The Susanna Lachs and Dean Adler Foundation concentrates its giving in the Greater Philadelphia area with a clear emphasis on supporting Jewish communal life (federation, congregations, Hillel, seminary) alongside investments in local education and civic institutions. Grants skew toward general operating support for established organizations—both religious and secular—indicating trust in institutional capacity and long-term relationships. A small number of relatively large grants account for the bulk of its giving, demonstrating a focused rather than highly diversified portfolio.
The Susanna Lachs and Dean Adler Foundation gives its largest recent support to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, including a $705,000 grant in 2024 to mobilize financial and volunteer resources for the community’s most critical priorities. That scale sets the tone for a foundation that favors a small number of substantial awards, often tied to core institutions rather than short-term projects. Its recent giving also reaches Penn Hillel, Adath Israel, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania, pointing to a blend of Jewish communal life, campus engagement, theological education, and Philadelphia-based higher education. General operating support appears often, alongside grants with broader institutional purposes such as research, charitable patient care, and public service. The pattern suggests a funder that backs established organizations in Greater Philadelphia and related Jewish educational and civic settings. Several recipients appear more than once across recent years, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Penn Hillel, Adath Israel, United Way of Greater Philadelphia, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Temple University, and Jewish Learning Venture, which indicates ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Jewish communal institutions are a major thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $318,000 in 2023 to Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia for general operations, and in 2025 it added $50,000 for general operating support to Adath Israel. Campus Jewish life is another clear area: Penn Hillel received $75,000 in 2024 to identify and prioritize local and global community needs, followed by $25,000 in 2025 for general operating support. The foundation also funds Jewish education and leadership development. The Jewish Theological Seminary received $50,000 in 2023 for general operations and $25,000 in 2025 for general operating support. In the education and public-service space, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania received $92,000 in 2024 for education, research, and charitable patient care services, while Temple University received $20,000 in 2025 for general operating support.
Typical grant sizes sit in a fairly tight band: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $45,000. The foundation still makes some much larger awards, but its recent portfolio is anchored by mid-sized grants and repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years. That recurring pattern shows up in the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Penn Hillel, Adath Israel, United Way of Greater Philadelphia, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Temple University, and Jewish Learning Venture. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$240K
$32
$209K
$245K
Most grants fall between $10K and $45K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$45K
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Concentrated, place-based philanthropy: relatively few, often large unrestricted/general-operations grants with repeat funding to core Jewish and local educational institutions rather than many small, one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Penn Hillel, United Way of Greater Philadelphia, The Jewish Theological Seminary, Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Pennsylvania: 77% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Pennsylvania is also the top state by grant count. Philadelphia is the main recipient city, with additional awards in Merion Station, Bryn Mawr, Jenkintown, and Ardmore. Outside Pennsylvania, recent grants also reached New York, NY; Washington, DC; and Cherry Hill, NJ. All recent grants in the dataset went to US recipients.
Its recent grants center on Jewish communal institutions, campus Jewish life, Jewish theological education, Philadelphia-area higher education, and local civic or anti-poverty efforts. Recent examples include funding for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Penn Hillel, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Penn Hillel, Adath Israel, United Way of Greater Philadelphia, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Temple University, and Jewish Learning Venture. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The grant-size distribution is centered on smaller to mid-sized awards: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $20,000, and p75 is $45,000. Recent grants also include larger awards above that range, including $705,000 and $318,000.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and 77% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities in Pennsylvania include Philadelphia, Merion Station, Bryn Mawr, Jenkintown, and Ardmore.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADATH ISRAEL | MERION STATION, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRUSTEES OF UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | NEXTPN INNOVATION FUND |
| PENN HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH LEARNING VENTURE | JENKINTOWN, PA | $18,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION LAW CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF RITTENHOUSE SQUARE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARKYOUTH | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $705,000 | 2024 | TO MOBILIZE FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITIES' MOST CRITICAL PRIORITIES |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $92,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND CHARITABLE PATIENT CARE SERVICES |
| PENN HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $75,000 | 2024 | TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND NEEDS OF THEIR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY |
| ADATH ISRAEL | MERION STATION, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| NPR FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $45,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES |
| THE SHIPLEY SCHOOL | BRYN MAWR, PA | $45,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOP IN EACH STUDENT A LOVE OF LEARNING |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $44,430 | 2024 | TO END INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY |
| ABORTION ACCESS FOR ALL | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $25,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AND SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES |
| TEMPLE HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO MAKE AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO JEWISH LIFE |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION, WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE |
| JEWISH LEARNING VENTURE | JENKINTOWN, PA | $18,000 | 2024 | TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER THOSE SEEKING TO MAKE JEWISH LIFE LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY RELEVANT AND MEANINGFUL |
| PHILADELPHIA SKATING CLUB & HUMANE SOCIETY | ARDMORE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE SPORT, ART, AND HISTORY OF FIGURE SKATING |
| EDUCATION LAW CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO ENSURE ACCESS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN PHILADELPHIA |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE |
| CHILDREN'S RIGHTS BENEFIT OFFICE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE AND HEALTHY |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $318,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ADATH ISRAEL CAPITAL FUND | MERION STATION, PA | $68,200 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PENN HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $45,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE SHIPLEY SCHOOL MAIN ACCOUNT | BRYN MAWR, PA | $45,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE PHILADELPHIA HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $12,438 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WHYY | GREENCASTLE, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RMHC OF THE PHILADELPHIA REGION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EDUCATION LAW CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN SOCIETY EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $8,334 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ABMF | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SHARE FOOD PROGRAM INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UJA FEDERATION NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,800 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
ADATH ISRAEL
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF RITTENHOUSE SQUARE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SPARKYOUTH
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TO MOBILIZE FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITIES' MOST CRITICAL PRIORITIES
TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND CHARITABLE PATIENT CARE SERVICES
TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND NEEDS OF THEIR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY
ADATH ISRAEL
$50,000RELIGIOUS
TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES
TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOP IN EACH STUDENT A LOVE OF LEARNING
ABORTION ACCESS FOR ALL
$25,000TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AND SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES
TEMPLE HILLEL
$25,000TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO MAKE AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO JEWISH LIFE
TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION, WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE
TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER THOSE SEEKING TO MAKE JEWISH LIFE LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY RELEVANT AND MEANINGFUL
TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE SPORT, ART, AND HISTORY OF FIGURE SKATING
TO ENSURE ACCESS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN PHILADELPHIA
TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS BENEFIT OFFICE
$10,000TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE AND HEALTHY
ADATH ISRAEL CAPITAL FUND
$68,200GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE SHIPLEY SCHOOL MAIN ACCOUNT
$45,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE PHILADELPHIA HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION
$12,438GENERAL OPERATIONS
WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ALBERT EINSTEIN SOCIETY EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS