The Lifshitz Charitable Trust focuses its giving on Jewish and Israel-related causes, primarily supporting education for Jewish day schools and organizations that aid Israel's defense and veterans. Grants are targeted and relatively large per award, suggesting a preference for a small set of high-impact, mission-aligned recipients rather than broad, diffuse giving.
Concentrated giving: few, moderately large grants ($50k–$135k) to a small set of organizations, indicating targeted support for repeat thematic priorities rather than many small or experimental grants.
A recurring feature of Melly & Rochelle Lifshitz Charitable Trust’s giving is its support for organizations tied to Israel and Jewish education. The largest recent award in the file was $134,680 to Friends of the Idf in New York, followed by a separate $41,571 grant to Fidf, signaling sustained backing for Israel-related charity work. The trust also makes sizable education grants, including $50,000 each to Ydt Elementary in Far Rockaway and Maalot in Cedarhurst, along with $25,000 to Lapid Yeshiva in Lawrence. That mix points to a pattern of focused, mission-aligned grants rather than a wide spread of small gifts. Other grants reach religious and community institutions such as Chabad Jewish Center of Gilbert, Mikvah USA, and Boca Jewish Center, showing that its funding extends beyond schools to Jewish communal infrastructure. Across the recent grants list, the trust gives only within the United States and shows repeated support for a relatively small set of recipients over time.
Jewish day school education is one of the clearest themes in the trust’s grantmaking. In 2024, it gave $50,000 to Ydt Elementary for education, and it also awarded $25,000 to Lapid Yeshiva for education. Similar support appears in smaller grants to Bais Yaakov Academy, Chaim Berlin, and Mentorah across multiple years. Another cluster centers on Israel-linked community support. The trust gave $39,000 to Chabad Jewish Center of Gilbert for religious work and $35,000 to Mikvah USA in 2023, with another $15,000 to the same organization in 2024. It also supported Avigdors Helping Hand with $23,000 in 2024 and Gateways Organization with $19,500 in 2025, both in the charity category. These awards show a combination of education, religious infrastructure, and charitable services.
Typical grants are in the low-thousands to mid-thousands: the p25 is $1,500, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $10,000. The recent record shows repeat support to the same recipients across years, including Chevra Shaas and Mishnayoth, Mikvah USA, and Mentorah, which suggests an ongoing relationship model rather than one-off awards. The trust appears to make program and general charitable support grants rather than individuals’ awards, and it does not make program-related investments. Its pattern is also concentrated enough that several organizations receive multiple grants in different years.
$83K
$5.6M
$48K
$168K
Most grants fall between $2K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 4% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Friends of the IDF, MAALOT, YDT Elementary
Grant recipients are all in the United States, with New York receiving the largest share of awards and 5% of grants going to recipients in Florida, the headquarters state. New York City-area recipients appear often, including New York, Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, Lawrence, Flushing, and Cedarhurst. Outside New York, the trust gave to organizations in Gilbert, Arizona, Teaneck, New Jersey, Jackson Township, New Jersey, and Boca Raton, Florida. The distribution shows a strong Northeast tilt even though the geographic scope of giving is national.
The recent grants point most clearly to Jewish education, Jewish religious institutions, and Israel-related charity. Examples include support for day schools such as Ydt Elementary and Lapid Yeshiva, as well as organizations like Friends of the Idf and Mikvah USA. The trust also funds Jewish communal groups such as Chabad Jewish Center of Gilbert and Boca Jewish Center.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the low thousands. The 25th percentile is $1,500, the median grant is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, such as $134,680 to Friends of the Idf and $50,000 to two education recipients.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Chevra Shaas and Mishnayoth in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Mikvah USA in 2023 and 2024; and Mentorah in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern suggests ongoing support for selected organizations rather than only one-time grants.
The trust gives nationally within the United States, but New York is the top state by grant count. Recipients also appear in Florida, Arizona, and New Jersey. Within New York, grants land in places such as Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Flushing, and New York City.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH | BROOKLYN, NY | $23,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GATEWAYS ORGANIZATION GATEWAYS ORGANIZATION | MONTEBELLO, NY | $19,500 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| KEREN HATZEDAKA KEREN HATZEDAKA | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $7,200 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| NY SYNAGOGUE NY SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $6,800 | 2025 | SYNAGOGUE |
| MENTORAH MENTORAH | FALLSBURG, NY | $5,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MIKVAH USA MIKVAH USA | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| AVIGDORS HELPING HAND AVIGDORS HELPING HAND | FLUSHING, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| MAAYAN ACADEMY MAAYAN ACADEMY | JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| AMUDIM AMUDIM | NEW YORK, NY | $1,800 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| GIVE FUND GIVE FUND | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| ACHIEZER ACHIEZER | LAWRENCE, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE CEDARHURST YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE CEDARHURST | CEDARHURST, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | SYNAGOGUE |
| SHUVU RETURN SHUVU RETURN | BROOKLYN, NY | $500 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF THE IDF FRIENDS OF THE IDF | NEW YORK, NY | $134,680 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| YDT ELEMENTARY YDT ELEMENTARY | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MAALOT | CEDARHURST, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| FIDF FIDF | NEW YORK, NY | $41,571 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF GILBERT | GILBERT, AZ | $39,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| LAPID YESHIVA LAPID YESHIVA | LAWRENCE, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| AVIGDORS HELPING HAND AVIGDORS HELPING HAND | FLUSHING, NY | $23,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH | BROOKLYN, NY | $22,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH | BROOKLYN, NY | $17,400 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MIKVAH USA MIKVAH USA | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| OUR PLACE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| JEP OF LONG ISLAND | LAWRENCE, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YESHIVAS TIFERE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YESHIVAS TIFERES YISROEL | TEANECK, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CONGREGATION CHONEN V'NOSEN CONGREGATION CHONEN V'NOSEN | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| MAAYAN ACADEMY MAAYAN ACADEMY | JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| BAIS YAAKOV ACADEMY | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| YDT RABBI'S FUND YDT RABBI'S FUND | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| BOCA JEWISH CENTER | BOCA RATON, FL | $8,500 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| MENTORAH MENTORAH | FALLSBURG, NY | $5,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CHAIM BERLIN | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| ANCHOR MENTORING ANCHOR MENTORING | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| AISH GLOBAL INC AISH GLOBAL INC | CLIFTON, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MERKAZ HATORAH COMMUNITY KOLLEL MERKAZ HATORAH COMMUNITY KOLLEL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| PESACH TIKVA | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| HALLANDALE HEBREW CLUB | HALLANDALE BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| CONGREGATION MINCHAS YEHUDA | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| AVIGDORS HELPING HAND | FLUSHING, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NETIV ARYEH AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NETIV ARYEH | MONSEY, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| REFUAH RESOURCES | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| YILC | CEDARHURST, NY | $4,600 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| YESHIVA OF SOUTH SHORE YESHIVA OF SOUTH SHORE | HEWLETT, NY | $3,600 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| YOUNG ISRAEL LAWRENCE CEDARHURST YOUNG ISRAEL LAWRENCE CEDARHURST | CEDARHURST, NY | $3,600 | 2024 | SYNAGOGUE |
| TOMCHEI SHABBOS | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $2,800 | 2024 | HEALTH AND WELFARE |
| CHESED FUND ALEPH INSTITUTE CHESED FUND ALEPH INSTITUTE | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| CONGREGATION CHASDEI LEV CONGREGATION CHASDEI LEV | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,800 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| CHABAD AT HARVARD | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,800 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HERZOG HOSPITAL AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HERZOG HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,800 | 2024 | CHARITY |
CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH
$23,500EDUCATION
GATEWAYS ORGANIZATION GATEWAYS ORGANIZATION
$19,500CHARITY
NY SYNAGOGUE NY SYNAGOGUE
$6,800SYNAGOGUE
MENTORAH MENTORAH
$5,500EDUCATION
CHARITY
MAAYAN ACADEMY MAAYAN ACADEMY
$5,000EDUCATION
AMUDIM AMUDIM
$1,800CHARITY
GIVE FUND GIVE FUND
$1,000CHARITY
ACHIEZER ACHIEZER
$1,000CHARITY
YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE CEDARHURST YOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE CEDARHURST
$1,000SYNAGOGUE
YDT ELEMENTARY YDT ELEMENTARY
$50,000EDUCATION
CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF GILBERT
$39,000RELIGIOUS
LAPID YESHIVA LAPID YESHIVA
$25,000EDUCATION
CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH
$22,000EDUCATION
CHEVRA SHAAS AND MISHNAYOTH
$17,400EDUCATION
OUR PLACE
$10,000EDUCATION
JEP OF LONG ISLAND
$10,000EDUCATION
EDUCATION
CONGREGATION CHONEN V'NOSEN CONGREGATION CHONEN V'NOSEN
$10,000CHARITY
MAAYAN ACADEMY MAAYAN ACADEMY
$10,000EDUCATION
BAIS YAAKOV ACADEMY
$10,000EDUCATION
YDT RABBI'S FUND YDT RABBI'S FUND
$10,000CHARITY
BOCA JEWISH CENTER
$8,500RELIGIOUS
MENTORAH MENTORAH
$5,500EDUCATION
CHAIM BERLIN
$5,000EDUCATION
ANCHOR MENTORING ANCHOR MENTORING
$5,000EDUCATION
PESACH TIKVA
$5,000HEALTH AND WELFARE
HALLANDALE HEBREW CLUB
$5,000RELIGIOUS
CONGREGATION MINCHAS YEHUDA
$5,000RELIGIOUS
REFUAH RESOURCES
$5,000HEALTH AND WELFARE
YILC
$4,600RELIGIOUS
YESHIVA OF SOUTH SHORE YESHIVA OF SOUTH SHORE
$3,600EDUCATION
YOUNG ISRAEL LAWRENCE CEDARHURST YOUNG ISRAEL LAWRENCE CEDARHURST
$3,600SYNAGOGUE
TOMCHEI SHABBOS
$2,800HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHESED FUND ALEPH INSTITUTE CHESED FUND ALEPH INSTITUTE
$2,000CHARITY
CONGREGATION CHASDEI LEV CONGREGATION CHASDEI LEV
$1,800CHARITY
CHABAD AT HARVARD
$1,800RELIGIOUS
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HERZOG HOSPITAL AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HERZOG HOSPITAL
$1,800CHARITY