The Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and Israel-related education, channeling large gifts to prominent Jewish institutions. Grants are sizable and targeted, supporting community-building in New York and Jewish/Israel education initiatives at national level.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants to established Jewish institutions rather than many small awards; funds are directed to flagship organizations rather than grassroots groups.
A $1.21 million grant to Uja Federation of New York stands out in the Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation’s recent giving, showing the scale at which it supports Jewish communal infrastructure. The foundation’s largest grants go to established institutions rather than individuals, with repeated support for federations, schools, synagogues, and organizations tied to Jewish education and Israel-related learning. Its recent record also includes six-figure gifts to the American Israel Education Foundation and the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, alongside support for campus and congregational institutions. The pattern points to a grantmaker focused on organized Jewish life, educational programming, and community institutions that serve adults, students, and congregations. Gifts range from moderate operating support to larger institutional awards, and the foundation gives nationally while maintaining a strong concentration in New York. Recent recipients also include organizations in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Jerusalem, indicating a mix of local community support and broader Jewish education and advocacy funding.
Jewish community building is a central theme in the foundation’s portfolio. In 2024, it gave $1.21 million to Uja Federation of New York for Jewish community building, and it also awarded $200,000 to the same federation in 2025. The Jewish Federations of North America received $100,000 in 2024 for Jewish community building. Israel-related education and advocacy are another visible line of support. The foundation gave $319,559 in 2023, $264,000 in 2024, and $262,240 in 2025 to the American Israel Education Foundation, all tagged education. It also gave $200,000 in 2024 and $105,000 in 2025 to the Jewish Institute for National Security of America. Campus and religious education appear as recurring areas as well. The Leffell School received $261,200 in 2024, while Emory Jewish Student Center Inc - Chabad at Emory received $100,000 in 2023. Sinai Temple received $125,000 in 2024 and $75,000 in 2025.
Typical grants cluster at a moderate institutional scale: p25 is $5,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $50,000. The recent grants list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Uja Federation of New York, American Israel Education Foundation, Commentary Magazine, Sinai Temple, and Foundation for Defense of Democracies. That suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time checks. The foundation operates through grantmaking only and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The giving profile fits a family foundation structure, with largely program- and operating-oriented support.
$1.9M
$16.9M
$2M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Lisa & Michael Leffell Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 154 | $7.2M | 96.3% |
| 2 | Israel |
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Notable grantees: UJA Federation of New York, American Israel Education Foundation
Grant recipients are concentrated in the United States, which accounts for 154 grants, or 96.2% of the recent total. New York is the top state by grant count, and 54% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. New York City appears frequently in the recent list, including New York, NY grantees such as Uja Federation of New York, Commentary Magazine, and Steven Wise Free Synagogue. Outside New York, grants also land in Washington, DC; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Miami; and Jerusalem.
Its recent grants center on Jewish communal life, Jewish and Israel education, congregational institutions, campus Jewish life, and related advocacy groups. Recipients include federations, synagogues, schools, Hillel-related student centers, and organizations connected to Israel education and national security.
Yes. The recent grants list includes multiple-year support to several organizations, such as Uja Federation of New York, American Israel Education Foundation, Commentary Magazine, Sinai Temple, and Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Its recent awards also include larger institutional grants above $100,000.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 54% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. The recent list also includes recipients in Washington, DC; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Miami; and Jerusalem.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 |
| $107K |
1.9% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 3 | $15K | 1.9% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $262,240 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UJA FEDERATION OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | JEWISH COMMUNITY BUILDING |
| GREATER MIAMI FEDERATION | MIAMI, FL | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $105,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SINAI TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION |
| STEVEN WISE FREE SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
| COMMENTARY MAGAZINE | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND MEDIA |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL CENTER | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $55,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
| MOISHE HOUSE | ENCINITAS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR ISRAEL EDUCATION | ATLANTA, GA | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FUENTE LATINA | MIAMI, FL | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| IMAGINATION PRODUCTIONS INC | SUNRISE, FL | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NATIONAL BLACK EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL | CASPER, WY | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ZIONESS MOVEMENT | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE LEFFELL SCHOOL | HARTSDALE, NY | $33,955 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SIXPOINT INC | SAINT PETERSBURG, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| STARDUST FERTILITY FOUNDATION | SCARSDALE, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JLENS | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY |
| TABLET MAGAZINE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TEACH NYSTHE UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HADAR INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FJC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMMES TO SUPPORT THE SOLIDERS |
| ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| A WIDER BRIDGE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CENTER FOR PEACE COMMUNICATIONS | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ELNET | SKOKIE, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | HOSPITAL |
| YOUNG ISRAEL OF SCARSDALE | SCARSDALE, NY | $12,913 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
| THE LOUIS D BRANDEIS CENTER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY |
| COMMUNITY RELATIONS POLICE FOUNDATION | NORTH MIAMI, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INSTITUTE FOR A SECURE AMERICA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PROJECT ALS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| THE SHALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTHEAST | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND EDUCATION |
| WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER ASSOCIATION PLANT FUND | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | JEWISH COMMUNITY BUILDING |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ZIONIST RABBINIC COALITION | POTOMAC, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
| THE TIKVAH FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HENRY JACKSON SOCIETY | MILLBANK, LO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAYANOT INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES | JERUSALEM, JE | $3,600 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| AVENTURA TURNBERRY JEWISH CENTER | AVENTURA, FL | $2,875 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
| JEWISH FUNDERS NETWORK | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CL CENTER NURSERY SCHOOL | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FRIENDS OF DUVDEVAN | FARMINGTON HILLS, MI | $1,800 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EMORY JEWISH STUDENT CENTER INC | ATLANTA, GA | $1,800 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$262,240EDUCATION
GREATER MIAMI FEDERATION
$110,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE
SINAI TEMPLE
$75,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
STEVEN WISE FREE SYNAGOGUE
$75,000RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
COMMENTARY MAGAZINE
$75,000PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND MEDIA
TEMPLE ISRAEL CENTER
$55,000RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
NATIONAL BLACK EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL
$40,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE LEFFELL SCHOOL
$33,955EDUCATION
STARDUST FERTILITY FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JLENS
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TABLET MAGAZINE
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TEACH NYSTHE UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS
$25,000EDUCATION
HADAR INSTITUTE
$25,000EDUCATION
EDUCATION, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMMES TO SUPPORT THE SOLIDERS
A WIDER BRIDGE
$20,000EDUCATION
ELNET
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC
$15,000HOSPITAL
YOUNG ISRAEL OF SCARSDALE
$12,913RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
THE LOUIS D BRANDEIS CENTER INC
$10,000CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY
COMMUNITY RELATIONS POLICE FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INSTITUTE FOR A SECURE AMERICA INC
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PROJECT ALS
$10,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTHEAST
$10,000HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND EDUCATION
WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER ASSOCIATION PLANT FUND
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ZIONIST RABBINIC COALITION
$5,000RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
THE TIKVAH FUND INC
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HENRY JACKSON SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MAYANOT INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES
$3,600EDUCATION
AVENTURA TURNBERRY JEWISH CENTER
$2,875RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
CL CENTER NURSERY SCHOOL
$2,500EDUCATION
EMORY JEWISH STUDENT CENTER INC
$1,800EDUCATION