The Gershen Family Foundation
The Gershen Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Carlsbad, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $276K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $84K. Net investment income was $4K.
The Gershen Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gershen Family Foundation gave $84K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $84,000
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,000
- +27.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $275,744
- +33.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Gershen Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Guide Dogs for the Blind ($60K). Together the top 3 received $84K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 17 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Gershen Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 303% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $23K (2021) to $88K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Guide Dogs for the Blind San Rafael, CA | To Help the Blind with Guide Dogs | $60,000 |
| UJA-Federation of New York New York, NY | To Help Those in Need | $20,000 |
| Bighorn Golf Club Charities Palm Desert, CA | To Help Those in Need | $4,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $275,744 | $153,761 | $84,319 | $84,000 | 3 | $84,075 | $3,517 | $27,714 |
| 2024 | $206,302 | $153,421 | $88,255 | $88,000 | 4 | $88,025 | $3,191 | $22,402 |
| 2023 | $141,136 | $3,249 | $74,175 | $74,000 | 3 | $74,000 | $3,074 | $19,033 |
| 2022 | $212,062 | $98,042 | $76,775 | $76,600 | 3 | $76,600 | $2,867 | $18,050 |
| 2021 | $190,795 | $32,822 | $22,710 | $22,500 | 4 | $22,500 | $2,612 | $17,373 |
| 2020 | $180,683 | $2,712 | $40,175 | $40,000 | 4 | — | $2,537 | $15,462 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gershen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Gershen Family Foundation is led by William M. Gershen, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William M. Gershen
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Herbert P. Sydney
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael Harrison
CFO & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Debra Gershen (2020) — Sectrea & T'ee · Filing note: Resigned 8102020
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 The Gershen Family Foundation
How much does The Gershen Family Foundation give each year?
The Gershen Family Foundation gave $84K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $88K across 4 grants.
What is The Gershen Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gershen Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $28,000, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gershen Family Foundation give grants?
The Gershen Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (24%).
Does The Gershen Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Gershen Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is The Gershen Family Foundation?
The Gershen Family Foundation reported $276K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $84K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Gershen Family Foundation's EIN?
The Gershen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0867311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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