The Gitlin Family Foundation
The Gitlin Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in March 2008 and granted 501(c)(3) status that year. Based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with approximately $27 million in assets. The foundation distributes roughly $1.5 million annually to charitable organizations, making 39-42 grants per year.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.0M
-0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-3.1% YoY
Grant Count
42
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-10.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gitlin 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 mission is to primarily fund support for:
- Religious education
- Cultural organizations
- Healthcare for sick children
- Teaching clarity in thinking and writing
- Health and youth services
- Jewish organizations and communal life
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a trustee discretion basis and does not maintain a public website or provide general contact information for grant inquiries. The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only, indicating an invitation-only approach to grantmaking.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $200,000+
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Gitlin Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania, with occasional grants to organizations in New York and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $26,964,690
- Total revenues: $1,690,286
- Total expenses: $1,486,005
- Total liabilities: $0
- Annual giving: $1,472,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,964,690 | $26,971,633 | $26,790,337 |
| Revenue | $1,690,286 | $1,039,707 | $-1,592,856 |
| Expenses | $1,486,005 | $1,543,465 | $2,814,418 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,472,000 | $1,519,500 | $2,789,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,432,634 | $1,053,169 | $749,177 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,355,461 | $1,618,706 | $1,519,365 |
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
208 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Thomas Jefferson University Hosp ($200,000), Abington Health Foundation ($100,000), Congregation of Beth or ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1812 PRODUCTIONS PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT OF THE ARTS | $5,000 |
| ABINGTON HEALTH FOUNDATION ABINGTON, PA | SUPPORT ABINGTON HOSPITAL | $100,000 |
| ALS HOPE FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | ALS SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MADEN DAVID NEW YORK, NY | MEDICAL SUPPORT | $57,500 |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D KING OF PRUSSIA, PA | DIABETES RESEARCH | $30,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT OF CHIDREN'S HOSPITAL | $50,000 |
| CONGREGATION OF BETH OR MAPLE GLEN, PA | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| DEBORAH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION TRENTON, NJ | DEBORAH HOSPITAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT INT'L MED PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| EAGLES AUTISM FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | AUTISM RESEARCH | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was founded by Harvey S. Gitlin, a successful businessman who was the founder and chairman of ESD Inc. and chairman of Greenwald Industries (payment systems for the laundry industry). The foundation continues to operate under the leadership of his daughters.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARVEY S GITLIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| AMY E GITLIN | TREASURY/DIR | — | — |
| MICHELLE GITLIN GOLDSTEIN | PRESIDENT/DI | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gitlin Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to primarily fund support for: • Religious education • Cultural organizations • Healthcare for sick children • Teaching clarity in thinking and writing • Health and youth services • Jewish organizations and communal life
How do I apply for a grant from The Gitlin Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.5 million • Number of grants: 39-42 organizations per year • Grant range: $5,000 to $200,000+ • Median grant size: $20,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Thomas Jefferson University Hospital: $200,000 • Abington Health Foundation: $100,000 • Jewish Relief Agency: $100,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a trustee discretion basis and does not maintain a public website or provide general contact information for grant …
Where does The Gitlin Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania, with occasional grants to organizations in New York and New Jersey.
What size grants does The Gitlin Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Gitlin Family Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gitlin Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gitlin 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 The Gitlin Family Foundation's EIN?
The Gitlin Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6645244. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gitlin Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Wolf Creek Operating Foundation
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
Assets
$7.1M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Best Little Cat House in PA
HARRISBURG, PA
Assets
$281K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
LANCASTER, PA
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
35
Total Given
$304K
The Irene P Sorbara Charitable Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
2
Total Given
$131K
Howmet Aerospace Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$141.5M
Grants
209
Total Given
$8.4M
Penn and Lisa Seiple Conservancy
SUNBURY, PA
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Gitlin 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 The Gitlin Family Foundation to a real strategy.