The Zisman Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$41K
-79.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$340K
+7.5% YoY
Grant Count
22
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zisman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on education. Secondary funding interests include arts, culture, and humanities, as well as philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 36 grants in 2023. Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Philadelphia region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $203,082
- Total revenues: $285,560
- Total expenses: $321,085
- Total giving: $316,250
Revenue breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $151,731
- Investment income and dividends: $3,493
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $120,336
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total assets: $40,800
- Total revenues: $304,847
- Total expenses: $346,177
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,826 | $203,082 | $384,884 |
| Revenue | $304,847 | $285,560 | $244,137 |
| Expenses | $346,177 | $321,085 | $547,148 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $339,940 | $316,250 | $541,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $129,694 | $123,829 | $52,477 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,446 | $11,281 | $18,463 |
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
159 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Shipley School ($80,000), Bard College ($51,000), University of Pennsylvania ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIM ACADEMY WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $20,000 |
| AMATEUR GOLF ALLIANCE WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $20,000 |
| ANNIKA FOUNDATION WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $20,000 |
| BARD COLLEGE WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $51,000 |
| BARD PRISON INITIATIVE WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $1,000 |
| BRYN MAWR FILM INSTITUTE WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HEALTH COUNCIL WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $1,000 |
| DOYLESTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $500 |
| FRANKLIN INSTITUTE WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $5,000 |
| INCLUSION MATTERS WAYNE, PA | TO FUND OPERATING BUDGET | $1,800 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael D. Zisman serves as Chairman of the Board. He was appointed to this position and also serves on the board of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
The foundation has no employees on staff.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL D ZISMAN | PRES/TREAS/DIR | 1 | — |
| RUTH L ZISMAN | VP/SEC/DIR | 1 | — |
| STEVEN D ZISMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ADAM P ZISMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATERINA ZISMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 311 Orchard Way, Wayne, PA 19087-4833
Telephone: 610-254-9821
EIN: 23-3033239
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Zisman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on education. Secondary funding interests include arts, culture, and humanities, as well as philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking.
How do I apply for a grant from The Zisman Family Foundation?
The foundation made 36 grants in 2023. Recent grantees include: • University of Pennsylvania — $75,000 (to fund operating budget) • Ensemble Arts Philly — $15,000 (to fund operating budget) • The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Special Asset Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation — $10,000 (to fund operating budget) • The Shipley School Typical grant awards range from $250 to $82,000.
Where does The Zisman Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Philadelphia region.
What size grants does The Zisman Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Zisman Family Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $340K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Zisman Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Zisman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Zisman Family Foundation's EIN?
The Zisman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-3033239. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Zisman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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