The Kestenbaum Family Foundation
The Kestenbaum Family Foundation is a private foundation based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Established in February 2009, the foundation operates with limited staffing and focuses on making grants to preselected charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$317K
-28.1% YoY
Grant Count
18
-10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-20.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kestenbaum Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $217K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general support of charitable activities. Its grantmaking has focused on education, human services, and philanthropic activities, with particular emphasis on Jewish organizations and cultural institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds.
Grant Range
$1,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary activity in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Notable funded cities include Philadelphia, New York, and Pittsburgh. The foundation also has funded organizations in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year 2024):
- Total assets: $4,044,615
- Total revenues: $498,128
- Total expenses: $343,223
- Total giving: $316,601
Staffing: The foundation operates with no paid employees, relying on its volunteer directors.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,044,615 | $3,884,427 | $4,263,737 |
| Revenue | $498,128 | $102,420 | $-53,705 |
| Expenses | $343,223 | $469,505 | $464,932 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $317,489 | $443,518 | $427,064 |
| Net Investment Income | $472,394 | $84,411 | $66,315 |
| Distributable Amount | $217,005 | $215,657 | $233,869 |
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
94 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia ($250,000), National Museum of American Jewish History ($25,785), Har Zion Temple ($20,750).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE JAFFA INSTITUTE BERGENFIELD, NJ | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $180 |
| CHILDREN'S CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,250 |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| EMILY'S ENTOURAGE BALA CYNWYD, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $2,500 |
| FREIRE CHARTER SCHOOL FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $500 |
| HAR ZION TEMPLE PENN VALLEY, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $20,750 |
| ISRAEL TENNIS CENTERS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $250,000 |
| LIVE LIKE BLAINE FOUNDATION BALA CYNWYD, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $500 |
| MANN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Joseph Kestenbaum – Director (1 hour per week, no compensation)
- Sharon Tobin Kestenbaum – Director (1 hour per week, no compensation)
Joseph Kestenbaum is a private investor and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in finance. He serves as president and chief executive officer of ELB Capital Management and Marsh Hawk Capital Management.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH KESTENBAUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHARON TOBIN KESTENBAUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kestenbaum Family Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds general support of charitable activities. Its grantmaking has focused on education, human services, and philanthropic activities, with particular emphasis on Jewish organizations and cultural institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from The Kestenbaum Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 18 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Median grant size: $1,000 • Grant range: $36 to $250,000 • Total giving: $316,601 (fiscal year 2024) **Notable Recent Grants:** • Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: $250,000 • Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: $25,785 • Har Zion Temple: $20,750 **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applica…
Where does The Kestenbaum Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple states, with primary activity in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Notable funded cities include Philadelphia, New York, and Pittsburgh. The foundation also has funded organizations in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Florida.
What size grants does The Kestenbaum Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Kestenbaum Family Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $317K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kestenbaum Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kestenbaum Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $217K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kestenbaum Family Foundation's EIN?
The Kestenbaum Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1363714. 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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