The Marion & Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,791,550 (2023)
• Number of Awards: 43 (2023)
• Average Grant Size: ~$42,000
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified (known grants range from smaller amounts to $1 million)
• Assets: $13.9 million
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New Jersey, with emphasis on Middlesex County and surrounding areas
• Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address:
10 Woodbridge Center Drive, Suite 605
Woodbridge, NJ 07095-1181

Phone: 732-750-5757

Note: The foundation does not have an official website. Information is available through IRS Form 990 filings on platforms like ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, GuideStar, and Candid.

Overview

The Marion & Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation was established in 1996 by Norman Tanzman (1918-2004), a former New Jersey state legislator who served in the General Assembly (1962-1968) and Senate (1968-1974), and real estate executive. Marion Tanzman (1920-1994) passed away before the foundation was formally established, but the foundation honors both their legacies. With assets of approximately $13.9 million, the foundation distributed $1,791,550 across 43 grants in 2023. The foundation focuses primarily on supporting Jewish organizations, educational institutions, healthcare services, and community organizations in New Jersey. The foundation has made transformational gifts to institutions like Rutgers Hillel and the JCC of Middlesex County, demonstrating a commitment to strengthening Jewish life and community infrastructure in the region.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by a small board of trustees who serve without compensation:

• Jeffries Shein - President (son-in-law of Marion and Norman Tanzman, Rutgers graduate) - Note: Mr. Shein passed away on June 15, 2025, and current leadership may be in transition
• Roy H. Tanzman - Trustee (nephew of Norman Tanzman, Shareholder at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law)
• Barbara Sousa - Trustee

Roy H. Tanzman has stated publicly that the foundation gives to organizations that are "important assets to the community," reflecting the family's deep connections to New Jersey institutions, particularly those serving the Jewish community.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

Jewish Community and Religious Organizations:

• Jewish community centers and youth programs
• Hillel and campus Jewish life
• Jewish day schools and educational institutions
• Synagogues and religious organizations (including Chabad Housefriends Lubavitch-Rutgers)

Higher Education:

• Support for Rutgers University programs
• Jewish studies programs
• Campus dining and student life facilities

Health and Medical Services:

• Hospital care
• Brain and nervous system disorders
• Cancer research and treatment
• Services for older adults

Human Services:

• Community centers
• Social service programs

Geographic Focus

The foundation primarily supports organizations in:

• New Jersey (particularly Middlesex County)
• Woodbridge area
• New Brunswick and Highland Park
• Edison
• Marlboro
• Additional projects across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Notable Grants

Major documented grants include:

• $1 million - Rutgers Hillel (dining hall, which was named the Marion and Norman Tanzman Dining Hall)
• $1 million - Rutgers University (Hall of Jewish Learning for Jewish studies program)
• $500,000 - The Hebrew Academy in Marlboro (matching gift toward $6 million capital campaign)
• $500,000 - JCC of Middlesex County in Edison (for Marion and Norman Tanzman Center for Lifelong Living)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so funding is limited to organizations already known to the trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has indicated on its IRS Form 990-PF that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

This is common among private family foundations - approximately 71% of private foundations check this box on their Form 990-PF.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's stated policy of not accepting unsolicited applications, organizations seeking funding should understand that:

The foundation appears to support organizations with which the Tanzman family has existing relationships or personal connections, particularly:

• Organizations in which family members are involved (Roy Tanzman serves on boards including the JCC and Rutgers Hillel)
• Jewish institutions in New Jersey
• Organizations in the Woodbridge, New Brunswick, and Middlesex County areas
• Institutions that board members Roy Tanzman and Barbara Sousa may have connections with

Known Affiliations:

• Roy H. Tanzman is affiliated with Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer law firm in Woodbridge, suggesting potential connections through his professional network
• The foundation has a multi-decade relationship with Rutgers University
• Strong ties to Jewish communal organizations in Middlesex County

Note on Leadership Transition: With the recent passing of President Jeffries Shein in June 2025, the foundation may be undergoing leadership transition, which could affect grant-making patterns.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to lack of public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, based on the foundation's documented grant-making patterns:

Key Alignment Factors:

1. Geographic Connection to New Jersey: Nearly all documented grants go to New Jersey institutions, particularly in Middlesex County.

2. Jewish Community Focus: The foundation has a clear emphasis on supporting Jewish life, education, and community infrastructure.

3. Institutional Relationships: Major grants have gone to institutions where family members have long-standing connections (Rutgers, local JCCs, Jewish day schools).

4. Capital Projects: Several major grants supported capital campaigns and building projects (dining halls, community centers, educational facilities).

5. Multi-Year Commitment: The foundation has demonstrated patterns of sustained support, making "annual donations" to some organizations like Rutgers Hillel over many years.

6. Community Impact: Roy Tanzman has explicitly stated the foundation supports organizations that are "important assets to the community."

Documented Funding Patterns:

• Willingness to make transformational gifts ($500,000-$1,000,000 range)
• Support for matching gift opportunities
• Interest in naming opportunities (multiple facilities named for Marion and Norman Tanzman)
• Support for both operations and capital projects
• Focus on sustainability and long-term community benefit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation only supports preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Traditional grant-writing strategies do not apply.

• Relationship-Based Giving: Grants appear to flow to organizations where trustees have board involvement or long-standing family connections, particularly in the Jewish community.

• Significant Grant Capacity: Despite not accepting applications, the foundation makes substantial grants (average ~$42,000 per award, with major gifts up to $1 million).

• Jewish Community Focus: Strong emphasis on Jewish educational, religious, and communal organizations makes this a significant funder in the New Jersey Jewish community.

• Geographic Concentration: Heavy focus on Middlesex County and surrounding New Jersey areas, particularly Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Edison, and Marlboro.

• Leadership Transition: The recent death of President Jeffries Shein (June 2025) may impact grant-making patterns. Roy Tanzman and Barbara Sousa remain as trustees.

• Capital Campaign Support: Documented willingness to support capital projects and make leadership gifts to building campaigns.

References

1. Cause IQ - Marion and Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/marion-norman-tanzman-charitable-foundation,223506061/ (Accessed March 2026)

2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Marion & Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation. Form 990 filings. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223506061 (Accessed March 2026)

3. Grantmakers.io - Marion & Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/223506061-marion-and-norman-tanzman-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed March 2026)

4. New Jersey Jewish News. "Tanzman family funds Hillel's dining hall." https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/tanzman-family-funds-hillels-dining-hall/ (Accessed March 2026)

5. New Jersey Jewish News. "The Marion and Norman Tanzman Foundation's $500,000 donation." https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/the-marion-and-norman-tanzman-foundations-500000-donation/ (Accessed March 2026)

6. New Jersey Jewish News. "In the name of the father, and mother." https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/in-the-name-of-the-father-and-mother/ (Accessed March 2026)

7. Wikipedia. "Norman Tanzman." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Tanzman (Accessed March 2026)

8. Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. "Roy H. Tanzman - Attorney Profile." https://www.wilentz.com/attorneys/roy-h-tanzman (Accessed March 2026)

9. JCC of Middlesex County. "About the Marion and Norman Tanzman LifeLong Living Center." https://jccmc.org/about-the-marion-and-norman-tanzman-center-for-lifelong-living-and-bright-beginnings-preschool-at-the-jccmc-project/ (Accessed March 2026)

10. Instrumentl. "Marion & Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation - 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/marion-and-norman-tanzman-charitable-foundation (Accessed March 2026)

11. Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel. "Jeffries Shein Obituary." https://www.crabielparkwest.com/obituaries/jeffries-shein (Accessed March 2026)