The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family Charitable Foundation Inc. is a family foundation established in 1997 in Florida. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable entity with tax-deductible donation status. The foundation is based in Washington, DC, with a mailing address at 5101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20016.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.1M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$310K
-24.0% YoY
Grant Count
17
-29.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+7.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family reported a distributable amount of $360K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation maintains significant assets. As of the most recent available data, the organization's financial profile indicates it operates as a grantmaking foundation with ongoing philanthropic activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,128,592 | $6,902,553 | $7,468,964 |
| Revenue | $581,587 | $-23,040 | $558,060 |
| Expenses | $355,548 | $543,371 | $506,954 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $319,081 | $416,310 | $408,726 |
| Net Investment Income | $487,342 | $158,787 | $209,138 |
| Distributable Amount | $360,372 | $357,825 | $400,133 |
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
114 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include B'nai Israel Congregation and Talmud Torah ($100,000), The Kennedy Center (national Symphony Orchestra) ($75,000), The Kennedy Center ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE RESCUE SQUAD BETHESDA, MD | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| 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 | $100,000 |
| CHILDRENS INN AT NIH BETHESDA, MD | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| COLBY MUSEUM OF ART WATERVILLE, ME | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| JEWISH FOUNDATION FOR GROUP HOMES ROCKVILLE, MD | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $25,000 |
| JILL'S HOUSE VIENNA, VA | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| JOEY'S FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| JOHN CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL WASHINGTON, DC | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| JSSA ROCKVILLE, MD | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO ASSIST CHARITY IN ITS STATED GOAL | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Melvin Lenkin passed away on May 27, 2017, at age 89 in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was survived by his wife of 68 years, Thelma Z. Lenkin, along with their children Edward and Judy, and grandchildren. The foundation continues to operate under the Lenkin family name.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THELMA LENKIN | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EDWARD J LENKIN | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JUDY LENKIN LERNER | SECRETARY, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Telephone: 561-394-3693
- Principal Address: 5630 Wisconsin Avenue #1603, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Mailing Address: 5101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20016
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What size grants does The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family award?
In 2024, The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family awarded 17 grants totaling $310K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family reported a distributable amount of $360K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family's EIN?
The Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2071692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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