The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation
The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation is a private foundation (501(c)(3)) based in Washington, DC. Established in 1988, it operates as a grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting charitable causes through direct grants to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$486K
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$94K
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
61
+56.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-33.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to contribute income solely to charitable organizations. The foundation supports general programs across its grantees, with a demonstrated commitment to Jewish and community-focused organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation supports a range of Jewish and community organizations with grants typically in the $1,000-$5,000 range.
Grant Range
$1,000
Average Grant
$5,400
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Washington, DC and appears to focus its grantmaking on organizations serving the Washington, DC area and national Jewish organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $485,820
- Total Revenues: $91,077
- Total Expenses: $96,913
- Number of Employees: 0
Historical Data:
- Total Assets: $562,200
- Total Giving: $204,400
- Revenue: $17,200
The foundation operates with minimal overhead and relies on investment income and contributions to support its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $485,820 | $473,712 | $562,154 |
| Revenue | $91,077 | $5,220 | $17,229 |
| Expenses | $96,913 | $93,662 | $208,403 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $95,013 | $91,727 | $205,170 |
| Net Investment Income | $89,451 | $7,397 | $16,270 |
| Distributable Amount | $32,408 | $30,934 | $32,820 |
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
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ner Tamid ($10,000), Tufts Univ Hillel ($10,000), B'nai Israel Congregation ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ner Tamid Baltimore, MD | General Programs | $10,000 |
| Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School Washington, DC | General Programs | $1,000 |
| Tikvah Fund New York, NY | General Programs | $1,080 |
| Alliance for Israel Rockville, MD | General Programs | $250 |
| Svivah Inc Washington, DC | General Programs | $360 |
| Chabad Vanderilt Nashville, TN | General Programs | $1,080 |
| Tablet Magazine New York, NY | General Programs | $660 |
| HIAS Silver Spring, MD | General Programs | $500 |
| Mazon Sherman Oaks, CA | General Programs | $1,000 |
| Hadar Institute New York, NY | General Programs | $320 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- M Bruce Lewis, CPA, Esq. – President
- Mark Berch – Vice President
- Wade Zev Lewis – Secretary/Treasurer and Executive Director
Zev Lewis has served as Secretary/Treasurer and Executive Director since January 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from The George Washington University (1978-1982) and brings extensive nonprofit management experience, including fundraising and organizational assessment expertise.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| m bruce lewis | Pres. | 2 | — |
| Sandy Roskes | vp | 1 | — |
| Wade Zev Lewis | Sec. Treas. | 2 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to contribute income solely to charitable organizations. The foundation supports general programs across its grantees, with a demonstrated commitment to Jewish and community-focused organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 21 grants in 2024 • Median grant size: $1,000 • Average grant size: $5,400 • Total giving (historical): $204,400 across 38 grants **Recent Grants (2024):** • Tikvah Fund: $1,080 • Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation's Capital: $1,000 • MAZON A Jewish Response to Hunger: $1,000 The foundation supports a range of Jewish and community organizations with grants typically in the $1,000-$5,000 range.
Where does The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Washington, DC and appears to focus its grantmaking on organizations serving the Washington, DC area and national Jewish organizations.
What size grants does The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation awarded 61 grants totaling $94K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1557778. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The MB Lewis Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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