Lasko Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.3 million (Tax Year 2023)
• Total Assets: $22.6 million (Tax Year 2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $500 - $2.5 million
• Geographic Focus: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey (primarily), with additional grants nationally and internationally

Contact Details

Address: 1845 Walnut St, Suite 2250, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4702
Phone: 267-792-3340
Website: Not available
Email: Not publicly available

The foundation does not maintain a public-facing website or published contact email for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Lasko Family Foundation, established in 1985, is a private family foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to its most recent public tax filing (2023), the foundation holds total assets of $22.6 million and distributed $3.3 million in charitable grants. The foundation receives its revenue from family contributions and investment income. The foundation supports organisations across multiple sectors with a particular focus on education, human services, and philanthropy/voluntarism. The foundation operates with a board of uncompensated directors and has demonstrated growth in both assets and giving over recent years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with published guidelines. Instead, it appears to make discretionary grants through trustee decision-making. Based on available data:

• Grant Range: Individual grants typically range from $500 to $2.5 million
• Distribution Model: Trustee discretion, no fixed deadlines or application cycles

Priority Areas

Based on publicly available tax filings and recognised grantees, the foundation supports:

• Education: Including Jewish education programmes and college preparation initiatives
• Human Services: Supporting organisations like JEVS Human Services and Jewish Family and Children's Service (JFCS) of Greater Philadelphia
• Philanthropy/Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting the broader philanthropic infrastructure
• Jewish Community Organisations: The foundation has demonstrated support for Jewish communal institutions in the Philadelphia area

Recent grantees include JFCS of Greater Philadelphia (at the "Investor" level of $50,000-$99,999) and JEVS Human Services.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation operating without public application guidelines, the foundation likely funds organisations and causes aligned with the trustees' personal interests and philanthropic priorities.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of directors who serve without compensation:

• Bernard Eizen, Director
• Maury Hoberman, Director
• David Glanzberg-Krainin, Director
• Mindy Fortin, Director
• Leonard Kane, Director
• Michael Dvorak, Director
• William Lasko, Director
• Robin Lasko, Director

The foundation is structured as a private family foundation, with no paid officers or staff reported in public filings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Lasko Family Foundation does not have a public application process. Grant databases indicate "0 live grant opportunities," suggesting the foundation awards grants through trustee discretion rather than open application cycles.

The foundation appears to identify and support organisations through:

• Trustee connections and board member relationships
• Existing relationships with Philadelphia-area Jewish community organisations
• Proactive identification of causes aligned with family philanthropic interests

Organisations should not submit unsolicited proposals to this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept public applications. Grant decisions appear to be made throughout the year at the discretion of the board of trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available or applicable given the lack of public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

As the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's giving patterns, organisations that have received support tend to:

• Operate in the foundation's geographic focus areas: Particularly Philadelphia and the broader Mid-Atlantic region (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey)
• Align with Jewish community priorities: Multiple identified grantees serve the Jewish community in Philadelphia
• Focus on education and human services: These appear to be core areas of interest based on identified recipients
• Have established track records: The foundation appears to support established organisations rather than startups

For organisations seeking support from this foundation, building relationships within the Philadelphia philanthropic community and the Jewish communal network may be relevant, though there is no guarantee of support through networking.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation awards grants through trustee discretion only
• Strong Philadelphia focus - the foundation shows particular interest in Greater Philadelphia organisations, especially those serving the Jewish community
• Significant grant range - grants vary widely from $500 to $2.5 million, suggesting the foundation tailors awards to specific organisational needs
• Consistent giving - with $3.3 million in annual distributions (2023), the foundation maintains an active grantmaking programme
• Education and human services priority - these sectors appear to receive consistent attention based on available grantee data
• Family foundation structure - as a private family foundation with uncompensated trustees, giving likely reflects personal interests and relationships of the Lasko family
• Geographic diversity - while focused on the Mid-Atlantic, the foundation has made grants across the U.S. and even internationally (including Iceland)

References

• Lasko Family Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
• Lasko Family Foundation - Instrumentl 990 Report
• Lasko Family Foundation - Cause IQ Profile
• Lasko Family Foundation - Grantmakers.io
• JFCS Partners for Good - JFCS of Greater Philadelphia
• Our Supporters - JEVS Human Services