The Charles & Esther Lee Kimerling Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and Israel-related relief. In this grant cycle the foundation made two substantive gifts: a large emergency/strategic contribution to a national Jewish federation’s Israel relief fund and a local capital/support grant to a Jewish community center’s performing arts facility, indicating interest in both crisis response and community cultural infrastructure.
A $150,000 grant to the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies for the Day After Fund for Israel stands out in the foundation’s recent giving. That gift points to a funder that responds to Israel-related crisis needs while also supporting Jewish communal institutions and cultural infrastructure. The Charles & Esther Lee Kimerling Charitable Foundation also made a $50,000 grant to the Jewish Community Center on the Hudson for state-of-the-art audio equipment in its Performing Arts auditorium, showing interest in physical improvements that affect how communities gather and present programs. Across recent awards, the foundation backed Jewish heritage work, interfaith and community-serving organizations, and educational or cultural initiatives tied to Jewish life. Examples include support for archivist staffing at the William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum, unrestricted support for Friends of Ofanim, and general support for the American Dance Machine for the 21st Century Foundation. The pattern suggests a foundation that uses both larger targeted gifts and smaller operating grants. Its grant recipients range from national federations to local institutions in several states, with repeated support for some organizations over multiple years.
One clear theme is Jewish heritage and institutional capacity. The foundation gave $25,000 in 2025 to the William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum for archivist staff salaries, after a $25,000 gift in 2024 for assistant archivist salary support. It also supported archives and collections-related staffing through that museum’s work. Another area is arts and cultural programming. In 2025, it gave $6,000 to American Dance Machine for the 21st Century Foundation for general support, following earlier grants of $5,000 in 2023 and $5,000 in 2024 to the same group. The foundation also funded audio equipment for the Performing Arts auditorium at the Jewish Community Center on the Hudson with a $50,000 grant in 2024. Jewish education and community services appear as well. Friends of Ofanim received $25,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support, while Jewish Educational Loan Fund Inc. received general support in multiple years.
$521K
$1.6M
$632K
$558K
Most grants fall between $1K and $4K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$4K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, relatively large grants focused on Jewish communal causes—one major national federation gift and one local capital/ program support grant rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTH (Day After Fund for Israel), JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE HUDSON (performing arts audio equipment)
Typical grants cluster in the low thousands, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $2,000, and a p75 of $3,600. The recent record shows a mix of one-time awards and repeat support: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Friends of Ofanim, Friends of the Arava Institute Ltd., Interfaithfamily Com Inc., American Dance Machine for the 21st Century Foundation, Jewish Educational Loan Fund Inc., Usher 1f Collaborative Inc., Ramah Darom Inc., and United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. The foundation gives both general operating support and project-specific grants, and the listed programs include salary support, capital and renovation funding, equipment purchases, and scholarships. It also funds individuals.
Giving is national, with all listed grants in the United States. The highest concentration by recipient location is in Georgia, and Atlanta appears repeatedly through grants to William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum, Congregation Beth Jacob, Hebrew Benevolent Congregation the Temple, Ramah Darom Inc., and Jewish Family & Career Services Inc. Other repeated recipient cities include New York, Philadelphia, Newton Centre, Natick, Redwood City, and Tarrytown. Although the foundation is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, no listed grants go to Delaware recipients.
The recent grants show support for Jewish communal organizations, heritage and museum institutions, interfaith and family-serving groups, arts organizations, and community infrastructure projects. Examples in the data include a Jewish federation relief fund, a Jewish heritage museum, a community center performing arts auditorium, and several organizations providing general operating support.
Yes. Several organizations received support in more than one year, including Friends of Ofanim, Friends of the Arava Institute Ltd., Interfaithfamily Com Inc., American Dance Machine for the 21st Century Foundation, Jewish Educational Loan Fund Inc., Usher 1f Collaborative Inc., Ramah Darom Inc., and United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies.
The grant-size distribution is tightly centered in the low thousands: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,000, and p75 is $3,600. The recent record also includes a large outlier at $150,000 and a $50,000 project grant, but many awards are in the $5,000 to $6,000 range.
Georgia is the top state by grant count. Atlanta appears frequently among recipient locations, alongside other Georgia cities such as Sandy Springs, and the list also includes several Georgia-based Jewish organizations and community institutions.
The awards include general and unrestricted support, salary support, equipment funding, capital or renovation funding, and scholarship or prize-related support. Recent examples include archivist salary support, audio equipment for a performing arts auditorium, waterfront renovations for swimming programs, and scholarship funding for an educational organization.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST LAKE FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2026 | To enhance the lives of East Lake community residents: schools, recreation, lifelong learning, history and culture |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTH | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | the Day After Fund |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE HUDSON INC | TARRYTOWN, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | To initiate a pilot senior engagement program to include, but not limited to, a staff person to manage issues of transportation and senior assistance |
| TEMPLE BETH EL FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $50,000 | 2026 | audio-visual technology fund for upgrades both within and without the synagogue to improve the access and technical quality of audio and visual programming for members of the congregation |
| HEBREW BENEVOLENT CONGREGATION THE TEMPLE | ATLANTA, GA | $50,000 | 2026 | A Campaign for the Ages |
| WILLIAM BREMEN JEWISH HERITAGE MUSEUM | ATLANTA, GA | $30,000 | 2026 | for salary to maintain staff in the Archives Department |
| FRIENDS OF OFANIM INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF THE ARAVA INSTITUTE LTD | NEWTON CENTRE, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | for the Academic Program |
| CONGREGATION BETH JACOB AND IRVING LEVIN JEWISH CE | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| INTERFAITHFAMILY COM INC | READING, MA | $8,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY FOUNDA | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| JEWISH EDUCATIONAL LOAN FUND INC | SANDY SPRINGS, GA | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF GREATER BOSTON I | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MINERALS METALS & MATERIALS SOCIETY INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | the Young Leaders Program |
| MIT ALUMNI FUND | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $4,000 | 2026 | the Course 3 Engineers for a Small Planet Fund |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC | MONTGOMERY, AL | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| TEMPLE EMUNAH | LEXINGTON, MA | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BOSTON BALLET INC | BOSTON, MA | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET INC | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HIAS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ATLANTA JEWISH FILM SOCIETY INC | ATLANTA, GA | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CONGREGATION SHEARITH ISRAEL | ATLANTA, GA | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| 51 WALDEN INC | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| EMERSON HOSPITAL | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CONCORD CARLISLE FOUNDATION INC | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2026 | the SMFA Print Department fund to deserving students |
| NERANENAH INC | ATLANTA, GA | $1,800 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BRIGHTSIDE ANIMAL CENTER | REDMOND, OR | $1,800 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| REBECCAS TENT INC | ATLANTA, GA | $1,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ROSH PINAH CHAVURAH OF THE RIVERTOWNS | HASTINGSONHUDSON, NY | $1,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM OF CAMBRIDGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE JEWISH FOUNDATION FOR THE RIGHTEOUS INC | WEST ORANGE, NJ | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| KEREM SHALOM INC | CONCORD, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEIGHBORIMPACT | REDMOND, OR | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CONGREGATION OR HADASH INC | SANDY SPRINGS, GA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HIGH DESERT FOOD & FARM ALLIANCE | BEND, OR | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WALPOLE AREA VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION INC | WALPOLE, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $600 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ACTON COMMUNITY SUPPER AND FOOD PANTRY INC | BOXBOROUGH, MA | $500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| COLLAGE INC | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CAMBRIDGE ART ASSOCIATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTH | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | Day After Fund for Israel |
| FRIENDS OF OFANIM INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
To enhance the lives of East Lake community residents: schools, recreation, lifelong learning, history and culture
To initiate a pilot senior engagement program to include, but not limited to, a staff person to manage issues of transportation and senior assistance
TEMPLE BETH EL FOUNDATION
$50,000audio-visual technology fund for upgrades both within and without the synagogue to improve the access and technical quality of audio and visual programming for members of the congregation
HEBREW BENEVOLENT CONGREGATION THE TEMPLE
$50,000A Campaign for the Ages
for salary to maintain staff in the Archives Department
CONGREGATION BETH JACOB AND IRVING LEVIN JEWISH CE
$10,000General & Unrestricted
INTERFAITHFAMILY COM INC
$8,000General & Unrestricted
AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY FOUNDA
$7,000General & Unrestricted
MINERALS METALS & MATERIALS SOCIETY INC
$5,000the Young Leaders Program
MIT ALUMNI FUND
$4,000the Course 3 Engineers for a Small Planet Fund
TEMPLE EMUNAH
$3,000General & Unrestricted
HIAS INC
$3,000General & Unrestricted
ATLANTA JEWISH FILM SOCIETY INC
$2,500General & Unrestricted
CONGREGATION SHEARITH ISRAEL
$2,000General & Unrestricted
51 WALDEN INC
$2,000General & Unrestricted
EMERSON HOSPITAL
$2,000General & Unrestricted
CONCORD CARLISLE FOUNDATION INC
$2,000General & Unrestricted
NERANENAH INC
$1,800General & Unrestricted
BRIGHTSIDE ANIMAL CENTER
$1,800General & Unrestricted
REBECCAS TENT INC
$1,500General & Unrestricted
ROSH PINAH CHAVURAH OF THE RIVERTOWNS
$1,500General & Unrestricted
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM OF CAMBRIDGE
$1,000General & Unrestricted
KEREM SHALOM INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
CONGREGATION OR HADASH INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
HIGH DESERT FOOD & FARM ALLIANCE
$1,000General & Unrestricted
WALPOLE AREA VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
ACTON COMMUNITY SUPPER AND FOOD PANTRY INC
$500General & Unrestricted
COLLAGE INC
$500General & Unrestricted
CAMBRIDGE ART ASSOCIATION
$500General & Unrestricted