The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with the largest share of grant dollars going to recipients in DC.
Key facts about The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc
In short: The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc gave $350K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in District of Columbia. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 52-2071692
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $350,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- Average grant
- $15,909
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (4 of 22, 2025)
- Total assets
- $6,331,445
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
-11.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$350K
+12.9% YoY
Grant Count
22
+29.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-12.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $391K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 22 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is available in the provided information. Its 2025 grants included support for arts and cultural institutions, Jewish organizations, disability services, a hospital, and a food bank. The Jewish Foundation for Group Homes says its MAKOM program supports and empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Capital Area Food Bank says it works to expand equitable access to food and opportunity through community partnerships.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $350,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the largest were $100,000 to SAAMMECKLENBERG ENDOWMENT, $75,000 to The Kennedy Center (National Symphony Orchestra), $25,000 to JARC Florida, and $25,000 to the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. Other notable grants included $25,000 to The Kennedy Center, $20,000 each to B'nai Israel Congregation and Talmud Torah, the DC Jewish Community Center, and the National Gallery of Art, and $10,000 each to the Phillips Collection and Sibley Memorial Hospital.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 14% to Maryland, 7% to Florida, 1% to Virginia, and less than 1% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $243K (2020) to $408K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $350K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Saammecklenberg Endowment ($100K). Together the top 10 received $330K.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 114 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saammecklenberg Endowment Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $100,000 |
| The Kennedy Center (National Symphony Orchestra) Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $75,000 |
| Jarc Florida Boca Raton, FL | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $25,000 |
| Jewish Foundation for Group Homes Rockville, MD | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $25,000 |
| The Kennedy Center Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $25,000 |
| B'nai Israel Congregation and Talmud Torah Rockville, MD | To support capital improvements to maintain or prolong the useful life of the thelma and melvin lenkin education and activities building | $20,000 |
| DC Jewish Community Center Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $20,000 |
| National Gallery of Art Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $20,000 |
| Phillips Collection Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $10,000 |
| Sibley Memorial Hospital Washington, DC | To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,331,445 | $297,729 | $437,547 | $350,000 |
| 2024 | $7,128,592 | $581,587 | $355,548 | $310,000 |
| 2023 | $6,902,553 | −$23,040 | $543,371 | $408,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,331,445 | $7,128,592 | $6,902,553 |
| Revenue | $297,729 | $581,587 | $-23,040 |
| Expenses | $437,547 | $355,548 | $543,371 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $356,534 | $319,081 | $416,310 |
| Net Investment Income | $225,252 | $487,342 | $158,787 |
| Distributable Amount | $390,561 | $360,372 | $357,825 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thelma Lenkin as president and director, Edward J. Lenkin as treasurer and director, and Judy Lenkin Lerner as secretary and director.
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc is led by Thelma Lenkin, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thelma Lenkin
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Edward J. Lenkin
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Lenkin Lerner
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $4K, to Thelma Lenkin (President, Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 5101 Wisconsin Ave Nw Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: (561) 394-3693
Frequently asked questions about The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc
How much does The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc gave $350K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $310K across 17 grants.
What is The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,909, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $33K on average.
Where does The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (14%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (12 grants), Rockville, MD (3 grants) and Bethesda, MD (2 grants).
Does The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Assist Charity in Its Stated Goal" (21 grants).
Who are The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Saammecklenberg Endowment ($100,000), The Kennedy Center (National Symphony Orchestra) ($75,000) and Jarc Florida ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc reported $6.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $357K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $391K (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 Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is available in the provided information. Its 2025 grants included support for arts and cultural institutions, Jewish organizations, disability services, a hospital, and a food bank. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2071692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable 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.
Here's the math on researching The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc by hand.
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