The Riss Foundation
The Riss Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chevy Chase, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $130K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $17K. Net investment income was $20K.
Key facts about The Riss Foundation
- EIN
- 27-4195832
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $1,269
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (7 of 13, 2024)
- Total assets
- $130,460
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Riss Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Riss Foundation's 13 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (42%), New York (24%) and California (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Riss Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 13 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 46% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Riss Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$130K
-12.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$17K
-4.6% YoY
Grant Count
13
+30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-26.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Riss Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Riss Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Riss Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chevy Chase, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $130K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $17K. Net investment income was $20K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $130,460 | $149,525 | $168,754 |
| Revenue | $20,004 | $20,111 | $21,031 |
| Expenses | $19,069 | $19,240 | $20,814 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,400 | $19,100 | $20,440 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,004 | $20,109 | $20,001 |
| Distributable Amount | $18,127 | $17,635 | $16,743 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
58 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Capital Area Food Bank ($2,500), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($2,000), World Central Kitchen ($2,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER Oakland, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,500 |
| FRIENDS OF COMPASS INC Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| LUNGEVITY FOUNDATION Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| THEATER WASHINGTON Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| UNDUE MEDICAL DEBT Boston, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seth Berlin | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Susan L Mayer | President | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Riss Foundation?
The Riss Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chevy Chase, MD. It holds $130K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Riss Foundation?
As of 2024, The Riss Foundation holds $130K in total assets with $20K in annual revenue. It awarded 13 grants totaling $17K in 2024.
Where does The Riss Foundation operate?
The Riss Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York.
What size grants does The Riss Foundation award?
In 2024, The Riss Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $17K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Riss Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Riss Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Riss Foundation's EIN?
The Riss Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4195832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.