The Esserman Family Foundation concentrates its giving on local community infrastructure in Miami and Jewish communal priorities, while also making targeted gifts to higher-education institutions. A single, very large grant to The Miami Foundation suggests a preference for supporting local philanthropic infrastructure or a pass-through/operational partnership, complemented by repeated support for Jewish federations and national Jewish policy organizations and occasional university/medical alumni giving. The foundation tends to fund established institutions rather than small grassroots programs.
A $2,222,874 grant to The Miami Foundation anchors the Esserman Family Foundation % Lisa Esserman’s recent giving and points to a clear preference for local philanthropic infrastructure. The foundation also returns to Miami-based Jewish and civic institutions, including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, which received $20,000 in both 2023 and 2024, and the American Jewish Committee, which received $15,000 in each of those years. That pattern suggests a mix of large-scale support for community operations and steadier institutional funding for Jewish communal priorities and public-facing Miami organizations. The grant list shows a foundation that favors established organizations over small one-off projects. University and medical center support appears alongside civic and cultural giving, with awards to UCSF Director’s Circle, University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Zoo Miami Foundation, Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation, and Florida Grand Opera. Temple Beth Am also appears repeatedly, indicating ongoing support for Jewish education and religious development. Across the record, the foundation’s giving is concentrated in organizations that serve broad community, educational, cultural, or advocacy roles rather than individuals or informal initiatives.
Jewish communal support is one of the clearest threads in the record. Temple Beth Am received $7,195 in 2023, $7,475 in 2024, and $7,500 in 2025 for general and Judaic studies and for the academic and religious development of children. The American Jewish Committee also received $15,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for policy and opinion work affecting Jewish people. The foundation also funds civic and cultural institutions in Miami. Zoo Miami Foundation received $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024 to foster community pride and involvement. Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation received $10,000 in 2023, $10,000 in 2024, and $1,000 in 2024 for performing arts and community connection, while Florida Grand Opera received $2,500 in 2024 for daily operations. Public-interest advocacy and health appear as smaller but recurring areas. ACLU of Florida and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence each received $5,000 in both 2023 and 2024, and Planned Parenthood Federation received $2,000 in both years for public healthcare services and education.
$2.2M
$0
$339K
$2.3M
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Highly concentrated giving dominated by one very large grant to a local community foundation, supplemented by several mid-sized, repeat gifts to Jewish communal organizations and university donor programs; favors established institutional recipients over many small or grassroots grants.
Notable grantees: The Miami Foundation, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, American Jewish Committee, UCSF Foundation (Director’s Circle), University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation
Typical grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The distribution includes one unusually large 2025 grant to a local philanthropic intermediary, then a long tail of recurring awards mostly at $2,000 to $30,000. The record shows repeat support across multiple years for several organizations, including 2023, 2024, and 2025 awards to Temple Beth Am and repeated 2023-2024 funding for multiple civic, Jewish, advocacy, and university recipients. The foundation is a family foundation, and the grants shown are institutional awards rather than gifts to individuals. No application process is indicated in the data.
Giving is concentrated in Florida, which accounts for 56% of grants, and the top recipient cities include Miami and Pinecrest. Miami-based organizations appear repeatedly, from The Miami Foundation and Greater Miami Jewish Federation to Zoo Miami Foundation, Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation, and Florida Grand Opera. Pinecrest appears through Temple Beth Am. Outside Florida, recipients are located in San Francisco, Baltimore, Washington, and New York. All 27 grants in the file went to U.S. recipients.
The grant list points to Miami-area community infrastructure, Jewish communal institutions, higher-education and medical center giving, and civic or cultural organizations. Recipients include The Miami Foundation, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Temple Beth Am, UCSF Director’s Circle, Zoo Miami Foundation, and Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Greater Miami Jewish Federation in 2023 and 2024, American Jewish Committee in 2023 and 2024, Temple Beth Am in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and ACLU of Florida and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in both 2023 and 2024.
The grant-size distribution is centered at modest institutional awards: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The record also includes a much larger 2025 grant to The Miami Foundation.
Florida is the top giving state, with 56% of grants going to recipients there. Miami is the most visible city in the grant list, followed by Pinecrest in Florida, while additional grants go to San Francisco, Baltimore, Washington, and New York.
Yes. The grant list includes ACLU of Florida for defending and preserving individual rights and liberties, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence for gun violence prevention, and American Jewish Committee for policy and opinion work on issues facing the Jewish people.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Miami Foundation | Miami, FL | $2,222,874 | 2025 | To support the foundation operations. |
| Temple Beth Am | Pinecrest, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | General and Judaic Studies, enhance the academic and religious development of our children. |
| Greater Miami Jewish Federation | Miami, FL | $20,000 | 2024 | Meet the needs and safeguard the freedoms of all. |
| UCSF Director's Circle | San Francisco, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | Support the University's work locally, nationally. |
| University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $15,000 | 2024 | Serve the University community. |
| American Jewish Committee | Miami, FL | $15,000 | 2024 | Works to impact policy and opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Jewish people. |
| Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | Connect our community to the performing arts and to each other. |
| Zoo Miami Foundation | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | Fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo. |
| Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | To improve human health for all through personalized medicine |
| Temple Beth Am | Pinecrest, FL | $7,475 | 2024 | General and Judaic Studies, enhance the academic and religious development of our children. |
| ACLU of Florida | New York, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | Defend and preserve individual rights and liberties. |
| Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | Create an America free from gun violence. |
| Florida Grand Opera | Miami, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | To support daily operation. |
| Planned Parenthood Federation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | Public healthcare services and education. |
| Civic Chorale of Greater Miami | Miami, FL | $2,000 | 2024 | Present voice chorale performances. |
| Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation | Miami, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | Connect our community to the performing arts and to each other. |
| UCSF Foundation - Director's Circle | San Francisco, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | Support the University's work locally, nationally. |
| Greater Miami Jewish Federation | Miami, FL | $20,000 | 2023 | Meet the needs and safeguard the freedoms of all. |
| University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $15,000 | 2023 | Serve the University community. |
| American Jewish Committee | Miami, FL | $15,000 | 2023 | Works to impact policy and opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Jewish people. |
| Zoo Miami Foundation | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | Fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo. |
| Adrienne Arsht Center Foundation | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | Connect our community to the performing arts and to each other. |
| Temple Beth Am | Pinecrest, FL | $7,195 | 2023 | General and Judaic Studies, enhance the academic and religious development of our children. |
| Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | Create an America free from gun violence. |
| ACLU of Florida | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | Defend and preserve individual rights and liberties. |
| Civic Chorale of Greater Miami | Miami, FL | $2,000 | 2023 | Present voice chorale performances. |
| Planned Parenthood Federation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | Public healthcare services and education. |
Temple Beth Am
$7,500General and Judaic Studies, enhance the academic and religious development of our children.
Meet the needs and safeguard the freedoms of all.
UCSF Director's Circle
$20,000Support the University's work locally, nationally.
American Jewish Committee
$15,000Works to impact policy and opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Jewish people.
Connect our community to the performing arts and to each other.
Fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo.
To improve human health for all through personalized medicine
Temple Beth Am
$7,475General and Judaic Studies, enhance the academic and religious development of our children.
ACLU of Florida
$5,000Defend and preserve individual rights and liberties.
Create an America free from gun violence.
Civic Chorale of Greater Miami
$2,000Present voice chorale performances.
Connect our community to the performing arts and to each other.
UCSF Foundation - Director's Circle
$30,000Support the University's work locally, nationally.
Meet the needs and safeguard the freedoms of all.
Works to impact policy and opinion on some of the most important issues facing the Jewish people.
Fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo.
Connect our community to the performing arts and to each other.
Temple Beth Am
$7,195General and Judaic Studies, enhance the academic and religious development of our children.
Create an America free from gun violence.
ACLU of Florida
$5,000Defend and preserve individual rights and liberties.
Civic Chorale of Greater Miami
$2,000Present voice chorale performances.