The Ravitz Foundation is a private foundation based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, established in 2000 (incorporated in 2001). It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a staff of two employees and functions as an independent grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+5.1% YoY
Grant Count
66
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
+8.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Ravitz Foundation builds on the philanthropic legacy of Edward Ravitz, the son of immigrants and a decorated World War II veteran who experienced virulent anti-Semitism. Guided by Jewish values, the foundation supports causes in Michigan and Israel that strengthen Jewish life, combat anti-Semitism, and alleviate suffering.
Primary funding areas include:
- General support
- Youth mental health awareness
- Youth at-risk programs
- Jewish community strengthening
- Anti-Semitism prevention
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$10,000-$14,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan and Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $40,950,519
- Total revenues: $2,831,084
- Total expenses: $2,912,517
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $41,000,000 (approximately $43 million in some filings)
- Total revenues: $11,700,000
- Total expenses: $2,530,000
- Giving rate: 4.9% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Anti-defamation League ($136,000), Hillel Campus Alliance of Mi ($112,500), Birthright Israel Foundation ($99,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF U OF M ANN ARBOR, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,000 |
| ALBION COLLEGE ALBION, MI | TENNIS SPRING TRIP | $4,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ALYN HOSPITAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT IN HONOR OF PAULA GLAZIER | $7,500 |
| AMERICAN JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $67,500 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $136,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $99,500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER KALAMAZOO KALAMAZOO, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,500 |
| CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY SERVICE LANSING, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM OAK PARK, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK SOUTHFIELD, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Burton Shifman — President/Director
- Carole Shifman — Program Director/Director
- Brian H Aaron — Vice President and Treasurer
- Jennifer Fritz — Director
- Bruce Gelbaugh — Director
- Lawrence Handler — Director
- Steve Margolin — Director
- Jonathan Aaron — Secretary/Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER FRITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
| BRUCE GELBAUGH | DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| STEVE MARGOLIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
| BURTON SHIFMAN | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 15 | $30,251 |
| CAROLE SHIFMAN | PROGRAM DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR | 30 | $139,300 |
| JONATHAN AARON | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
| BRIAN H AARON | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 20 | $74,832 |
Contact Information
Address: 34705 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 160, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Telephone: 269-382-2844
EIN: 38-3508943
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ravitz Foundation fund?
The Ravitz Foundation builds on the philanthropic legacy of Edward Ravitz, the son of immigrants and a decorated World War II veteran who experienced virulent anti-Semitism. Guided by Jewish values, the foundation supports causes in Michigan and Israel that strengthen Jewish life, combat anti-Semitism, and alleviate suffering. Primary funding areas include: • General support • Youth mental health awareness • Youth at-risk programs • Jewish community strengthening • Anti-Semitism prevention
How do I apply for a grant from The Ravitz Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 60-68 grants annually (based on most recent filings) • Median grant size: $10,000-$14,000 • Grant range: $1,000-$250,000 • Total annual distributions: approximately $2.0-$2.2 million **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Tamarack Camps Butzel Conference Center/Camp Kennedy/Charles Agree Outpost/Camp Tamarack Adventure and Retreat Center: $247,500 • Anti-Defamation League (ADL): $136,000 • Birthright Israel Foundation: $99,500 **Application Process:** The foundation does…
Where does The Ravitz Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan and Israel.
What size grants does The Ravitz Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ravitz Foundation awarded 66 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Ravitz Foundation's EIN?
The Ravitz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3508943. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ravitz 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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