The Karen and Herbert Lotman
The Karen and Herbert Lotman Foundation is a family foundation based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The foundation was established in 1982 and operates as a private grantmaking organization supporting nonprofit institutions across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$290K
-23.7% YoY
Grant Count
12
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-49.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karen and Herbert Lotman reported a distributable amount of $74K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Medical Research — particularly juvenile diabetes research
- The Arts
- Education
- Jewish Organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking across its priority areas. Recent grant activity includes a $20,000 contribution to the Main Line Art Center in 2024 for arts education programming.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the greater Philadelphia region and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,490,487 | $1,532,985 | $1,688,913 |
| Revenue | $150,330 | $160,390 | $259,699 |
| Expenses | $291,502 | $384,640 | $1,072,469 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $289,986 | $383,202 | $1,071,150 |
| Net Investment Income | $45,859 | $44,327 | $49,096 |
| Distributable Amount | $73,816 | $79,949 | $117,437 |
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
39 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Philly Sereviceawards ($65,000), Jdrf ($60,000), The Philadelphia Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST MARK'S CHIRCH PHILADELPHIA, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| MAIN LINE ART CENTER HAVERFORD, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $20,000 |
| THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| JDRF PHILADELPHIA, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $60,000 |
| SAY NEW YORK, NY | CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| CATERING BY DESIGN PHILADELPHIA, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $13,486 |
| MAIN LINE HEART CENTER WYNNEWOOD, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| THE PHILLY SEREVICEAWARDS BRUN MAWR, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $65,000 |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA NEW YORK, NY | CONTRIBUTION | $250 |
| PHILADELPHIA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PHILADELPHIA, PA | CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN LOTMAN | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| GEORGE GINADER | ASS'T SECRET | — | — |
| JEFFREY LOTMAN | TREASURER | — | — |
| SHELLY LOTMAN FISHER | SECRETARY | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1149 W Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-2722
Telephone: 610-234-0090
EIN: 22-2429821
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Karen and Herbert Lotman fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • **Medical Research** — particularly juvenile diabetes research • **The Arts** • **Education** • **Jewish Organizations**
How do I apply for a grant from The Karen and Herbert Lotman?
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking across its priority areas. Recent grant activity includes a $20,000 contribution to the Main Line Art Center in 2024 for arts education programming. The foundation has also provided comprehensive financial support to specialized research organizations. Notably, the Macula Vision Research Foundation reports that all of its administrative and fundraising expenses are underwritten by the Karen and Herb Lotman Foundation, enabling the research organiza…
Where does The Karen and Herbert Lotman make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with a particular emphasis on the greater Philadelphia region and surrounding areas.
What size grants does The Karen and Herbert Lotman award?
In 2024, The Karen and Herbert Lotman awarded 12 grants totaling $290K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Karen and Herbert Lotman required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Karen and Herbert Lotman reported a distributable amount of $74K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Karen and Herbert Lotman's EIN?
The Karen and Herbert Lotman's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2429821. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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