Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation
The Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Van Nuys, California. Established in 1994, the foundation operates as a non-operating foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving in education, human services, and Jewish education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.1M
-1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-1.2% YoY
Grant Count
8
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$151K
+48.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Jewish Education
The Lainer family is recognized for its philanthropic, intellectual, and cultural endeavors benefitting Jewish life through Jewish education initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Grant Range
$17,000 to $553,000
Average Grant
amount: $142,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- California
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
These three states account for 89% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 6 states total, with additional funding in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $18,094,839
- Annual Income: $3.3 million
- Total Giving (most recent filing): $1,210,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,094,839 | $18,295,973 | $18,370,959 |
| Revenue | $1,317,870 | $1,469,849 | $1,254,832 |
| Expenses | $1,509,071 | $1,554,768 | $1,650,031 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,210,000 | $1,225,000 | $1,328,333 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,038,960 | $1,161,181 | $445,529 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,353,042 | $1,206,534 | $1,227,256 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hillel Council at Ucla ($400,000), Los Angeles Family Housing ($250,000), Builders of Jewish Education ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUILDERS OF JEWISH EDUCATION LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| HIAS SILVER SPRING, MD | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| HILLEL COUNCIL AT UCLA LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $400,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION COUNCIL LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
| LA JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| LOS ANGELES FAMILY HOUSING NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $250,000 |
| SCHECHTER INSTITUTES INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $40,000 |
| YIDDISH BOOK CENTER AMHERST, MA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK LAINER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| NAHUM LAINER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| LUIS LAINER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to support early childhood Jewish education through its Distinguished Educator Awards program. The 2024 and 2025 award cycles recognized exemplary educators from BJE-affiliated early childhood centers, highlighting the foundation's ongoing commitment to honoring educators who advance Jewish values and traditions in early childhood settings.
The Simha and Sara Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards for Early ChildhoodFrequently Asked Questions
What does Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • **Education** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** • **Jewish Education** The Lainer family is recognized for its philanthropic, intellectual, and cultural endeavors benefitting Jewish life through Jewish education initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants made: $6.4 million across 45 grants (based on available records from 2016-2023) • Individual grant range: $17,000 to $553,000 • Average grant amount: $142,000 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Annual distribution: Between $1.2 million and $2.7 million annually (2020-2023) • Highest grantmaking year: 2022 with $2.7 million distributed across 14 grants **Application Process:** The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and do…
Where does Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • **California** • **Pennsylvania** • **Maryland** These three states account for 89% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 6 states total, with additional funding in Massachusetts.
What size grants does Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $151K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation's EIN?
Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6962300. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation to a real strategy.