Robert Saligman Charitable Trust
The Robert Saligman Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. In 2024, it awarded grants to organizations working in areas including the arts, education, Jewish community services, housing, and homelessness services.
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Robert Saligman Charitable Trust gave $873K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $872,500
- -4.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,625
- -9.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $10,162,878
- +6.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (7 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (74% 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 Robert Saligman Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Isdaner One Bala Plaza Ste 502, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Phone: (610) 668-4200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert Saligman Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia ($195K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $790K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 97 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients, 15% to Utah, 4% each to Ohio and Vermont, and 2% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robert Saligman Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 19 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $56K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $597K (2021) to $915K (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $873K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Film Center Salt Lake City, UT | Matan Ben Moreh's Film Class of 2003 | $135,000 |
| Your Agency Incorporated Philadelphia, PA | Ministry of Awe | $125,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Emergency fund, atidim, israel office, saligman early childhood center | $101,000 |
| Jack M Barrack Hebrew Academy Bryn Mawr, PA | For the Robert Saligman Middle School | $100,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | For Education Associate Position | $94,000 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA | General Funds | $75,000 |
| Fundable Powell, OH | General Funds | $35,000 |
| Jewish Communities of Vermont Burlington, VT | PJ Library of Vermont | $35,000 |
| Project Home Philadelphia, PA | General Funds | $35,000 |
| Jefferson Hospital Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Hansjorg Wyss Wellness Center | $30,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,162,878 | $1,536,598 | $937,830 | $872,500 | 20 | $875,589 | $1,474,357 | $972,032 |
| 2023 | $9,564,110 | $311,562 | $983,230 | $914,500 | 19 | $917,658 | $245,990 | $882,012 |
| 2022 | $10,235,778 | $-111,683 | $1,018,879 | $901,145 | 20 | $910,653 | $139,589 | $916,284 |
| 2021 | $11,366,340 | $1,518,158 | $717,375 | $596,500 | 15 | $603,209 | $1,423,992 | $1,019,837 |
| 2020 | $10,565,557 | $917,601 | $846,601 | $765,667 | 23 | — | $842,808 | $835,688 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Saligman Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $972K 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
The trust’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied charitable activities. For example, Utah Film Center describes its work as using film exhibition, educational programs, and artist support to encourage conversation and community building. Your Agency Incorporated says it supports equitable community arts and provides work for Philadelphia resident artists. Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy describes itself as a pluralistic Jewish day school serving grades six through twelve.
Other 2024 recipients include Project HOME, whose stated mission addresses homelessness and poverty, and Federation Housing, which says it provides affordable housing for low-income seniors. The trust also made grants for purposes including emergency assistance, education, general funds, and arts programming.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust reported 20 grants totaling $872,500. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $135,000, with a median grant of $27,500.
Among the largest grants were $135,000 to Utah Film Center for “Matan Ben Moreh’s Film Class of 2003”; $125,000 to Your Agency Incorporated for “Ministry of Awe”; $101,000 to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia for its emergency fund, Atidim, Israel office, and Saligman Early Childhood Center; and $100,000 to Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy for the Robert Saligman Middle School. Other awards included $75,000 to Philadelphia Museum of Art for general funds, $35,000 to Project HOME for general funds, and $30,000 to Jefferson Hospital Foundation for the Hansjörg Wyss Wellness Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carolyn Saligman, Margaret Saligman, Laury Saligman, and Lynn Saligman as trustees.
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carolyn Saligman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Laury Saligman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Margaret Saligman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lynn Saligman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alice Saligman (2020–2022) — Trustee
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 Robert Saligman Charitable Trust
How much does Robert Saligman Charitable Trust give each year?
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust gave $873K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $915K across 19 grants.
What is Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $27,500, and its average grant was $43,625, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert Saligman Charitable Trust that year got $29K on average.
Where does Robert Saligman Charitable Trust give grants?
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (13 grants) and Wynnewood, PA (2 grants).
Does Robert Saligman Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia ($195,000 across 2 grants), Utah Film Center ($135,000) and Your Agency Incorporated ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robert Saligman Charitable Trust?
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust reported $10.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $876K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $972K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Robert Saligman Charitable Trust fund?
The trust’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert Saligman Charitable Trust?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's EIN?
Robert Saligman Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6875203. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robert Saligman Charitable Trust 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). Robert Saligman Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-saligman-charitable-trust-morg_fcb2ffafca55430cb91f71e9c521316b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236875203_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert Saligman Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-saligman-charitable-trust-morg_fcb2ffafca55430cb91f71e9c521316b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Robert Saligman Charitable Trust'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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