Schlesinger Family Foundation
The Schlesinger Family Foundation is a Portland, Oregon-based private foundation founded in 1981 by Ralph and Bunny Schlesinger. It supports medical research and care, higher education, environmental conservation, and the general welfare of communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Schlesinger Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Schlesinger Family Foundation gave $223K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Oregon. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $222,500
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,833
- +20.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,747,868
- +1.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (6 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Schlesinger Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website asks applicants to send a letter by postal mail detailing their request and how the funds will be used. Its 2025 filing specifies a letter describing the organization and intended use of funds, and identifies Mark Schlesinger as the contact for applications. The filing lists no restrictions on awards. It also states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists application deadlines of March 30, June 29, September 29, and November 30, with applications due by 5:00 PM. It says submissions are considered at the next board meeting: April 20, July 20, October 19, and December 14, respectively. The 2025 filing lists deadlines as N/A.
- Deadline
- The website lists application deadlines of March 30, June 29, September 29, and November 30, with applications due by…
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Schlesinger
Mailing address: 610 Sw Alder Street Suite 1221, Portland, OR 97205
Phone: (503) 223-4129
Website: https://www.schlesingerfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Schlesinger Family Foundation
Who Schlesinger Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ohsu Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $199K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 68 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it aims to enhance Oregon and Southwest Washington. In 2025, 98% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon and 2% to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Schlesinger Family Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 15 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 57% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $142K (2022) to $223K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $223K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ohsu Foundation Portland, OR | Global Program Scholarship | $50,000 |
| James Beard Public Market Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $41,000 |
| Freshwater Trust Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| DPI Housing Inc (Dpihou) Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| North Coast Land Conservancy Inc Seaside, OR | General Operating Support | $12,500 |
| Helping Hands Re-Entry Outreach Centers Seaside, OR | Bybee Lakes Hope Center | $10,000 |
| Oregon Parks Forever Portland, OR | Endowment Fund | $10,000 |
| Friends of Tryon Creek (Fritry) Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Oregon Ballet Theatre (Orebal) Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Solve (Solve) Portland, OR | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Schlesinger Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,747,868 | $308,822 | $258,603 | $222,500 | 15 | $242,394 | $265,762 | $232,159 |
| 2024 | $4,697,649 | $354,023 | $243,265 | $210,000 | 17 | $231,758 | $303,407 | $226,790 |
| 2023 | $4,586,059 | $-196,176 | $267,152 | $215,000 | 16 | $237,901 | $129,281 | $217,924 |
| 2022 | $5,069,406 | $576,586 | $212,995 | $142,000 | 11 | $168,921 | $476,077 | $220,021 |
| 2021 | $4,705,815 | $506,272 | $223,650 | $182,666 | 9 | $188,309 | $419,103 | $245,645 |
| 2020 | $4,423,193 | $89,632 | $218,710 | $182,584 | 8 | — | $63,820 | $224,375 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Schlesinger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $232K for 2025 — 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 foundation states that its purpose is to enhance Oregon and Southwest Washington through support for medical research and care, higher education, environmental conservation, and community welfare. Its website also lists endowed scholarships at universities and colleges, including OHSU, the University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Pitzer College.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its giving. North Coast Land Conservancy describes its mission as conserving and protecting land in perpetuity for ecological and cultural values. Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers says it serves people experiencing homelessness through trauma-informed, data-driven, person-centered programs. Oregon Parks Forever describes its work as raising funds for programs and projects that enhance the experience of using Oregon’s parks and forests.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $222,500. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable awards included $50,000 to OHSU Foundation for a global program scholarship; $41,000 to James Beard Public Market for general operating support; $25,000 to Freshwater Trust for general operating support; and $20,000 to DPI Housing Inc. for general operating support. Other awards included $12,500 to North Coast Land Conservancy, $10,000 each to Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, Oregon Parks Forever, Friends of Tryon Creek, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and SOLVE, and $5,000 each to College Possible Oregon and the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mark R. Schlesinger as president and board member; Paul R. Schlesinger as vice president and board member; Caleb Schlesinger as secretary and board member; and Brand Schlesinger as treasurer and board member. It also lists Amy Schlesinger, Hazel Schlesinger, N. Josh Schlesinger, Max Schlesinger, and David Sterns as board members.
Schlesinger Family Foundation is led by Mark R. Schlesinger, President & Board Member since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark R. Schlesinger
President & Board Member
Secretary & Board Member → President & Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Schlesinger
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brand Schlesinger
Treasurer & Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caleb Schlesinger
Secretary & Board Member
Vice President & Board Member → Secretary & Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hazel Schlesinger
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Max Schlesinger
Board Member
President & Board Member → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
N. Josh Schlesinger
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul R. Schlesinger
Vice President & Board Member
Board Member → Vice President & Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Sterns
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bruce Burns (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Schlesinger Family Foundation
How much does Schlesinger Family Foundation give each year?
Schlesinger Family Foundation gave $223K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $210K across 17 grants.
What is Schlesinger Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Schlesinger Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,833, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Schlesinger Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Schlesinger Family Foundation give grants?
Schlesinger Family Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (12 grants) and Seaside, OR (2 grants).
Does Schlesinger Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of Schlesinger Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Schlesinger Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Schlesinger Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ohsu Foundation ($50,000), James Beard Public Market ($41,000) and Freshwater Trust ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Schlesinger Family Foundation?
Schlesinger Family Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $242K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $232K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Schlesinger Family Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its purpose is to enhance Oregon and Southwest Washington through support for medical research and care, higher education, environmental conservation, and community welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Schlesinger Family Foundation?
The foundation’s website asks applicants to send a letter by postal mail detailing their request and how the funds will be used. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Schlesinger Family Foundation's EIN?
Schlesinger Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-0818169. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Schlesinger Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Schlesinger Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/schlesinger-family-foundation-morg_269e8e2ff1ea45a692ab2de27d982a89
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_930818169_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Schlesinger Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/schlesinger-family-foundation-morg_269e8e2ff1ea45a692ab2de27d982a89},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Schlesinger Family Foundation'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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