The Marvin Samson Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on a small number of sizable, local institutions in South Jersey, with a clear emphasis on science and cultural institutions, regional health systems, and Jewish communal life. It favors repeat, high-dollar gifts to established organizations rather than many small grants, demonstrating a preference for sustaining core regional institutions that serve education, culture, health, and faith-based community needs.
A single science institution stands out in the Marvin Samson Foundation’s recent giving: the foundation awarded $860,000 to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in 2025. That scale matches a broader pattern of concentrating support on established regional institutions rather than dispersing many small awards. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs museums, health system philanthropy, Jewish communal organizations, and local educational and cultural groups in the Philadelphia–South Jersey corridor. Repeat gifts show long-running relationships, especially with the Franklin Institute, Virtua Foundation, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, and Congregation Beth El. The foundation’s profile also includes support for community health access, synagogue and federation infrastructure, and programs tied to schools and cultural organizations in Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Marlton, Camden, and nearby cities. Its grants are predominantly charitable and remain entirely within the United States in the data provided. The overall picture is of a regional funder that uses a few large awards to sustain anchor institutions across science, healthcare, Jewish life, and local community services.
In science and museum support, the foundation gave $860,000 to the Franklin Institute in 2025 and $160,000 to The Franklin Institute in 2024, indicating repeated backing for a major Philadelphia institution. In healthcare philanthropy, it awarded $235,000 to Virtua Foundation in 2025 and $225,000 to Virtua Health Foundation Inc in 2024, both in Marlton. Jewish communal giving is another clear thread: Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey received $118,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in both 2025 and 2023. The foundation also supports congregational and school-based community infrastructure, including $145,000 to Congregation Beth El in 2025 and $25,000 to Kellman Brown Academy in 2023.
Typical grant sizes range from a $375 first quartile to a $2,500 median and a $19,300 third quartile, showing a mix that includes many modest grants alongside a smaller number of much larger awards. The recent list also shows repeat recipients across multiple years, especially for major institutions in science, health, and Jewish communal life. The foundation makes charitable grants and does not fund individuals or program-related investments. The pattern is concentrated rather than broad-based, with several organizations appearing more than once across 2023 to 2025.
$1.4M
$2.4M
$1.3M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $375 and $19K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$375
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$19K
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a handful of repeat grantees; multi-grant relationships with flagship institutions rather than broad, distributed small awards.
Notable grantees: The Franklin Institute, Virtua Foundation / Virtua Health Foundation, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, Congregation Beth El
Grant dollars land mostly in New Jersey and nearby Philadelphia-area cities. Recipients in Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Marlton, Haddonfield, Camden, and Willingboro appear repeatedly, and Philadelphia is another major destination through institutions such as the Franklin Institute and the American Heart Association. The recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based, with no non-U.S. recipient countries shown. The top giving state by grant count is DC, while 46% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state of New Jersey.
The recent grants point to four main areas: science and museum programming, regional healthcare philanthropy, Jewish communal organizations, and local cultural or educational institutions in South Jersey and the Philadelphia area. Named recipients include the Franklin Institute, Virtua Foundation, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, and Congregation Beth El.
Yes. The recent list includes multi-year support for several recipients, including the Franklin Institute, Virtua Foundation, Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, Congregation Beth El, Cherry Hill Free Clinic, Kellman Brown Academy, and Joseph Lacroce Foundation.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $375 at the 25th percentile, $2,500 at the median, and $19,300 at the 75th percentile. That range sits alongside some much larger awards, including an $860,000 grant to the Franklin Institute.
Its grant recipients are concentrated in the United States, and 46% of grants go to organizations in New Jersey. The recent recipient list also shows frequent giving in the Philadelphia region, including Philadelphia, Marlton, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Camden, Haddonfield, and Willingboro.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $860,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VIRTUA FOUNDATION | MARLTON, NJ | $235,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CONGREGATION BETH EL | VOORHEES, NJ | $145,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHERRY HILL FREE CLINIC | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| KELLMAN BROWN ACADEMY | VOORHEES, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AACHS- CENTRAL ALUMNI STEM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BIKE-A-THON | CARNEGIE, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HAYMAKERS FOR HOPE | WELLESLEY HILLS, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| RAISE THE BAR | CAMDEN, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SISTER2SISTER-RUNWALK | SOMERSET, NJ | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ESTHER RAAB HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & GOODWIN EDUCATION CENTER | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CAMDEN COUNTY | CAMDEN, NJ | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VOORHEES ANIMAL ORPHANAGE | VOORHEES TOWNSHIP, NJ | $200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LEWIS KATZ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COAST GUARD FOUNDATION | STONINGTON, CT | $50 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MOORESTOWN FOP LODGE #109 | MOORESTOWN, NJ | $25 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VIRTUA HEALTH FOUNDATION INC | MARLTON, NJ | $225,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $160,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $118,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CONGREGATION BETH EL | VOORHEES, NJ | $53,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CHERRY HILL FREE CLINIC | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| KELLMAN BROWN ACADEMY | VOORHEES, NJ | $13,600 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CAMDEN COUNTY | CAMDEN, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| VIRTUA FOUNDATION | MARLTON, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| JOSEPH LACROCE FOUNDATION | HADDONFIELD, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| WEITZMAN MUSEUM GALA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BIKE-A-THON | CARNEGIE, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LIONS GATE | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SPCA - PA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $200 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $100 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF THE SMITHSONIAN | WASHINGTON, DC | $55 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| VIRTUA FOUNDATION | MARLTON, NJ | $227,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $160,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| CONGREGATION BETH EL | VOORHEES, NJ | $25,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| KELLMAN BROWN ACADEMY | VOORHEES, NJ | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| DREAM | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| JCP DOWNTOWN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| JOSEPH LACROCE FOUNDATION | HADDONFIELD, NJ | $5,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| THE THREAD | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $2,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| WILLINGBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY | WILLINGBORO, NJ | $1,500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| CONGREGATION BETH EL - RABBI DAVID ENGLANDER SPECIAL FUND | VOORHEES, NJ | $1,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
VIRTUA FOUNDATION
$235,000CHARITABLE
CONGREGATION BETH EL
$145,000CHARITABLE
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY
$100,000CHARITABLE
CHERRY HILL FREE CLINIC
$25,000CHARITABLE
KELLMAN BROWN ACADEMY
$10,000CHARITABLE
AACHS- CENTRAL ALUMNI STEM
$5,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BIKE-A-THON
$1,000CHARITABLE
HAYMAKERS FOR HOPE
$1,000CHARITABLE
RAISE THE BAR
$1,000CHARITABLE
SISTER2SISTER-RUNWALK
$500CHARITABLE
ESTHER RAAB HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & GOODWIN EDUCATION CENTER
$500CHARITABLE
VOORHEES ANIMAL ORPHANAGE
$200CHARITABLE
LEWIS KATZ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$100CHARITABLE
COAST GUARD FOUNDATION
$50CHARITABLE
MOORESTOWN FOP LODGE #109
$25CHARITABLE
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY
$118,000CHARITABLE
CONGREGATION BETH EL
$53,500CHARITABLE
CHERRY HILL FREE CLINIC
$25,000CHARITABLE
JOSEPH LACROCE FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE
WEITZMAN MUSEUM GALA
$5,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BIKE-A-THON
$1,000CHARITABLE
LIONS GATE
$500CHARITABLE
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
$500CHARITABLE
SPCA - PA
$250CHARITABLE
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY
$100,000CHARITABLE
CONGREGATION BETH EL
$25,500CHARITABLE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
DREAM
$10,000CHARITABLE
JCP DOWNTOWN
$10,000CHARITABLE
JOSEPH LACROCE FOUNDATION
$5,500CHARITABLE
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$2,500CHARITABLE
WILLINGBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
$1,500CHARITABLE
CONGREGATION BETH EL - RABBI DAVID ENGLANDER SPECIAL FUND
$1,000CHARITABLE