The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its 2024 grants went primarily to Jewish community, educational, and cultural organizations, as well as organizations supporting individuals with special needs and families.
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation gave $124K across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $123,750
- +28.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +18.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,257
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $17,869
- +126.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Arizona (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 15 Biltmore Estates Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85050
Phone: (602) 274-7955
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Phoenix Hebrew Academy ($25K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 149 grants of 149 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Arizona recipients received 79% of grant dollars. California recipients received 9%, New York 8%, North Carolina 2%, and the District of Columbia 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation gives
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $11K (2020) to $132K (2021). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $124K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Hebrew Academy Phoenix, AZ | To Support the Needs of Students and Community. | $25,000 |
| Gesher Disability Resources Scottsdale, AZ | To support individuals with special needs and their families in the jewish community. | $13,000 |
| CJP- Center for Jewish Philanthropy Scottsdale, AZ | B'nai tzedek youth philanthropy program, and pj library program. | $8,000 |
| Arizona Jewish Historical Society Phoenix, AZ | To support preservation of the rich heritage of Arizona's jewish communities. | $5,000 |
| Chabad of Coronado Coronado, CA | Create a strong jewish community for the coronado jewish community. | $5,000 |
| Chabad of Mesa Phoenix, AZ | To Support Programs of the Jewish Care Network. | $5,000 |
| Hillel at ASU Tempe, AZ | To support the enrichment of the lives of jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the jewish people, israel and the world. | $5,000 |
| Jewish National Fund New York, NY | To help create a brighter future for the people and land of israel. | $5,000 |
| Phoenix Children's Foundation Phoenix, AZ | To Provide Lifesaving Care to Kids. | $5,000 |
| Yeshiva High School Phoenix, AZ | To Inspire Students with Enthusiasm for Torah Life. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,869 | $143,000 | $135,366 | $123,750 | 38 | $135,366 | $1,035 |
| 2023 | $7,887 | $106,700 | $107,319 | $96,600 | 32 | $107,319 | $5,360 |
| 2022 | $3,506 | $128,780 | $128,372 | $112,630 | 42 | $128,372 | $193 |
| 2021 | $3,098 | $147,250 | $144,660 | $131,898 | 35 | $144,660 | $172 |
| 2020 | $508 | $20,707 | $20,712 | $11,000 | 2 | — | $25 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for Jewish education and community programs, Jewish heritage and religious education, services for people with special needs, and women’s resources.
Grantees describe their work in their own terms. Gesher Disability Resources says it supports individuals with special needs and their families in the Jewish community to lead fuller lives. The Arizona Jewish Historical Society says it preserves and celebrates the heritage of Arizona’s Jewish communities and educates the public about Jewish history. The Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics says it raises awareness about Jewish genetic diseases and provides affordable carrier testing. Fresh Start Women’s Foundation says it helps women achieve self-sufficiency and thrive. Valley Beit Midrash describes itself as a pluralistic organization focused on Torah learning, social action, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $123,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $25,000, with a median grant of $2,000.
The largest listed grant was $25,000 to Phoenix Hebrew Academy to support students and the community. Other notable grants included $13,000 to Gesher Disability Resources; $8,000 to CJP–Center for Jewish Philanthropy for its B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy and PJ Library programs; and $5,000 each to the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Chabad of Coronado, Chabad of Mesa, Hillel at ASU, Jewish National Fund, Phoenix Children’s Foundation, and Yeshiva High School. The foundation also awarded $3,000 each to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and the Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sheila Schwartz as president/director, Lesley Schwartz Hammer as director, and Frank L. Schwartz as treasurer, secretary, and director.
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation is led by Sheila Schwartz, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sheila Schwartz
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank L. Schwartz
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lesley Schwartz Hammer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 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 Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation
How much does The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation give each year?
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation gave $124K across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $97K across 32 grants.
What is The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,257, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation give grants?
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (9%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (14 grants), Scottsdale, AZ (7 grants), New York, NY (7 grants) and Coronado, CA (2 grants).
Does The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Phoenix Hebrew Academy ($25,000), Gesher Disability Resources ($13,000) and CJP- Center for Jewish Philanthropy ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation?
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation reported $18K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $135K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for Jewish education and community programs, Jewish heritage and religious education, services for people with special needs, and women’s resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; 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 The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's EIN?
The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0942313. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Jess and Sheila Schwartz 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-jess-and-sheila-schwartz-family-foundation-morg_37aa93832aec44f59709e496ad983ba2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_860942313_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Jess and Sheila Schwartz Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-jess-and-sheila-schwartz-family-foundation-morg_37aa93832aec44f59709e496ad983ba2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Jess and Sheila Schwartz 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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