Sylk Charitable Trust
Sylk Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Merion Station, Pennsylvania. Its 2023 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including educational, civic, research, religious, and arts-related recipients.
Sylk Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Sylk Charitable Trust gave $59K across 17 grants in 2023 (avg $3K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 47% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $59,450
- -3.8% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 17
- +88.9% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $3,497
- -49.1% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $238,572
- -17.2% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (8 of 17, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (68% 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 Sylk Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 350 N Highland Avenue, Merion Station, PA 19066
Phone: (610) 747-1111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sylk Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Lycoming College ($20K). Together the top 10 received $57K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 51 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 19% to recipients in New Jersey, and 13% to recipients in New York. The filing also reports 0% for Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sylk Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 8 of 17 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 29% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 543% of 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 $42K (2020) to $62K (2022). In 2023 it made 17 grants totaling $59K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lycoming College Williamsport, PA | Educational | $20,000 |
| Hainesport Township Hainesport, NJ | CIVIC | $10,800 |
| Childrens Crisis Treatment Ctr Philadelphia, PA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Phila Orchestra New York, NY | CIVIC | $5,000 |
| University of Pa Cancer Ctr Philadelphia, PA | Research | $5,000 |
| HAR Zion Temple Penn Valley, PA | Religious | $4,000 |
| Pa Academy of Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Bull Stone House Cambell Hall, NY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Maguire Art Museum Philadelphia, PA | Religious | $1,000 |
| Woodmere Art Museum Philadelphia, PA | Charitable | $1,000 |
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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 | $238,572 | $11,825 | $61,343 | $59,450 | 17 | $60,291 | $3,581 | — |
| 2022 | $288,091 | $-7,021 | $63,598 | $61,825 | 9 | $62,667 | $2,207 | $11,546 |
| 2021 | $358,710 | $27,436 | $61,176 | $59,400 | 9 | $60,242 | $2,314 | $13,884 |
| 2020 | $392,450 | $27,620 | $44,881 | $42,300 | 16 | — | $1,983 | $13,594 |
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 a college, a children’s crisis treatment center, a cancer research center, a temple, and arts and civic organizations. Lycoming College describes its mission as providing a distinguished baccalaureate education in the liberal arts and sciences in a coeducational, supportive, residential setting. Woodmere Art Museum describes its mission as inspiring creativity, learning, and self-expression through experiences with the art and artists of Philadelphia and the region.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the trust awarded 17 grants totaling $59,450. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $20,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards included $20,000 to Lycoming College, $10,800 to Hainesport Township, and $5,000 each to Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leonard A. Sylk was listed as Foundation Manager on the 2023 filing.
Sylk Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Leonard A. Sylk, Foundation Manager on every filing since 2020 (uncompensated).
Officers on the 2023 filing
Leonard A. Sylk
Foundation Manager
On filings since 2020
3 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 Sylk Charitable Trust
How much does Sylk Charitable Trust give each year?
Sylk Charitable Trust gave $59K across 17 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $62K across 9 grants.
What is Sylk Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Sylk Charitable Trust's median grant in 2023 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,497, across 17 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sylk Charitable Trust that year got $3K on average.
Where does Sylk Charitable Trust give grants?
Sylk Charitable Trust gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Jersey (19%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (7 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Sylk Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Sylk Charitable Trust's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (6 grants), "Educational" (4 grants) and "Civic" (4 grants).
Who are Sylk Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Sylk Charitable Trust's largest 2023 grantees include Lycoming College ($20,000), Hainesport Township ($10,800) and Childrens Crisis Treatment Ctr ($5,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is Sylk Charitable Trust?
Sylk Charitable Trust reported $239K in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $12K.
What does Sylk Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for a college, a children’s crisis treatment center, a cancer research center, a temple, and arts and civic organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sylk Charitable Trust?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sylk Charitable Trust's EIN?
Sylk Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7809130. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does Sylk 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 2020–2023
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