Rifkin Family Foundation
The Rifkin Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1986 and based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The foundation operates as a family grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.7M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$540K
-20.3% YoY
Grant Count
30
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-25.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rifkin Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $698K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Education — including support for disadvantaged children and science education
- Children and social services — foster care support, children's health and medical costs, family support services
- Jewish organizations — religious programs and Jewish community institutions
- Health and medical research — including glaucoma research and eating disorder awareness
- Community services — fire and rescue services, grief support for bereaved families
Grantmaking
The foundation operates multiple named grant programs including support for religious organizations, bereaved families, foster children, fire and rescue services, families facing challenges, children's medical costs, and science education for youth.
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Indiana, with particular concentration in the Fort Wayne area. However, grants have been made to organizations outside Indiana, including Boston University.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,717,595
- Total Revenue: $1,007,793
- Total Expenses: $606,941
- Total Giving: $677,150
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11,236,888
- Total Revenue: $5,634,077
- Total Expenses: $716,851
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,717,595 | $11,236,888 | $6,302,795 |
| Revenue | $1,007,793 | $5,634,077 | $205,225 |
| Expenses | $606,941 | $716,851 | $558,430 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $540,016 | $677,150 | $515,004 |
| Net Investment Income | $934,782 | $139,348 | $126,514 |
| Distributable Amount | $698,199 | $378,624 | $385,625 |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Inc ($106,071), Fort Wayne Jewish Federation ($100,000), Trustees of Boston University ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLESSINGS IN A BACK PACK INC FORT WAYNE, IN | ASSISTS IN NUTRITIONALNEEDS FOR CHILDREN | $15,300 |
| CONGREGATION ACHDUTH VESHOLOM FORT WAYNE, IN | RELIGIOUS | $14,910 |
| TEACH OUR CHILDREN FUND INC FORT WAYNE, IN | EDUCATION LEANINGDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN | $25,000 |
| THE LITERACY ALLIANCE INC FORT WAYNE, IN | ACADEMIC SERVICES | $15,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS INC WEST PALM BEACH, FL | PROMOTES POSITIVE BODYIMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM& AWARENESS OF EATING DISORDERS | $106,071 |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | GLAUCOMA RESEARCHFUND | $60,000 |
| CANCER ALLIANCE OF HELP AND HOPE INC PALM BEARCH, FL | ASSIST CANCERPATIENTS | $21,100 |
| FORT WAYNE JEWISH FEDERATION Fort Wayne, IN | RELIGIOUS | $100,000 |
| FORT WAYNE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC FORT WAYNE, IN | EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERPROGRAM | $35,000 |
| FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA INC FORT WAYNE, IN | PROVIDES SUPPORTFOR CONCERTS PROGRAM | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard S. Rifkin — Trustee (0.5 hours per week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD S RIFKIN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 5642 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: 260-432-2233
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rifkin Family Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • **Education** — including support for disadvantaged children and science education • **Children and social services** — foster care support, children's health and medical costs, family support services • **Jewish organizations** — religious programs and Jewish community institutions • **Health and medical research** — including glaucoma research and eating disorder awareness • **Community services** — fire and rescue services, grief support for bereaved fam…
How do I apply for a grant from Rifkin Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 29-37 grants in recent years • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $0 - $250,000 • Giving rate: 7.7% of assets **Recent Grant Examples (2023-2024):** • The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness: $106,071 • Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne: $100,000 • Trustees of Boston University (Glaucoma Research Fund): $60,000 • Teach Our Children Fund Inc.: $15,000 • Science Central: $9,500 **Grant Programs:** The foundation operates multiple named grant programs including s…
Where does Rifkin Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Indiana, with particular concentration in the Fort Wayne area. However, grants have been made to organizations outside Indiana, including Boston University.
What size grants does Rifkin Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Rifkin Family Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $540K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rifkin Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rifkin Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $698K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rifkin Family Foundation's EIN?
Rifkin Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1192429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rifkin Family 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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