The Forman Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing says the foundation gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an existing relationship with it should not send an application.
- Its grants concentrate in arts and culture, and the filing shows the strongest support there, including museums and exhibitions, so arts and cultural work is where the record points.
- Repeat giving is strong: 97% of its grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two filings before, so a request from a new organisation is unlikely to be the usual route in.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $25,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $5,000 and $455,000, a typical band rather than a ceiling, so any request should be sized modestly, given that annual giving has fallen each year to $450,000 paid.
Overview
The Forman Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Philadelphia, PA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filing record shows the strongest concentration of support in arts and culture: purposes include art purchases, art commissions and art-work programmes, and support for museum collections and exhibitions. Other grants support education, including scholarships and student learning, as well as congregations and civic and neighbourhood initiatives. Recipients include arts organisations, museums, universities, congregations and community organisations. The filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations, rather than through unsolicited requests. Recorded grants are concentrated in Pennsylvania, with smaller amounts going to Missouri, New York and California.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Arts and culture
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania and Missouri.
How to apply
The filing says the foundation gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; it provides no route for organisations to submit an unsolicited application.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 57 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 70% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations The Forman Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Washington University · Forman family foundation scholarship$300,0002024 tax year
- Rodeph Sholom Congregation · Endowment campaign - support the synagogue$75,0002024 tax year
- Drexel University · Support for cara fry endowment$50,0002024 tax year
- Cat Collaborative · General support for the cat collaborative's inauglural gala supporting its mission to reduce cat overpopulation and improve feline welfare through community-based programs, rescue partnerships, and affordable care initiatives.$25,0002024 tax year
- Women's Way · General support$10,0002024 tax year
- Opera Philadelphia · General support$10,0002024 tax year
- Clay Studio · General support$5,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Laura Sparks — President
- Thomas Trala — Treasurer / Secretary / CFO
- Jennifer S Rice — Trustee
- Michael C Forman — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,948,874 | $1,477,188 | $46,793,519 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,179,496 | $1,238,667 | $48,460,122 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $770,561 | $450,000 | $51,435,632 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Forman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Philadelphia, PA
Applying to The Forman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Philadelphia, PA