The Issroff Family Foundation
The Issroff Family Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. It partners with community-based organizations and leaders through programming and relationship-building, with the stated aim of improving outcomes for children and youth.
The Issroff Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Issroff Family Foundation gave $367K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), top state New York. 94% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $366,750
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -23.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,922
- +30.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $7,768,850
- +1.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 94% first-time grantees (15 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Issroff Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 140 Broadway 2110, New York, NY 10005
Phone: (646) 490-9130
Website: https://issroff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Issroff Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Myriad USA ($117K). Together the top 10 received $361K.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 134 grants of 141 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Collaborative Learning Initiative is for organizations working in East and Southern Africa. The foundation says that, since 2021, its partners have spanned eight countries across those regions.
In its 2024 filing, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New York (43%), Florida (30%), Maryland (7%), Virginia (7%), and Washington state (7%). These figures describe the locations of recipients, not a stated geographic eligibility policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Issroff Family Foundation open to new grantees?
94%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 16 grantees (94%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 6% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $367K (2024) to $450K (2022). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $367K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Myriad USA New York, NY | Philanthropic Giving Overseas | $116,750 |
| The New Africa Fund Boca Raton, FL | Economic Development | $110,250 |
| Mama's Hope New York, NY | Educationeconomic Development | $25,800 |
| Charities Aid Foundation Alexandria, VA | Philanthropic Charity Assistance | $25,050 |
| Omprakash Foundation Seattle, WA | Education | $25,050 |
| Globalgiving Washington, DC | Relief Services | $20,300 |
| Community Woman Enterprise College Park, MD | Entrepreneurship | $20,050 |
| Echoing Green New York, NY | Entrepreneurship | $10,000 |
| Roots Africa Inc College Park, MD | Health and Welfare | $5,000 |
| Joyful Heart Foundation Brooklyn, NY | Social Development | $2,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,768,850 | $791,173 | $666,297 | $366,750 | 16 | $556,264 | $681,142 | $558,608 |
| 2023 | $7,643,974 | $608,232 | $635,951 | $368,750 | 21 | $544,779 | $515,549 | $503,147 |
| 2022 | $7,671,693 | $423,492 | $648,842 | $450,000 | 27 | $540,131 | $314,004 | $525,622 |
| 2021 | $7,897,043 | $1,229,285 | $610,547 | $419,350 | 39 | $492,713 | $1,087,853 | $588,088 |
| 2020 | $7,278,325 | $433,360 | $527,615 | $411,000 | 38 | — | $359,283 | $477,810 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Issroff Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $559K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation envisions a world where all children and youth have promising futures in thriving communities. Its work emphasizes leadership development and organizational capacity-strengthening for community-based organizations working through education to improve outcomes for children and youth.
The Collaborative Learning Initiative is a one-year program for founders or leaders of early-stage organizations in East and Southern Africa. It offers professional development in areas including financial management, human resources, board governance, strategic fundraising, leadership wellness, and program strategy. The foundation also offers Board Training, a professional-development opportunity for people seeking to contribute effectively to social-sector boards.
Grantee missions illustrate some of the kinds of organizations it has supported. For example, Echoing Green says it discovers emerging leaders and invests in their ideas; Roots Africa says it works to combat hunger and poverty by connecting U.S. academic institutions and experts with farming communities in Africa; and Joyful Heart Foundation says it works to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $366,750. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $116,750, with a median of $7,500. Its largest reported grants were $116,750 to Myriad USA for philanthropic giving overseas and $110,250 to The New Africa Fund for economic development. Other grants included $25,800 to Mama’s Hope for education and economic development, $25,050 to Charities Aid Foundation for philanthropic charity assistance, and $25,050 to Omprakash Foundation for education.
The foundation’s website describes its partnerships as involving structured programming and intentional relationship-building. Its programs pages provide information about eligibility and recruitment. How to apply: The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Issroff and Lisa Issroff as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Lisa Issroff as co-founder and executive director and David Issroff as co-founder. Its team also includes Gabriele Blecher, associate director; Mwende Muya, program manager; Laura Tsikirayi, associate program manager; Mackenzie Finley, foundation coordinator; and Sandra A. Ochieng, programs associate.
The Issroff Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Issroff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Issroff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Issroff Family Foundation
How much does The Issroff Family Foundation give each year?
The Issroff Family Foundation gave $367K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $369K across 21 grants.
What is The Issroff Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Issroff Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $22,922, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Issroff Family Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does The Issroff Family Foundation give grants?
The Issroff Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (30%) and Maryland (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), College Park, MD (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does The Issroff Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Issroff Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Issroff Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Issroff Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Myriad USA ($116,750), The New Africa Fund ($110,250) and Mama's Hope ($25,800), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Issroff Family Foundation?
The Issroff Family Foundation reported $7.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $556K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $559K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Issroff Family Foundation fund?
The foundation envisions a world where all children and youth have promising futures in thriving communities. Its work emphasizes leadership development and organizational capacity-strengthening for community-based organizations working through education to improve outcomes for children and youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Issroff Family Foundation?
The Issroff Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check issroff.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Issroff Family Foundation's EIN?
The Issroff Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0849175. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Issroff Family Foundation 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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Issroff Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Issroff Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-issroff-family-foundation-morg_9eafe4597ae7418e86713cb105f97c2d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760849175_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Issroff Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-issroff-family-foundation-morg_9eafe4597ae7418e86713cb105f97c2d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Issroff Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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