The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its grants support charitable organizations, including groups working in humanitarian aid, education, civil liberties, libraries, and environmental conservation.
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc gave $344K across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state New York. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $343,500
- +50.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +17.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,245
- +28.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $3,705,341
- -3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (9 of 54, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (40% 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 Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Myriad USA Inc ($50K). Together the top 10 received $206K.
Grant Size Distribution
232 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 231 grants of 232 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (40%), the District of Columbia (14%), Connecticut (12%), California (9%), and Maryland (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 54 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 83% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $168K (2021) to $344K (2025). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $344K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Myriad USA Inc New York, NY | the United States of America, UWCI (United World College International) | $50,000 |
| Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport Incorporated Bridgeport, CT | General & Unrestricted | $23,000 |
| Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc Hagerstown, MD | General & Unrestricted | $22,000 |
| Seeds of Peace Inc Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $22,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| International Rescue Committee Inc Albert Lea, MN | General & Unrestricted | $17,000 |
| Student Conservation Association Inc Charlestown, NH | General & Unrestricted | $16,000 |
| Brooklyn Public Library Brooklyn, NY | Justice Initiatives program at the Library, with specific funding focus on the Bridges zine and Tell-A-Story program | $15,000 |
| Seva Foundation Berkeley, CA | General & Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| Center for Disaster Philanthropy Inc Chicago, IL | Sudan Humanitarian Crisis program | $7,000 |
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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 | $3,705,341 | $253,954 | $378,825 | $343,500 | 55 | $375,441 | $194,608 | $376,128 |
| 2024 | $3,830,212 | $111,995 | $270,639 | $228,750 | 47 | $257,978 | $111,995 | $326,240 |
| 2023 | $3,988,856 | $910,877 | $274,733 | $246,050 | 47 | $272,935 | $910,877 | $257,914 |
| 2022 | $3,352,712 | $119,598 | $256,303 | $228,500 | 44 | $255,303 | $119,598 | $265,698 |
| 2021 | $3,484,417 | $92,769 | $193,903 | $167,600 | 39 | $193,203 | $94,643 | $255,268 |
| 2020 | $3,583,051 | $43,142 | $208,737 | $184,100 | 42 | — | $99,117 | $194,028 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $376K for 2025 — 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 grants include support for organizations whose own missions include providing emergency medical aid, cultivating leaders in communities divided by conflict, offering free education to women, and preserving sight. For example, Médecins Sans Frontières USA describes its mission as providing independent medical humanitarian emergency aid, while Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport says it empowers women through free, transformative education.
Other supported organizations describe work in civil liberties, public library access, humanitarian response, and sight restoration. In 2025, grants also included support for a Sudan humanitarian crisis program and for the Justice Initiatives program at Brooklyn Public Library, including its Bridges zine and Tell-A-Story program.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 55 grants totaling $343,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest grant was $50,000 to Myriad USA Inc for “the United States of America, UWCI (United World College International).” Other notable 2025 grants included $23,000 to Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport Incorporated, $22,000 each to Médecins Sans Frontières USA, Seeds of Peace, and $20,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. These grants were listed as general and unrestricted, except where a specific purpose is noted.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lily Philpott and Paul Philpott as directors; Tyler David Philpott as secretary, treasurer, and director; Ellen Schiffman as president and director; and Richard Lee Schiffman as vice president and director.
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc is led by Ellen Gail Schiffman, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen Gail Schiffman
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lily Philpott
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Philpott
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Lee Schiffman
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyler David Philpott
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/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 Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc
How much does The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc give each year?
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc gave $344K across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $229K across 47 grants.
What is The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $6,245, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc give grants?
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and Connecticut (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants), Brooklyn, NY (8 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and Bridgeport, CT (2 grants).
Does The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 87% of The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (48 of 55) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Myriad USA Inc ($50,000), Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport Incorporated ($23,000) and Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc ($22,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc?
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $375K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $376K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations whose own missions include providing emergency medical aid, cultivating leaders in communities divided by conflict, offering free education to women, and preserving sight. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc?
The foundation 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 Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1261222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-m-schiffman-foundation-inc-morg_fe390282df254ef39463737a389ea07b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061261222_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-m-schiffman-foundation-inc-morg_fe390282df254ef39463737a389ea07b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Robert M Schiffman Foundation Inc'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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