The Ravitz Foundation
The Ravitz Foundation is a private foundation based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It supports charitable organizations, with 2024 grants including general support for Michigan and New York organizations and funding for programs addressing food assistance, campus communities, and Israel-related experiences.
The Ravitz Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ravitz Foundation gave $2.1M across 66 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), mostly in Michigan. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,093,700
- +5.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 66
- -2.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,723
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $16,000
- Total assets
- $40,950,519
- -0.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (12 of 55, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ravitz Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 33533 West Twelve Mile Rd 295, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Phone: (269) 382-2844
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ravitz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tamarack Camp ($248K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
341 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 267 grants of 341 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 23% to recipients in New York. The filing also reports shares of 2% for Massachusetts, 1% for North Carolina, and 0% for the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ravitz Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 55 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $32K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2020) to $2.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 66 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tamarack Camp Bloomfield Hills, MI | General Support | $247,500 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | General Support | $136,000 |
| Hillel Campus Alliance of MI East Lansing, MI | General Support | $112,500 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $99,500 |
| Jewish Senior Life of Metro Detroit West Bloomfield, MI | Food Subsidy Program | $90,000 |
| MSU Hillel East Lansing, MI | Small Communities Initiative | $90,000 |
| MSU Hillel East Lansing, MI | General Support | $90,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit Bloomfield Hills, MI | Israeli Camper Program | $85,500 |
| Yad Ezra Berkley, MI | General Support | $81,000 |
| Frankel Jewish Academy West Bloomfield, MI | General Support | $76,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ravitz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,950,519 | $2,831,084 | $2,912,517 | $2,093,700 | 66 | $2,342,767 | $2,461,333 | $2,206,136 |
| 2023 | $41,030,821 | $11,736,530 | $2,530,714 | $1,992,329 | 68 | $2,221,812 | $11,427,627 | $1,951,194 |
| 2022 | $31,789,548 | $2,400,365 | $2,615,188 | $2,128,350 | 66 | $2,327,295 | $2,111,647 | $2,177,737 |
| 2021 | $31,988,342 | $4,323,949 | $2,868,261 | $2,340,000 | 76 | $2,522,028 | $3,902,470 | $2,401,139 |
| 2020 | $30,596,152 | $2,823,068 | $2,334,073 | $1,888,600 | 65 | — | $2,549,623 | $2,033,666 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ravitz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose own stated missions include combating antisemitism and other forms of hate (Anti-Defamation League), providing young Jewish adults with educational trips to Israel (Birthright Israel Foundation), and supplying kosher food and other necessities to needy Jewish families (Yad Ezra). Other recipients include the Holocaust Memorial Center, which says its mission is to engage, educate, and empower by remembering the Holocaust, and JARC, which supports people with disabilities through relationships and community engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 66 grants totaling $2,093,700. Grants ranged from $250 to $247,500, with a median grant of $16,000. Among its largest awards were $247,500 to Tamarack Camp for general support, $136,000 to the Anti-Defamation League for general support, $112,500 to Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan for general support, and $99,500 to Birthright Israel Foundation for general support. Other notable grants included $90,000 to Jewish Senior Life of Metro Detroit for its food subsidy program and $90,000 to MSU Hillel for its Small Communities Initiative.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer Fritz, Bruce Gelbaugh, and Steve Margolin as directors; Burton Shifman as president/director; Carole Shifman as program director/director; Jonathan Aaron as secretary/director; and Brian H. Aaron as treasurer/director.
The Ravitz Foundation is led by Burton Shifman, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Burton Shifman
President & Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $30K (2024)
Brian H. Aaron
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $75K (2024)
Bruce Gelbaugh
Director
Treasurer & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$91K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Carole Shifman
Program Director & Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $139K (2024)
Jonathan Aaron
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Steve Margolin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Jennifer Fritz
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $9K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lawrence Handler (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $139K, to Carole Shifman (Program Director/Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ravitz Foundation
How much does The Ravitz Foundation give each year?
The Ravitz Foundation gave $2.1M across 66 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 68 grants.
What is The Ravitz Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ravitz Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $16,000, and its average grant was $31,723, across 66 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ravitz Foundation that year got $32K on average.
Where does The Ravitz Foundation give grants?
The Ravitz Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (14 grants), West Bloomfield, MI (11 grants), Bloomfield Hills, MI (6 grants) and Detroit, MI (5 grants).
Does The Ravitz Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of The Ravitz Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 66) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ravitz Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ravitz Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tamarack Camp ($247,500), MSU Hillel ($216,000 across 3 grants) and Anti-Defamation League ($136,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ravitz Foundation?
The Ravitz Foundation reported $41.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ravitz Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ravitz Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Ravitz 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 September 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 June 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ravitz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ravitz-foundation-morg_a29455492c46430098e7f9df2bacdce2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383508943_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ravitz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ravitz-foundation-morg_a29455492c46430098e7f9df2bacdce2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ravitz Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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