The Geist Foundation
The Geist Foundation is a private foundation based in West Orange, New Jersey, established in 1961. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees, providing charitable gifts to operating organizations that provide exempt activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
+12.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$106K
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
14
-26.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+42.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Geist Foundation reported a distributable amount of $100K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas:
- Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
- Religion
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 23 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending September 2024). Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, including California, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. It funds initiatives in various cities including New York and San Francisco, as well as several communities in New Jersey and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,160,320
- Total Revenues: $64,130
- Total Expenses: $151,709
- Annual Grants Awarded: Approximately $101,000 (19 grants in 2024)
As of Previous Reporting Period:
- Total Assets: $1,914,292
- Annual Expenses: $120,886
- Annual Revenue: $49,024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,160,320 | $1,914,292 | $1,818,947 |
| Revenue | $64,130 | $49,024 | $58,694 |
| Expenses | $151,709 | $120,886 | $160,077 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $105,898 | $101,560 | $131,077 |
| Net Investment Income | $18,283 | $31,721 | $34,682 |
| Distributable Amount | $100,083 | $91,490 | $100,016 |
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
93 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jerusalem Fellowships ($35,000), Gemach Zichron Moshe ($30,000), The Center for Responsible Travel ($11,124).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JERUSALEM FELLOWSHIPS AIRMONT, NY | GENERAL GRANT | $35,000 |
| CHABAD AT SHORT HILLS SHORT HILLS, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $2,500 |
| COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER LIVINGSTON, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $1,100 |
| ELKS LODGE NO 1246 - SUMMIT SUMMIT, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $543 |
| NCJW ESSEX LIVINGTON, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $4,558 |
| GEMACH ZICHRON MOSHE PASSAIC, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $30,000 |
| JEWISH FED OF GREATER METROWEST NJ WHIPPANY, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $11,000 |
| JCC METROWEST WEST ORANGE, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $4,500 |
| JEWISH SERVICE FOR DEV DISABLED LIVINGSTON, NJ | GENERAL GRANT | $1,030 |
| CROHNS AND COLITIS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL GRANT | $700 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The board of trustees includes:
- Shari Kaufman
- Laurie Baum
- Jeffrey Bloom
Board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHARI KAUFMAN | Trustee | — | — |
| LAURIE BAUM | Trustee | — | — |
| JEFFREY BLOOM | Trustee | 2 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Geist Foundation fund?
The foundation supports initiatives in the following areas: • Agriculture, fishing, and forestry • Religion • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Geist Foundation?
The foundation made 23 grants in its most recent fiscal year (ending September 2024). Recent grants include: | Grantee | Amount | Year | |---------|--------|------| | Gemach Zichron Moshe | $30,000 | 2024 | | Center for Responsible Travel | $11,124 | 2024 | | Jewish Community Center of MetroWest (JCCMW) | $4,500 | 2024 | The foundation also supports The Jerusalem Fellowship and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ through grant payments.
Where does The Geist Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple states, including California, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. It funds initiatives in various cities including New York and San Francisco, as well as several communities in New Jersey and New York.
What size grants does The Geist Foundation award?
In 2024, The Geist Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $106K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Geist Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Geist Foundation reported a distributable amount of $100K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Geist Foundation's EIN?
The Geist Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6059859. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Geist 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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