The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Pacific Palisades, California, that files Form 990-PF. Its 2025 filing lists 12 grants totaling $27,000 to charitable organizations and individual recipients, including grants for scholarship support, anti-hate work, film and media arts, reproductive health, and services addressing homelessness and domestic violence.
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation gave $27K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in California. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $27,000
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,250
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,250
- Total assets
- $524,956
- +2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 669 Haverford Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Phone: (310) 454-9931
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Anti Defamation League ($3K). Together the top 10 received $23K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 62 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (61%), New York (11%), Alabama (11%), Washington, DC (9%), and Wisconsin (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2020) to $36K (2021). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $27K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Defamation League New York, NY | General support for anti-hate organization in mission "to stop the defamation of the jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all." | $3,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | General support: fight hate and bigotry and seek justice through litigation, education and advocacy | $3,000 |
| Vidiots Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General support - preserve, grow, and provide access to diverse and rare film library, showcase emerging and master artists, and producing unique film events and vital education programs. | $3,000 |
| WRRAP Los Angeles, CA | Operations of Clinics | $3,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General support: improve health, increase education rates, provide career skills, and create food businesses. | $2,500 |
| Newh Inc Shawano, WI | General support: scholarships, education & leadership for networking resource for hospitality industry | $2,000 |
| The Royal Way Lucerne Valley, CA | General support - annual fund for operating costs & scholarships | $2,000 |
| Beit T'shuvah Los Angeles, CA | General support of a healing community of jewish spirituality, 12 step recovery & psychotherapy | $1,500 |
| Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, CA | General support:provide convenient and affordable access to a comprehensive range of quality reproductive health care and sexual health information through patient services education and advocacy. | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $524,956 | $51,508 | $37,260 | $27,000 | 12 | $28,650 | $44,480 | $25,274 |
| 2024 | $510,708 | $59,339 | $34,685 | $24,000 | 11 | $27,288 | $52,521 | $24,209 |
| 2023 | $486,054 | $10,755 | $35,729 | $27,000 | 12 | $27,000 | $5,195 | $23,758 |
| 2022 | $511,028 | $-75,998 | $41,236 | $30,000 | 12 | $30,000 | $1,493 | $28,556 |
| 2021 | $624,662 | $88,964 | $46,650 | $36,000 | 15 | $36,000 | $81,203 | $29,465 |
| 2020 | $583,548 | $89,171 | $27,766 | $20,000 | 11 | — | $82,295 | $27,193 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support for organizations working in areas such as racial justice, anti-hate advocacy, film and media arts, food relief, recovery, reproductive health, and homelessness services, as well as scholarship support.
Among its grantees, the Southern Poverty Law Center describes its mission as advancing racial justice and human rights and working to dismantle white supremacy. Vidiots Foundation describes itself as a community hub for film and media arts, including preserving a collection of more than 50,000 rare and classic titles. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Beit T’Shuvah describes its work as bringing psychological and spiritual healing to people and families affected by addiction and other destructive behaviors. The People Concern says it works to address homelessness, poverty, illness, abuse, and addiction.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $27,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,000, with a median grant of $2,250.
Notable 2025 grants included $3,000 each to the Anti-Defamation League, an individual recipient for a scholarship fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Vidiots Foundation, and WRRAP. Other grants included $2,500 to World Central Kitchen; $2,000 each to NEWH Inc. and The Royal Way; and $1,500 each to Beit T’Shuvah, Planned Parenthood, and KCRW. The People Concern received $1,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas Polinger as president, Patricia Cohen as treasurer, and Sari Polinger as secretary.
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation is led by Thomas Polinger, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas Polinger
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Cohen
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sari Polinger
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation
How much does The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation gave $27K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $24K across 11 grants.
What is The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,250, and its average grant was $2,250, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (11%) and Alabama (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (5 grants).
Does The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Anti Defamation League ($3,000), Southern Poverty Law Center ($3,000) and Vidiots Foundation ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation?
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation reported $525K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $29K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support for organizations working in areas such as racial justice, anti-hate advocacy, film and media arts, food relief, recovery, reproductive health, and homelessness services, as well as scholarship support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4057529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Polinger-Cohen Charitable 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
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