The Specter Foundation focuses its resources on a small number of large, targeted gifts—primarily supporting anti-hunger work in the Philadelphia region while also backing elite education and youth sports. Its grants emphasize operating support and multi‑installment commitments, with one dominant beneficiary receiving the majority of funding. The foundation mixes local community needs (food security) with institutional philanthropy (independent K–12 school, law school) and competitive sports development.
The Specter Foundation’s grantmaking is defined by a single, outsized commitment to anti-hunger work in Philadelphia: Share Food Program received $3,483,333 in 2025, following two earlier installments of $3,333,333 in 2024 and $3,333,333 in 2023. That sequence shows a foundation willing to underwrite large obligations over multiple years rather than spread resources broadly across many recipients. Alongside that food-security anchor, the foundation has made seven-figure gifts to UC Law San Francisco and Penn Charter School, indicating interest in both legal education and independent K–12 schooling. Its recent record also includes substantial support for competitive squash, with multiple gifts to US Squash and related university programs, as well as recurring support for Jewish community programming through organizations such as Our Generation Speaks and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. The overall pattern is targeted and relationship-driven: a few institutions receive repeated support, often in operating or installment form, while other gifts reinforce community, educational, and athletic priorities.
Anti-hunger work is the clearest theme in the foundation’s recent giving. The Share Food Program was funded at $3,333,333 in 2023 for operating budget support, then again with two more multi-million-dollar installments in 2024 and 2025. Education also appears in two distinct forms: Penn Charter School received $1,000,000 in 2023 for operating support, and UC Law San Francisco received $1,000,000 in 2025. In Jewish community programming, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia received $201,000 in 2025 for Moishe House Philadelphia, and Our Generation Speaks received $144,000 in 2024 plus $82,000 in 2025. Sports philanthropy is another visible line of giving, including $200,000 to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for a Penn squash gift and $100,000 to Drexel University Fund for Drexel squash John D White.
Typical grants are small relative to the foundation’s largest commitments: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,500, and p75 is $10,000. The recent record also shows a small number of much larger, highly concentrated gifts, including repeated installments to the same beneficiary across 2023 through 2025. Several grants are written as operating support, year-two gifts, board contributions, or event sponsorships, which points to a mix of unrestricted support and relationship-based funding. The foundation is an active grantmaker with annual grants of $15,804,720 and funds individuals as well as organizations.
$5.5M
$44.2M
$19.5M
$5.5M
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Highly concentrated giving: few, very large grants with repeat multi‑installment commitments to core grantees. Prefers unrestricted/operating support and multi-year funding rather than many small, one-off grants.
Notable grantees: Share Food Program / SHAREFOOD (multiple large gifts/commitments), UC Law San Francisco, Penn Charter School, US Squash / US Squash Racquets Association
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Pennsylvania, with 70% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Philadelphia is the main hub, appearing repeatedly through Share Food Program, Penn Charter School, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation also supports recipients in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California. The top state by grant count is California, reflecting a broader multi-state footprint even though most grants go to Pennsylvania recipients.
Recent grants show support for anti-hunger work, independent K–12 education, legal education, squash, and Jewish community programming. Examples include Share Food Program, Penn Charter School, UC Law San Francisco, US Squash, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
The grant-size distribution is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,500 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes several much larger commitments, including multi-million-dollar installments and seven-figure gifts.
Yes. The Share Food Program received three consecutive annual installments from 2023 to 2025, and US Squash Racquets Association appears in 2024 and 2025 with both year-two and board-contribution grants. Our Generation Speaks also appears in more than one year.
Most grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania, which accounts for 70% of grants in the data. Philadelphia is especially prominent, with repeated grants to organizations such as Share Food Program, the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Charter School, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
Recent examples include $201,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia for Moishe House Philadelphia, $144,000 and $82,000 to Our Generation Speaks, $126,850 to Cambridge in America, and $53,500 to Tribe 12.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHAREFOOD | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,483,333 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| UC LAW SAN FRANCISCO | LA JOLLA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $201,000 | 2025 | MOISHE HOUSE PHILADELPHIA |
| CAMBRIDGE IN AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $126,850 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | DREXEL SQUASH JOHN D WHITE |
| DELAWARE VALLEY FRIENDS SCHOOL | PAOLI, PA | $83,333 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| OUR GENERATION SPEAKS | WALTHAM, MA | $82,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| TRIBE 12 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $53,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| HAR ZION TEMPLE | PENN VALLEY, PA | $27,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| US SQUASH RACQUETS ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | US SQUASH BOARD CONTRIBUTION |
| US SQUASH RACQUETS ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | YEAR 2 GIFT |
| WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| HOLY REDEEMER HEALTH SYSTEMS DEV DEPT | HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| SQUASH AND EDUCATION ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | 2024 GIFT |
| PERELMAN JEWISH DAY SCHOOL | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $18,000 | 2025 | 2024 TRIBUTE EVENT |
| WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | 2024 ANNUAL FUND |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | WOMEN'S SQUASH ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION |
| HAVERFORD COLLEGE | HAVERFORD, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | HAVERFORD COLLEGE ANNUAL SQUASH GIFT |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| PROJECT HOME | KEENE, NH | $10,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| CHILDREN FIRST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| PHILADELPHIA FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,400 | 2025 | 4/7/2024 EVENT |
| MACCABI USA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART (ASSOCIATES MEMBERSHIP) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 ASSOCIATES MEMBERSHIP |
| EMILY'S ENTROURAGE | ARDMORE, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | OCTOBER 5TH EVENT |
| CHABAD HAVERFORD | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| KLEINLIFE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| LBI JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | SPRAY BEACH, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| LEKET ISRAEL | TEANECK, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 JFCS HONORS EVENT |
| SQUASH DREAMERS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 GIFT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIBI | BRIGHTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | WILLIAM FIELD IAFA GYMNASIUM PROJECT |
| SHARING EXCESS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| MISSION KIDS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | EAST NORRITON, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 MISSION POSSIBLE EVENT |
| TERRELL L BRUCE MEMORIAL FUND | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 TOAST FOR TERRELL EVENT |
| RELEASE RECOVERY FOUNDATION | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| OROT | MELROSE PARK, PA | $3,600 | 2025 | MAY 9TH EVENT |
| BARRACK FAMILY HEBREW ACADEMY | MAWE, PA | $3,600 | 2025 | 2024 COMMITMENT |
| CHILDREN CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| KORESH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| CHABAD SERVING DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | DREXEL CHABAD |
| COALITION AGAINST HUNGER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | PHILLY BRUNCH OFF EVENT |
| PENN HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | PENN HILLEL 2024 GIFT |
| SQUASHDRIVE | EMERYVILLE, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | OLYMPIC CLUB TEAM |
| VETRI COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| BRIDLEWILD | GLADWYNE, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| UC LAW SAN FRANCISCO | LA JOLLA, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | HHP/HAITI STUDENT GROUP |
| THE ROCK SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,500 | 2025 | MAY 3RD EVENT |
SHAREFOOD
$3,483,3332024 DONATION
UC LAW SAN FRANCISCO
$1,000,0002024 DONATION
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
$201,000MOISHE HOUSE PHILADELPHIA
CAMBRIDGE IN AMERICA
$126,8502024 DONATION
DREXEL UNIVERSITY FUND
$100,000DREXEL SQUASH JOHN D WHITE
DELAWARE VALLEY FRIENDS SCHOOL
$83,3332024 DONATION
OUR GENERATION SPEAKS
$82,0002024 DONATION
TRIBE 12
$53,5002024 DONATION
HAR ZION TEMPLE
$27,5002024 DONATION
US SQUASH RACQUETS ASSOCIATION
$25,000US SQUASH BOARD CONTRIBUTION
US SQUASH RACQUETS ASSOCIATION
$25,000YEAR 2 GIFT
WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
$25,0002024 DONATION
HOLY REDEEMER HEALTH SYSTEMS DEV DEPT
$25,0002024 DONATION
SQUASH AND EDUCATION ALLIANCE
$25,0002024 GIFT
PERELMAN JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
$18,0002024 TRIBUTE EVENT
WILLIAM PENN CHARTER SCHOOL
$15,0002024 ANNUAL FUND
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$10,000WOMEN'S SQUASH ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
HAVERFORD COLLEGE
$10,000HAVERFORD COLLEGE ANNUAL SQUASH GIFT
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$10,0002024 DONATION
PROJECT HOME
$10,0002024 DONATION
CHILDREN FIRST
$7,5002024 DONATION
PHILADELPHIA FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
$5,4004/7/2024 EVENT
MACCABI USA
$5,0002024 DONATION
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART (ASSOCIATES MEMBERSHIP)
$5,0002024 ASSOCIATES MEMBERSHIP
EMILY'S ENTROURAGE
$5,000OCTOBER 5TH EVENT
CHABAD HAVERFORD
$5,0002024 DONATION
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PHILADELPHIA
$5,0002024 DONATION
KLEINLIFE
$5,0002024 DONATION
HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA
$5,0002024 DONATION
LBI JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$5,0002024 DONATION
LEKET ISRAEL
$5,0002024 DONATION
JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
$5,0002024 JFCS HONORS EVENT
SQUASH DREAMERS
$5,0002024 GIFT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIBI
$5,000WILLIAM FIELD IAFA GYMNASIUM PROJECT
SHARING EXCESS
$5,0002024 DONATION
MISSION KIDS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
$5,0002024 MISSION POSSIBLE EVENT
TERRELL L BRUCE MEMORIAL FUND
$5,0002024 TOAST FOR TERRELL EVENT
RELEASE RECOVERY FOUNDATION
$5,0002024 DONATION
OROT
$3,600MAY 9TH EVENT
BARRACK FAMILY HEBREW ACADEMY
$3,6002024 COMMITMENT
CHILDREN CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER
$3,5002024 DONATION
KORESH
$2,5002024 DONATION
CHABAD SERVING DREXEL UNIVERSITY
$2,500DREXEL CHABAD
COALITION AGAINST HUNGER
$2,500PHILLY BRUNCH OFF EVENT
PENN HILLEL
$2,500PENN HILLEL 2024 GIFT
SQUASHDRIVE
$2,500OLYMPIC CLUB TEAM
VETRI COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
$2,5002024 DONATION
BRIDLEWILD
$2,5002024 DONATION
UC LAW SAN FRANCISCO
$2,000HHP/HAITI STUDENT GROUP
THE ROCK SCHOOL
$1,500MAY 3RD EVENT