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The Gitlin Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M

The Gitlin Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,472,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely ($5,000 - $200,000+ based on recent awards)
  • Grant Median: $20,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Pennsylvania (Greater Philadelphia region), with occasional grants to New York and New Jersey
  • Total Assets: $26,964,690 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: Fort Washington, PA

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide general contact information for grant inquiries. As they only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations, public contact details are not available.

Overview

The Gitlin Foundation is a private family foundation established in March 2008 (granted 501(c)(3) status) in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. With assets of approximately $27 million, the foundation distributed $1.5 million in grants annually to 39-42 organizations. Founded by Harvey S. Gitlin, a successful businessman who was the founder and chairman of ESD Inc. and chairman of Greenwald Industries (payment systems for the laundry industry), the foundation reflects the family's commitment to healthcare, Jewish communal life, education, and social services in the Greater Philadelphia region. Harvey S. Gitlin passed away in May 2025, and the foundation continues to operate under the leadership of his daughters. The foundation's mission is to primarily fund support for religious education, cultural organizations, sick children, teaching clarity in thinking and writing, and providing support for health, youth services, and Jewish organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Gitlin Foundation operates through trustee discretion without formal grant programs or application cycles. All funding decisions are made by the board of directors.

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant distributions, the foundation prioritizes:

Healthcare & Medical Research

  • Major academic medical centers and hospitals
  • Cancer research and treatment facilities
  • Diabetes research (JDRF)
  • Children's hospitals
  • Organ donation initiatives

Jewish Organizations & Religious Education

  • Synagogues and congregations
  • Jewish day schools
  • Jewish communal organizations
  • Religious education programs

Education

  • Autism research and support
  • Programs teaching clarity in thinking and writing
  • Educational institutions

Social Services

  • Child welfare organizations
  • Youth services
  • Cultural organizations
  • Arts organizations

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation with preselected beneficiaries, the foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established network
  • Unsolicited requests from new organizations
  • Organizations without established relationships with trustees

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serve without compensation):

  • Michelle Gitlin Goldstein - President/Director: Daughter of founder Harvey S. Gitlin; leads the foundation following her father's passing
  • Amy E. Gitlin - Treasurer/Director: Daughter of founder Harvey S. Gitlin; also serves as President of ESD Inc., the family business
  • Harvey S. Gitlin - Director (deceased May 2025): Founder and longtime chairman; successful entrepreneur in the payment systems industry

The foundation operates as a family philanthropic vehicle, with all leadership positions held by family members. Revenue comes primarily from dividends and investment income rather than ongoing contributions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Gitlin Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations with which the family has existing relationships or personal connections. Organizations cannot apply for funding through any formal application process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made internally by trustees without external application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applicants. The foundation distributes approximately 39-42 grants per year from their preselected list of charitable organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of their documented grant recipients reveals the following patterns:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

  • Organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region where the family has lived and worked
  • Major healthcare institutions, particularly those involved in cancer research and children's health (reflecting the family's philanthropic interests, including memorial contributions to Fox Chase Cancer Center)
  • Jewish communal institutions, particularly synagogues and day schools in Montgomery County, PA
  • Established, well-known institutions with strong reputations
  • Organizations where family members may have personal connections or have benefited from services

Grant Range Patterns:

  • Major grants ($100,000-$200,000): Leading academic medical centers and primary synagogue affiliations
  • Mid-level grants ($25,000-$75,000): Children's hospitals, disease research organizations, established social service agencies
  • Smaller grants ($5,000-$25,000): Cultural organizations, smaller nonprofits, youth services

Geographic Focus: The vast majority of grants go to Pennsylvania-based organizations, with heavy concentration in Montgomery County and Philadelphia proper. Occasional grants are made to organizations in neighboring New York and New Jersey.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking channels. Unsolicited requests are not accepted or reviewed.
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: All grants go to preselected organizations with existing connections to the Gitlin family
  • Strong healthcare and Jewish communal focus: The two dominant funding streams are medical institutions (particularly cancer and children's health) and Jewish organizations (synagogues, schools, communal agencies)
  • Geographic concentration: Funding is heavily concentrated in the Greater Philadelphia region, specifically Montgomery County and Philadelphia
  • Family foundation structure: As a small family foundation with three trustees (all family members), decisions are personal and discretionary rather than institutional
  • Consistent giving level: The foundation distributes approximately $1.5 million annually with consistency, suggesting ongoing commitment to their preselected beneficiaries
  • Memorial giving influence: Following Harvey Gitlin's passing in 2025, memorial contributions were directed to Fox Chase Cancer Center, indicating this institution's importance to the family and likely continued support

References

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