The Rifkin Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy locally in Fort Wayne with a strong emphasis on Jewish communal and religious life, making major, repeat gifts to the Fort Wayne Jewish Federation. A secondary interest is health/mental-health advocacy focused on eating disorder awareness and positive body image. Overall the foundation gives few, relatively large grants to a small set of organizations serving community and wellbeing priorities.
A $250,000 grant to the Fort Wayne Jewish Federation in 2024 stands out in the Rifkin Family Foundation’s recent record and points to a clear pattern: sustained support for Jewish communal life in Fort Wayne. The foundation has made repeated gifts to the federation over multiple years, including additional $100,000 grants in 2025 and 2023, alongside other religious gifts in the city such as Congregation Achduth Vesholom. That local emphasis sits next to a second, distinct line of giving in health advocacy, especially eating disorder awareness and positive body image, where the foundation backed the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness in West Palm Beach. Medical and community wellbeing show up elsewhere too, from glaucoma research at Boston University to children’s health support through Nicklaus Children’s Hc Foundation. The result is a grantmaking profile that mixes community-based religious support with targeted health, education, and family-service grants. It gives to a relatively small set of organizations, and several recipients appear more than once across the recent grant record, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Jewish communal institutions are the clearest thread in the foundation’s giving. In 2024, it awarded $250,000 to the Fort Wayne Jewish Federation for religious purposes, and it also gave $100,000 in both 2025 and 2023 to the same federation. A related religious grant went to Congregation Achduth Vesholom in Fort Wayne for $24,200 in 2024. Health advocacy is another recurring theme. The foundation gave $106,071 in 2025 and $58,182 in 2024 to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Inc for promoting positive body image, self esteem, and awareness of eating disorders. Medical support also appears in grants such as $60,000 to Trustees of Boston University for glaucoma research and $31,500 to Nicklaus Children’s Hc Foundation to support children’s medical costs. Smaller grants extend to education, nutrition, and family support.
Typical grant size is modest-to-midrange: the 25th percentile is $2,500, the median is $7,356, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. At the same time, the recent record includes several six-figure awards, showing a wide spread between routine support and larger commitments. The same recipients appear in multiple years, especially in Jewish communal support, glaucoma research, and eating-disorder awareness, which indicates recurring relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a private family foundation and funds individuals as well as organizations. No application process is described in the data.
$540K
$11.7M
$1M
$607K
Most grants fall between $3K and $25K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large grants with repeat support to a single flagship grantee (Fort Wayne Jewish Federation), plus targeted sizable funding to a niche health advocacy organization.
Notable grantees: Fort Wayne Jewish Federation, Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Inc
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Indiana, with 64% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Fort Wayne appears repeatedly in the recipient list, including Fort Wayne Jewish Federation, Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc, Congregation Achduth Vesholom, Blessings in a Back Pack Inc, and The Literacy Alliance Inc. Outside Indiana, Florida is the top state by grant count, with grants going to West Palm Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Tequesta. All recorded grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
The clearest focus areas are Jewish communal and religious life in Fort Wayne and health advocacy around eating disorders and body image. The recent record also includes glaucoma research, children’s medical support, cancer patient assistance, education, nutrition, and family support.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the Fort Wayne Jewish Federation, Trustees of Boston University, the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Inc, Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc, Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope Inc, Mia's Miracles Foundation, The Literacy Alliance Inc, and Indiana Golf Foundation.
The grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards, with a 25th percentile of $2,500, a median of $7,356, and a 75th percentile of $25,000. The recent record also includes larger awards, such as $250,000 and $106,071.
Indiana receives 64% of the grants, and Fort Wayne recipients appear frequently in the recent list. Florida is the top state by grant count outside Indiana, with recipients in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Tequesta.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, in addition to organizations, and its recent grants show a mix of health, education, religious, and family-service support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $106,071 | 2025 | PROMOTES POSITIVE BODYIMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM& AWARENESS OF EATING DISORDERS |
| FORT WAYNE JEWISH FEDERATION | Fort Wayne, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | GLAUCOMA RESEARCHFUND |
| FORT WAYNE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $35,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERPROGRAM |
| MIA'S MIRACLES FOUNDATION | TEQUESTA, FL | $27,785 | 2025 | SUPPORT FAMILIESFACING CHALLENGES |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | IU GOLF COURSECAPITAL PROJECT |
| TEACH OUR CHILDREN FUND INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION LEANINGDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN |
| INDIANA GOLF FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL GOLFCAMPAIGN |
| CANCER ALLIANCE OF HELP AND HOPE INC | PALM BEARCH, FL | $21,100 | 2025 | ASSIST CANCERPATIENTS |
| BLESSINGS IN A BACK PACK INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,300 | 2025 | ASSISTS IN NUTRITIONALNEEDS FOR CHILDREN |
| FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | PROVIDES SUPPORTFOR CONCERTS PROGRAM |
| THE LITERACY ALLIANCE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC SERVICES |
| CONGREGATION ACHDUTH VESHOLOM | FORT WAYNE, IN | $14,910 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| INT'L ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES | JENKINTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PUBLIC ACCESS & RESEARCH TO JEWISH FAMILY HISTORY |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTS ISRAELS EMERGENCYSERVICES SYSTEM |
| SELFLESS LOVE FOUNDATION | JUPITER, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | FOSTERING DREAMSFOR FOSTER CHILDREN |
| THE ISRAEL ADVOCACY GROUP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTS ISRAELAROUND THE WORLD |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDES SUPPORT &PROMOTES BRAIN HEALTH |
| FORT WAYNE BALLET INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE QUALITY PERFORMANCESDANCE EDUCATION, AND SERVICE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FORT WAYNE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDES EDUCATIONALSUPPORT AND HOT MEALSFOR UNDERPRIVLEGED CHILDREN |
| HEARING THE OVARIAN CANCER WHISPER INC | JUPITER, FL | $2,800 | 2025 | RESEARCH IN OVARIAN CANCER |
| TURNSTONE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $2,500 | 2025 | SERVICES TO DISABLEDINDIVIDUALS |
| HMF NSDAR | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT DAR |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | OPTHALMOLOGYACADEMIC FUND |
| MILFORD FOOD BANK INC | MILFORD, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDES FOOD TO THEHUNGRY KOSCIUSKO CTY INDIANA |
| ORLAND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT INC | ORLAND, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FIRE AND RESCUESERVICES NW STEUBEN CTY |
| AUSTIN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | AUSTIN, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP |
| ZETA BETA TAU FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN INDIANA FOUNDATION INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $300 | 2025 | PROVIDES CHILDRENWITH LESSONSIN FINANCIAL LITERACY |
| FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S CHOIR | FORT WAYNE, IN | $250 | 2025 | SUPPORTS TEACHING MUSIC LITERACYTO CHILDREN AND TEENS |
| FORT WAYNE JEWISH FEDERATION | Fort Wayne, IN | $250,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2024 | GLAUCOMA RESEARCHFUND |
| ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $58,182 | 2024 | PROMOTES POSITIVE BODYIMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM& AWARENESS OF EATING DISORDERS |
| FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | DEFENDING FREE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES |
| FORT WAYNE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $35,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERPROGRAM |
| NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HC FOUNDATION | NORTH PALM BEACH, FL | $31,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT CHILDRENSMEDICAL COSTS |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $27,000 | 2024 | IU GOLF COURSECAPITAL PROJECT |
| INDIANA GOLF FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL GOLFCAMPAIGN |
| CANCER ALLIANCE OF HELP AND HOPE INC | PALM BEARCH, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | ASSIST CANCERPATIENTS |
| CONGREGATION ACHDUTH VESHOLOM | FORT WAYNE, IN | $24,200 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| THE LITERACY ALLIANCE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,000 | 2024 | ACADEMIC SERVICES |
| TEACH OUR CHILDREN FUND INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION LEANINGDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN |
| CANTERBURY FUND | FORT WAYNE, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | STUDENT SPORTS |
| BLESSINGS IN A BACK PACK INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $8,700 | 2024 | ASSISTS IN NUTRITIONALNEEDS FOR CHILDREN |
| FORT WAYNE BALLET INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE QUALITY PERFORMANCESDANCE EDUCATION, AND SERVICE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FORT WAYNE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | PROVIDES EDUCATIONALSUPPORT AND HOT MEALSFOR UNDERPRIVLEGED CHILDREN |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | PROVIDES SUPPORT &PROMOTES BRAIN HEALTH |
| JACK MARTIN FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | FUND CHILD AND ADOLESCENT IMAGING CENTER |
| CANCER SERVICES OF NE INDIANA | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT CANCERPATIENTS & FAMILY |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHEAST INDIANA INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $4,268 | 2024 | PROVIDES MENTORINGPROGRAMS TO CHILDREN |
ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS INC
$106,071PROMOTES POSITIVE BODYIMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM& AWARENESS OF EATING DISORDERS
FORT WAYNE JEWISH FEDERATION
$100,000RELIGIOUS
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$60,000GLAUCOMA RESEARCHFUND
MIA'S MIRACLES FOUNDATION
$27,785SUPPORT FAMILIESFACING CHALLENGES
IU GOLF COURSECAPITAL PROJECT
TEACH OUR CHILDREN FUND INC
$25,000EDUCATION LEANINGDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
THE LITERACY ALLIANCE INC
$15,000ACADEMIC SERVICES
CONGREGATION ACHDUTH VESHOLOM
$14,910RELIGIOUS
INT'L ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES
$10,000SUPPORT PUBLIC ACCESS & RESEARCH TO JEWISH FAMILY HISTORY
SUPPORTS ISRAELS EMERGENCYSERVICES SYSTEM
THE ISRAEL ADVOCACY GROUP
$5,000SUPPORTS ISRAELAROUND THE WORLD
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$5,000PROVIDES SUPPORT &PROMOTES BRAIN HEALTH
FORT WAYNE BALLET INC
$5,000PROVIDE QUALITY PERFORMANCESDANCE EDUCATION, AND SERVICE
PROVIDES EDUCATIONALSUPPORT AND HOT MEALSFOR UNDERPRIVLEGED CHILDREN
HEARING THE OVARIAN CANCER WHISPER INC
$2,800RESEARCH IN OVARIAN CANCER
SERVICES TO DISABLEDINDIVIDUALS
HMF NSDAR
$2,500SUPPORT DAR
ORLAND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT INC
$1,000SUPPORT FIRE AND RESCUESERVICES NW STEUBEN CTY
AUSTIN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
$1,000ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP
ZETA BETA TAU FOUNDATION
$1,000ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN INDIANA FOUNDATION INC
$300PROVIDES CHILDRENWITH LESSONSIN FINANCIAL LITERACY
FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S CHOIR
$250SUPPORTS TEACHING MUSIC LITERACYTO CHILDREN AND TEENS
FORT WAYNE JEWISH FEDERATION
$250,000RELIGIOUS
PROMOTES POSITIVE BODYIMAGE AND SELF ESTEEM& AWARENESS OF EATING DISORDERS
DEFENDING FREE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES
NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HC FOUNDATION
$31,500SUPPORT CHILDRENSMEDICAL COSTS
CONGREGATION ACHDUTH VESHOLOM
$24,200RELIGIOUS
THE LITERACY ALLIANCE INC
$15,000ACADEMIC SERVICES
TEACH OUR CHILDREN FUND INC
$15,000EDUCATION LEANINGDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
CANTERBURY FUND
$10,000STUDENT SPORTS
FORT WAYNE BALLET INC
$5,000PROVIDE QUALITY PERFORMANCESDANCE EDUCATION, AND SERVICE
PROVIDES EDUCATIONALSUPPORT AND HOT MEALSFOR UNDERPRIVLEGED CHILDREN
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$5,000PROVIDES SUPPORT &PROMOTES BRAIN HEALTH
JACK MARTIN FUND
$5,000FUND CHILD AND ADOLESCENT IMAGING CENTER
CANCER SERVICES OF NE INDIANA
$5,000SUPPORT CANCERPATIENTS & FAMILY
PROVIDES MENTORINGPROGRAMS TO CHILDREN