The Paul L Newman Foundation concentrates its modest giving on Jewish communal institutions and related social services, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia area and Israeli-focused causes. Grants are typically unrestricted contributions supporting operating needs, and the foundation shows a pattern of repeat, concentrated support to a handful of organizations rather than broad, one-off giving.
Concentrated, small-foundation portfolio: few grants overall with large shares going to repeat beneficiaries; primarily unrestricted contributions to core grantees rather than many small, diverse awards.
PEF Endowment Funds, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind
The Paul L Newman Foundation’s largest recent grant was a $61,933 unrestricted contribution to the Jewish Federation of Greater Phila in Philadelphia. That single gift points to the foundation’s core pattern: flexible support for Jewish communal institutions, with a strong Philadelphia-area emphasis and a smaller stream of Israel-related and social-service grants. The foundation’s recent filings also show repeat support for Pef Endowment Funds in New York, Israel Guide Dog Center for the Bli in Warrington, and Project Home in Philadelphia, suggesting a narrow set of recurring partners rather than broad, one-time outreach. Its giving is modest in scale but consistent in intent. Grants are labeled unrestricted contribution across the recent list, including support for community endowments, synagogue and federation institutions, and organizations serving people with visual impairment. The presence of repeated gifts to Jewish Children and Family Svc, Lower Merion Synagogue, and Bala Cynwyd Library also shows attention to community-based institutions in the Greater Philadelphia area. Across the recent grants list, the foundation supports both Jewish communal infrastructure and selected social-service organizations, with Philadelphia and nearby Montgomery County appearing often among recipient locations.
A central theme in the foundation’s work is Jewish communal support in Greater Philadelphia. It gave $61,933 to Jewish Federation of Greater Phila for unrestricted contribution, and also supported Kosloff Torah Academy in Bala Cynwyd with $10,673 in 2025. Another recurring area is Israel-focused or Israel-connected charitable support. The foundation provided $51,704 to Pef Endowment Funds in New York in 2025, following earlier unrestricted grants of $21,223 in 2024 and $20,630 in 2023, and it also gave $10,179 to Keren Or in New York in 2024. A third thread is services for people with visual impairment and related social services. Israel Guide Dog Center for the Bli in Warrington received $23,290 in 2024, $16,973 in 2025, and $6,258 in 2023. The foundation also made unrestricted gifts to Project Home in Philadelphia and to Jewish Children and Family Svc.
The typical grant size is small: p25 is $420, median is $620, and p75 is $2,025. That distribution fits a foundation that makes many modest unrestricted gifts, alongside a smaller number of larger anchor grants. The recent list shows repeated support to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Pef Endowment Funds, Israel Guide Dog Center for the Bli, Project Home, Lower Merion Synagogue, Bala Cynwyd Library, and Jewish Children and Family Svc. The foundation is not a pass-through or individual-giving vehicle; it funds organizations only. Grants appear to be discretionary and generally labeled unrestricted contribution, with a recipient-determined use approach.
$106K
$1.3M
$350K
$120K
Most grants fall between $420 and $2K, with a median of $620.
25th Percentile
$420
Median
$620
75th Percentile
$2K
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The foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 61% of grants go to recipients in its HQ state, and PA is also the top state by grant count. Philadelphia appears frequently, including grants to Jewish Federation of Greater Phila, Project Home, Jewish Children and Family Svc, Chevra, Anti-defamation League, Philadelphia Foundation, and Free Library of Philadelphia. Outside Pennsylvania, recipients include New York, NY; Warrington, PA; Bala Cynwyd, PA; Ardmore, PA; Sarasota, FL; and Charlotte, NC. All recorded grants in the provided distribution are to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants center on Jewish communal institutions and related services, especially in Greater Philadelphia. Examples include Jewish Federation of Greater Phila, Kosloff Torah Academy, Lower Merion Synagogue, Jewish Children and Family Svc, and Philadelphia-based community organizations.
The grant-size distribution is small: p25 is $420, median is $620, and p75 is $2,025. Even the larger recent gifts remain focused on modest, unrestricted support rather than large project grants.
Yes. The recent record shows multiple-year support to the same recipients, including Pef Endowment Funds in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Israel Guide Dog Center for the Bli in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Jewish Children and Family Svc in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and 61% of grants go to recipients in PA. Philadelphia and nearby Montgomery County places such as Bala Cynwyd, Warrington, and Ardmore appear repeatedly in the recent grants list.
The recent grants are labeled unrestricted contribution, and the pattern is flexible support to organizations rather than individuals. The foundation does not fund individuals and has no program-related investments listed.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEF ENDOWMENT FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $51,704 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLI | WARRINGTON, PA | $16,973 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| KOSLOFF TORAH ACADEMY | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $10,673 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $4,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $3,650 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| BALA CYNWYD LIBRARY | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $2,925 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILY SVC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,800 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESIRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $750 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| HILLEL-UNIV OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $520 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH CEMETERIES OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| UNION FIRE ASSOCIATION | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $480 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CONGREGATION SHAARE ORAH | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $447 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION | NEW YORK, NY | $360 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | CHARLOTTE, NC | $360 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $300 | 2025 | UNRESITRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CAMP GAN ISRAEL | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $250 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| HOSPICE OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $250 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| KEREN OR | NEW YORK, NY | $120 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $61,933 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLI | WARRINGTON, PA | $23,290 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PEF ENDOWMENT FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $21,223 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| KEREN OR | NEW YORK, NY | $10,179 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $3,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| BALA CYNWYD LIBRARY | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $2,100 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MERION | ARDMORE, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILY SVC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,800 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CHEVRA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | CHARLOTTE, NC | $740 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION | NEW YORK, NY | $620 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CONGREGATION SHAARE ORAH | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $600 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| GRATZ COLLEGE | MELROSE PARK, PA | $500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| YESHIVE UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $360 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CAMP GAN ISRAEL | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $350 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PEF ENDOWMENT FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $20,630 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $12,101 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLI | WARRINGTON, PA | $6,258 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $2,672 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| BALA CYNWYD LIBRARY | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $2,190 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILY SVC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,800 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CHEVRA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,200 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| PROJECT 180 | SARASOTA, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| AMIT | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $620 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION | NEW YORK, NY | $610 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| CONGREGATION SHAARE ORAH | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $600 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| SALVATION ARMY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
| GRATZ COLLEGE | MELROSE PARK, PA | $500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION |
PEF ENDOWMENT FUNDS
$51,704UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLI
$16,973UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE
$3,650UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
BALA CYNWYD LIBRARY
$2,925UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILY SVC
$1,800UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
$1,000UNRESIRICTED CONTRIBUTION
HILLEL-UNIV OF CINCINNATI
$520UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH CEMETERIES OF CINCINNATI
$500UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
UNION FIRE ASSOCIATION
$480UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CONGREGATION SHAARE ORAH
$447UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$360UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CAMP GAN ISRAEL
$250UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
HOSPICE OF CINCINNATI
$250UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
PEF ENDOWMENT FUNDS
$21,223UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE
$3,000UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
BALA CYNWYD LIBRARY
$2,100UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
TOWNSHIP OF LOWER MERION
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILY SVC
$1,800UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CHEVRA
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$740UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CONGREGATION SHAARE ORAH
$600UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
GRATZ COLLEGE
$500UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
YESHIVE UNIVERSITY
$360UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CAMP GAN ISRAEL
$350UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
PEF ENDOWMENT FUNDS
$20,630UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
LOWER MERION SYNAGOGUE
$2,672UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
BALA CYNWYD LIBRARY
$2,190UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILY SVC
$1,800UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CHEVRA
$1,200UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
AMIT
$620UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
CONGREGATION SHAARE ORAH
$600UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION
SALVATION ARMY
$500UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION