The Liman Foundation

WEST PALM BEACH, FL EIN: 13-4062758

The Liman Foundation is a private foundation based in West Palm Beach, Florida, established in 2000 as a result of a transfer of assets from the Joe and Emily Lowe Foundation. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.6M

+30.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$131K

-34.6% YoY

Grant Count

23

-4.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

-31.7% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides giving primarily for:

  • The arts
  • Education
  • Legal services
  • Medical research
  • The environment
  • Jewish philanthropy

The foundation primarily funds operating support for its grantees.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

s and Activity:**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

  • Florida
  • New York
  • Massachusetts

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AtlantaBronxBurlingtonCambridgeChicagoChilmarkEtnaLake WorthLong Island CityMiamiMiami BeachNew HavenNew YorkPalm BeachPalm Beach GardensPhiladelphiaPrincetonProvidenceSan FranciscoSanta Monica

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year 2024:

  • Total assets: $1,615,585
  • Total giving: $131,000
  • Total revenues: $538,712
  • Total expenses: $163,318
  • Number of employees: 0

Revenue Breakdown (2024):

  • Total grants and contributions: $492,912
  • Investment income and dividends: $58,414
  • Net loss from sale of non-inventory assets: -$12,614
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$204K$408K$611K$815K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,615,585$1,240,191$1,646,141
Revenue$538,712$-169,103$48,200
Expenses$163,318$236,847$434,230
Qualifying Distributions$146,508$216,057$405,148
Net Investment Income$510,050$32,643$19,686
Distributable Amount$53,685$66,417$79,778

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$171K$343K$514K$686K34 grants202035 grants202134 grants202224 grants202323 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS$20KBARNARD COLLEGE SUMMER F…$18KYALE LAW SCHOOL$18KCULTURAL COUNCIL OF PALM…$15KBROWN UNIVERSITY$10KTHE JEWISH MUSEUM$10KDREYFOOS SCHOOL FOR THE …$9KPLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS$5KCOUDERT INSTITUTE$4KPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDER…$4K

Grant Size Distribution

150 grants across all recorded years

148<$50K$50–100K$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Ellen F. Liman serves as President of the Liman Foundation. She is a painter, writer, and Palm Beach resident who previously owned the Liman Gallery Palm Beach for 19 years. In New York City, she served as executive director and member of the NYC Advisory Commission for Cultural Affairs, and as its chair (1991-93). She was a founding trustee of the International Center of Photography and is currently a life trustee of the Jewish Museum. Her late husband was Arthur L. Liman.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ELLEN LIMANPRESIDENT, TREASURER15
DOUGLAS LIMANVICE PRESIDENT5
EMILY LIMANVICE PRESIDENT5
LEWIS LIMANSECRETARY5

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2026

The Liman Center at Yale Law School announced its 2026-2027 Fellows in Public Interest Law, indicating ongoing support for legal services and public interest work through the foundation's grantmaking.

Liman Center Announces 2026-2027 Fellows in Public Interest Law | Yale Law

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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