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.
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
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 |
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 include Capital Area Food Bank ($2,500), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($2,000), World Central Kitchen ($2,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| FRIENDS OF COMPASS INC WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| LEVINE MUSIC WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| LUNGEVITY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| THEATER WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| TRANSGENDER LAW CENTER OAKLAND, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,500 |
| NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| UNDUE MEDICAL DEBT BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Riss Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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