The Shusterman Foundation concentrates its giving in the Philadelphia region, funding a mix of higher education, Jewish communal institutions, historic preservation, and civil liberties work. Grants are primarily unrestricted and directed to organizations that serve Jewish education and community life (multiple gifts to Gratz College and a synagogue), local university initiatives (Temple University), neighborhood preservation, and civil rights advocacy. The foundation favors a small number of sizable, flexible awards rather than many tiny project-specific grants.
Concentrated, relatively few but substantial unrestricted grants—including repeat multi-year support to select grantees—focused on local institutions rather than broad national grantmaking.
A 2025 $105,000 unrestricted grant to Temple University is the clearest signal in the Shusterman Foundation’s recent giving: it backs institutions with flexible support, often at meaningful scale, and does so repeatedly over several years. The foundation’s recent grants also show sustained support for Jewish education and communal life, with three consecutive $30,000 unrestricted awards to Gratz College and additional gifts to Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and Temple Sholom in Broomall. Alongside that cluster, the foundation funds civil liberties work through the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and related organizations, and it supports preservation and cultural institutions in the Philadelphia area. Most awards are unrestricted, which suggests the foundation often prioritizes organizational strength over narrowly defined projects. Its giving pattern mixes larger anchor grants with a series of smaller recurring gifts, including support for local institutions in Philadelphia and nearby communities, plus selected national organizations with Pennsylvania ties or relevance to the foundation’s interests.
Jewish education and communal institutions appear throughout the recent grant record. The foundation gave $30,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to Gratz College, all unrestricted, and it also supported Jewish Family and Children’s Services with $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2025. Community Jewish life is also reflected in $16,000 to Temple Sholom in Broomall in 2025 and $10,000 in 2023 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Civil liberties is another clear thread: the foundation awarded $35,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania in 2025 and $10,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union of New York in 2024. Preservation and cultural work shows up through $25,000 in 2024 and $22,500 in 2025 to Responsible Preservation Inc., both unrestricted.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s annual giving, with a p25 of $500, a median of $1,800, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent record also includes a small number of much larger awards, including six-figure and mid-five-figure grants, which indicates a layered approach rather than a single grant size. Recipients appear across multiple years in several cases: Gratz College, Responsible Preservation Inc., Temple University, Temple Sholom in Broomall, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and American Technion Society all received repeat support. The foundation is a regular funder and the grants listed are overwhelmingly unrestricted, including core support style language such as “UNRESTRICTED.”
$293K
$3.3M
$727K
$369K
Most grants fall between $500 and $10K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Temple University, Gratz College, Responsible Preservation Inc, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Temple Sholom in Broomall
Most grants land in Pennsylvania, with 68% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Philadelphia is the most visible city in the record, including grants to Temple University, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Responsible Preservation Inc., Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and Hias Pennsylvania. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation gives frequently in New York, which is the top state by grant count, with recipients such as Anti-Defamation League (NY), Women Make Movies, and the American Committee Weizmann Institute. Washington, DC also appears multiple times through American Constitution Society and NPR.
Recent grants show support for higher education, Jewish communal institutions, historic preservation, and civil liberties. Examples include Temple University, Gratz College, Responsible Preservation Inc., the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services.
Yes. The recent grants listed are labeled unrestricted across the record, including awards to Temple University, Gratz College, Temple Sholom in Broomall, and Responsible Preservation Inc.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Gratz College in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Responsible Preservation Inc. in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Temple University in 2023 and 2025; and Jewish Family and Children’s Services in 2023 and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is small-to-mid sized for most awards, with a p25 of $500, a median of $1,800, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent list also includes larger outliers, such as $105,000 to Temple University and $35,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania receives 68% of the grants in the data, and Philadelphia is the main recipient city. New York is the top state by grant count overall, showing that the foundation also funds beyond its HQ state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $105,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| GRATZ COLLEGE | MELROSE PARK, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| RESPONSIBLE PRESERVATION INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $22,500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| TEMPLE SHOLOM IN BROOMALL | BROOMALL, PA | $16,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN CONSITUTION SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| THE CENTER FOR COSMOPOLITAN CULTURE INC | BOCA RATAN, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY | CONSHOHOCKEN, PA | $6,500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS | MERRIFLIELD, VA | $6,100 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (NY) | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| HIAS PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $6,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,200 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GR PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| NPR | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH | BOCA RATAN, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WEITZMAN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY HISTORIC SITE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| K-T SUPPORT IN MEMORY OF SUE ALBERT | MILFORD, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| BICOL CLINIC FOUNDATION | BOCA RATON, FL | $500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| NORTHEASTERN HILLEL | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| HILLEL AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| HILLEL AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $400 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WXPN-FM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WRTI | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WHYY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| ATHENAUEM OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200 | 2025 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| GRATZ COLLEGE | MELROSE PARK, PA | $30,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| RESPONSIBLE PRESERVATION INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (NY) | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WOMEN MAKE MOVIES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN CONSITUTION SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WOODMERE ART MUSEUM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY | CONSHOHOCKEN, PA | $6,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| TEMPLE SHOLOM IN BROOMALL | BROOMALL, PA | $3,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| THE UC BERKLEY FOUNDATION | BERKLEY, CA | $1,800 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| HILLEL AT PENN | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,800 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| HILLEL AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,800 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| BICOL CLINIC FOUNDATION | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| BRYN MAWR COLLEGE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (PA) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| WEITZMAN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
| ROCK HALL VOLUNTEER FIRE CO | ROCK HALL, MD | $500 | 2024 | "UNRESTRICTED" |
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF PENNSYLVANIA
$35,000"UNRESTRICTED"
RESPONSIBLE PRESERVATION INC
$22,500"UNRESTRICTED"
TEMPLE SHOLOM IN BROOMALL
$16,000"UNRESTRICTED"
AMERICAN CONSITUTION SOCIETY
$15,000"UNRESTRICTED"
THE CENTER FOR COSMOPOLITAN CULTURE INC
$10,000"UNRESTRICTED"
AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY
$6,500"UNRESTRICTED"
WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS
$6,100"UNRESTRICTED"
HIAS PENNSYLVANIA
$6,000"UNRESTRICTED"
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GR PHILADELPHIA
$5,000"UNRESTRICTED"
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH
$2,500"UNRESTRICTED"
WEITZMAN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
$1,000"UNRESTRICTED"
K-T SUPPORT IN MEMORY OF SUE ALBERT
$1,000"UNRESTRICTED"
BICOL CLINIC FOUNDATION
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
NORTHEASTERN HILLEL
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
HILLEL AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PHILADELPHIA
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
HILLEL AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
ATHENAUEM OF PHILADELPHIA
$200"UNRESTRICTED"
RESPONSIBLE PRESERVATION INC
$25,000"UNRESTRICTED"
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NEW YORK
$10,000"UNRESTRICTED"
AMERICAN CONSITUTION SOCIETY
$10,000"UNRESTRICTED"
AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY
$6,000"UNRESTRICTED"
TEMPLE SHOLOM IN BROOMALL
$3,000"UNRESTRICTED"
THE UC BERKLEY FOUNDATION
$1,800"UNRESTRICTED"
HILLEL AT PENN
$1,800"UNRESTRICTED"
HILLEL AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
$1,800"UNRESTRICTED"
BICOL CLINIC FOUNDATION
$1,000"UNRESTRICTED"
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (PA)
$1,000"UNRESTRICTED"
WEITZMAN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
$500"UNRESTRICTED"
ROCK HALL VOLUNTEER FIRE CO
$500"UNRESTRICTED"