 Perlow Family Foundation
How much does Perlow Family Foundation give each year?
Perlow Family Foundation gave $149K across 18 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $227K across 25 grants.
What is Perlow Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Perlow Family Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,253, across 18 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Perlow Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Perlow Family Foundation give grants?
Perlow Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (10%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (8 grants) and New York, NY (5 grants).
Does Perlow Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Perlow Family Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Perlow Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Perlow Family Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh ($40,000), Classrooms Without Borders ($18,000) and Via Art Fund Inc ($15,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Perlow Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for Jewish organizations, education, and arts organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Perlow Family Foundation?
Perlow Family Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
How much is Perlow Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Perlow Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Perlow Family Foundation's EIN?
Perlow Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2894160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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 2020–2023
Live grants for the work Perlow Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Perlow Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Perlow Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?