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Also known as: C/O CITRIN COOPERMAN ADVISORS LLC
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Bimah Foundation is a private corporation based in GREENWICH, CT. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2012. The principal officer is Robert W Gehrke Pc. It holds total assets of $14.5M. Annual income is reported at $807K. Total assets have grown from $6.1M in 2011 to $14.5M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2015 to 2024. Funding is distributed across 6 states, including New York, Connecticut, Florida. According to available records, Bimah Foundation has made 42 grants totaling $1.9M, with a median grant of $37K. The foundation has distributed between $565K and $706K annually from 2020 to 2023. Individual grants have ranged from $900 to $210K, with an average award of $45K. The foundation has supported 26 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, which account for 76% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 8 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Bimah Foundation is a preselected-only private foundation that does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It distributes approximately $700-720K annually across 12-21 grants, with a strong and consistent focus on Israel advocacy, Jewish education, and humanitarian relief for Jewish causes. The foundation is led by the Silverman family in Greenwich, CT, with five board members serving without compensation. Organizations seeking funding would need to establish relationships through the Silverman family network or pro-Israel advocacy circles. The foundation demonstrates strong loyalty to recurring grantees, with organizations like Belev Echad, American Friends of Leket Israel, Central Fund of Israel, and Stand With Us appearing consistently across multiple years of filings. The median grant is approximately $36,000, with the largest single grant being $112,000 to Belev Echad. All grants are designated for general support or specific restricted purposes.
The Bimah Foundation has maintained relatively stable assets between $9-14.5 million from 2011-2024. Annual charitable disbursements range from $480K to $820K, with 2024 showing $719,606 in giving (76.7% of total expenses). The foundation receives no new contributions, sustaining operations entirely through investment returns. In 2024, the 15 grant recipients were: Belev Echad ($112K), American Friends of Leket Israel ($76K), Jewish Institute for National Security of America ($65K), Stand With Us ($55K), Central Fund of Israel ($45K for Palestinian Media Watch), The Blue Card ($40K for medical supplies), Jewish Leadership Academy ($36K), The Birthright Israel Foundation ($36K), The Clarion Project ($36K), Friends of the Israel Defense Forces ($35K restricted), OpenDor Media ($20K), The Amel Project ($20K), Greater Miami Hebrew Academy ($18K), Brandeis University ($7.5K), and The Jewish Pocket ($5K). Grant counts have fluctuated: 21 awards in 2021, 15 in 2022, 12 in 2023, trending toward fewer but potentially larger grants.
| Foundation | Assets | Annual Giving | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bimah Foundation | $14.5M | $720K (15 grants) | Israel advocacy, Jewish education, humanitarian relief | Private grantmaking |
| Avi Chai Foundation | $500M+ | $50M+ (spend-down) | Jewish education, Israel engagement | Private foundation |
| Jim Joseph Foundation | $600M | $30M+ | Jewish education and engagement | Private foundation |
| Paul E Singer Foundation | $60M | $8M+ | Jewish causes, Israel, education | Private foundation |
| Marcus Foundation | $2B+ | $200M+ | Jewish education, Israel, medical research | Private foundation |
| Maimonides Fund | $200M | $15M+ | Jewish education, Israel advocacy | Private foundation |
The Bimah Foundation is a smaller family-directed foundation compared to major Jewish philanthropic organizations. Its distinctive focus on Israel security advocacy organizations (JINSA, Stand With Us, Clarion Project, FIDF) alongside humanitarian groups (Belev Echad, Leket Israel, The Blue Card) reflects a specific ideological commitment within the broader Jewish philanthropic landscape.
In 2024, the Bimah Foundation distributed $719,606 across 15 grants, with Belev Echad (supporting wounded IDF soldiers) receiving the largest single grant of $112,000. The foundation has been consistent in its giving patterns, with the same core organizations appearing across multiple years of filings from 2012-2024. Grant counts have decreased from a peak of 21 awards in 2021 to 12 in 2023 and 15 in 2024, potentially indicating consolidation around core grantees. The foundation website listed in IRS filings (bimah.org) is actually a synagogue analytics software platform unrelated to the foundation, which has been corrected in the database. Revenue in 2024 was $806,698 against $937,964 in expenses, showing modest drawdown. The five-member board continues to serve without any compensation.
The Bimah Foundation is a closed, family-directed private foundation that only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. There is no public application process, no functioning website, and no published grant guidelines. Key considerations: (1) The foundation has a clear and consistent ideological focus on pro-Israel advocacy, Jewish education, Israel-related humanitarian relief, and media organizations working on Israel-related issues; (2) Core grantees have been supported consistently for over a decade, suggesting very high loyalty to existing relationships; (3) The Silverman family in Greenwich, CT directs all grantmaking decisions through a five-member board; (4) Typical grants range from $5,000 to $112,000 with a median around $36,000; (5) Organizations working on Israel security, Jewish education, Holocaust survivor services, or Israel-related media may align with the foundation's priorities; (6) The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and has no public contact information beyond its Greenwich, CT address.
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Grants to organizations supporting Israel including Jewish Institute for National Security of America, Stand With Us, Central Fund of Israel, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and The Clarion Project.
Grants to Jewish educational institutions including Greater Miami Hebrew Academy, Brandeis University, Jewish Leadership Academy, Birthright Israel Foundation, and OpenDor Media.
Grants to organizations providing humanitarian services including Belev Echad (supporting wounded IDF soldiers), American Friends of Leket Israel (food rescue), The Blue Card (Holocaust survivor assistance), and The Amel Project.
The Bimah Foundation has maintained relatively stable assets between $9-14.5 million from 2011-2024. Annual charitable disbursements range from $480K to $820K, with 2024 showing $719,606 in giving (76.7% of total expenses). The foundation receives no new contributions, sustaining operations entirely through investment returns. In 2024, the 15 grant recipients were: Belev Echad ($112K), American Friends of Leket Israel ($76K), Jewish Institute for National Security of America ($65K), Stand With U.
Bimah Foundation has distributed a total of $1.9M across 42 grants. The median grant size is $37K, with an average of $45K. Individual grants have ranged from $900 to $210K.
The Bimah Foundation is a preselected-only private foundation that does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It distributes approximately $700-720K annually across 12-21 grants, with a strong and consistent focus on Israel advocacy, Jewish education, and humanitarian relief for Jewish causes. The foundation is led by the Silverman family in Greenwich, CT, with five board members serving without compensation. Organizations seeking funding would need to establish relationships through the Si.
Bimah Foundation is headquartered in GREENWICH, CT. While based in CT, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 8 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Silverman | CO-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR/SECR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Barbara K Silverman | VP/DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Matthew Simon | CO-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Margaret Wise | VP/DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Richard B Silverman | VP DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$14.5M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$14.4M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
42
Total Giving
$1.9M
Average Grant
$45K
Median Grant
$37K
Unique Recipients
26
Most Common Grant
$40K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belev EchadGENERAL SUPPORT | New York, NY | $136K | 2023 |
| Global Jewish Assistance And Relief NetworkGENERAL SUPPORT | Brooklyn, NY | $100K | 2023 |
| The Lawfare ProjectGENERAL SUPPORT | New York, NY | $90K | 2023 |
| Central Fund Of IsraelPALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH | New York, NY | $80K | 2023 |
| American Friends Of Leket IsraelGENERAL SUPPORT | Teaneck, NJ | $65K | 2023 |
| Gush Etzion FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT | Woodmere, NY | $59K | 2023 |
| The Blue CardMEDICAL SUPPLIES | New York, NY | $40K | 2023 |
| Stand With UsGENERAL SUPPORT | Los Angeles, CA | $40K | 2023 |
| The Birthright Israel FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT | New York, NY | $36K | 2023 |
| King Solomon SchoolGENERAL SUPPORT | — | $25K | 2023 |
| The Amel ProjectGENERAL SUPPORT | Washington Dc, DC | $20K | 2023 |
| The Clarion ProjectGENERAL SUPPORT | Plantation, FL | $15K | 2023 |
| Northwestern UniversityNORTWESTERN HILLEL | Evanston, IL | $37K | 2022 |
| Jewish National FundHASHOMER HACHADASH | New York, NY | $36K | 2022 |
| Congregation Bnai Jehoshua Beth ElohimGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Deerfield, IL | $31K | 2022 |
| American Friends Of Jewish Statemanship Center IncGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Teaneck, NJ | $22K | 2022 |
| Jewish Federation Of Metropolitan ChicagoRICHARD AND BARBARA SILVERMAN PHILANTHROPIC FUND | Chicago, IL | $21K | 2022 |
| Imagination ProductionsGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Sunrise, FL | $5K | 2022 |
| Pef Israel Endowment Funds IncGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | New York, NY | $65K | 2020 |
| Waldorf School Association Of BoulderGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Boulder, CO | $25K | 2020 |
| Southampton ChabadGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Southampton, NY | $18K | 2020 |
| Slinghot FundGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | New York, NY | $15K | 2020 |
| American Chemical SocietyGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Columbus, OH | $13K | 2020 |
| The Good People FundGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Millburn, NJ | $10K | 2020 |
| Park Avenue SynagogueGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | New York, NY | $7K | 2020 |
| Chicago Botanic GardensGENERAL & UNRESTRICTED | Glencoe, IL | $900 | 2020 |