Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation
ActiveMutual & Membership BenefitFunds Individuals
WASHINGTON, DCWebsite
About Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation
The Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation appears to concentrate its giving on Jewish communal needs, demonstrated by a single large grant to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington for Israel crisis relief. Their support is channeled to a leading regional federation, suggesting a preference for established community institutions able to mobilize emergency assistance and coordinate relief. This looks like targeted, crisis-driven philanthropy rather than broad, diversified funding across many causes.
Focus Areas
Israel crisis and emergency reliefSupport for regional Jewish federations (Washington, DC)Jewish communal infrastructure and humanitarian response
Who They Fund
Jewish communities and Jewish nonprofits (including campus Jewish groups)children and families (early childhood/pre-K)K-12 educators and students (including rural schools)college/university students and campus communitiescommunities affected by international crises (Israel, Ukraine)
About Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation
A 500,000-dollar grant to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington for Israel crisis relief shows the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation’s clearest recent pattern: it uses established Jewish communal institutions to move money quickly in moments of crisis. The foundation’s giving also reaches beyond emergency response into Jewish life, campus support, and early childhood and family wellbeing, but those areas still tend to be routed through organizations with strong infrastructure and a regional or national footprint. Recent awards show repeated support for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, including general operating support and security enhancements, alongside larger commitments to national Jewish networks and campus institutions. In parallel, the foundation has funded pediatric behavioral health, teacher training tied to early childhood mental health, and programs that strengthen Jewish connection, leadership, and community arts. This mix suggests a funder that combines community-centered Jewish philanthropy with selected investments in child and family services. The foundation’s grantmaking is not broad-based across many unrelated fields; it is comparatively focused and institutionally oriented. Recipients include federations, campus Jewish groups, medical centers, and national Jewish conveners, with the largest checks going to organizations that can coordinate programming, advocacy, or relief at scale.
What Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation Funds
Jewish communal infrastructure is a major thread in the foundation’s portfolio. It gave 333,334 dollars to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for the Second Century Campaign and 300,000 dollars to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for PJ Library Alliance’s work in North America, both pointing to support for Jewish connection and community-building through established networks. Campus life and security also appear as a distinct area of support. Hillel International received 200,000 dollars for the Campus Climate Initiative, and Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life received 150,000 dollars for Campus Security & Strong Communities. Those grants tie Jewish student experience to both climate and safety. The foundation also funds child and family services. Childrens Hospital Foundation received 480,000 dollars for early childhood mental health in primary care, while DC Public Education Fund received 200,000 dollars for Ready for Pre-K! These grants connect its civic-learning and family-wellbeing priorities to early education and behavioral health.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.3M
Total Assets
$142.5M
Total Revenue
$7.2M
Total Expenses
$6.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $91K, with a median of $27K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$27K
75th Percentile
$91K
Geographic Reach
National16 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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