Maurice A & Thelma P Rothman Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1.1 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only foundation)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Average $27,973 (grants of $50,000 documented for capital campaigns)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area, with grants in FL, NC, CT, NY, TX, VA

Contact Details

• Website: No public website available
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Address: Tampa, FL 33609 (4950 W. Kennedy Blvd.) / Pinellas Park, FL

Overview

The Maurice A & Thelma P Rothman Family Foundation Inc is a private grant-making foundation established in 1980 by Maurice and Thelma Rothman, co-founders of Kane's Furniture. With approximately $14.7 million in assets and annual giving of $1.1 million, the foundation continues the Rothman family's extensive philanthropic legacy in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. Maurice Rothman (d. 1997) and Thelma Rothman (1923-2014) were major philanthropists who supported numerous causes including founding the Art Festival Beth-El, establishing pediatric research centers at USF/All Children's Hospital, and providing extensive support to Jewish community organizations. The foundation is now led by their daughter Margie Rothman as Executive Director and continues to focus on arts and culture, education, pediatric healthcare, cancer research, Jewish organizations, and services for economically disadvantaged populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Capital Campaign Grants: $50,000+ (documented support for Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services)
• General Operating Support: Average grant size $27,973
• No specific named programs publicly documented

Priority Areas

• Arts and culture (particularly performing arts)
• Education (elementary, secondary, and higher education)
• Healthcare (pediatric care, cancer research, neuropsychiatric conditions)
• Jewish community organizations and religious institutions
• Human services (youth development, basic and emergency aid)
• Organizations serving economically disadvantaged populations

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly documented in public sources

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Margie Rothman (daughter of Maurice and Thelma Rothman)

Founders' Legacy: Maurice A. Rothman (deceased 1997) co-founded Kane's Furniture in 1948, growing it to 17 stores across Florida. Thelma P. Rothman (1923-2014) was a prominent philanthropist who founded Art Festival Beth-El, served as board chairman for All Children's Hospital Foundation, and was recognized as a Lion of Judah by the Jewish Federation. Their three daughters continue the family's philanthropic work.

Notable Endowments: The foundation has established the Maurice A. and Thelma P. Rothman Chair of Developmental Pediatrics at USF/All Children's Hospital and the USF Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are typically awarded through trustee discretion to organizations already known to the foundation or identified through their own research and community engagement. Organizations must establish relationships with foundation leadership before being considered for funding.

Getting on Their Radar

• Margie Rothman, Executive Director, has been actively involved with Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services since 1974, suggesting long-term community engagement is valued
• The foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through existing Tampa Bay area philanthropic networks
• Organizations with connections to the Jewish community, pediatric healthcare, or arts organizations in the Tampa Bay area may have better access through shared board members or community events

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available - typical of private family foundations operating on trustee discretion

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only foundation

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns and the founders' philanthropic history:

• Geographic alignment: Strong preference for Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area organizations, though they support projects in NC, CT, NY, TX, and VA
• Mission alignment: Organizations serving children, addressing healthcare needs, supporting Jewish community, or providing arts/culture programming align with historical giving
• Long-term relationships: Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services has received support dating back to 1974, indicating the foundation values sustained partnerships
• Capital campaigns: The foundation has made $50,000 capital campaign grants, suggesting they respond to specific infrastructure needs
• Established organizations: Recipients include major institutions like All Children's Hospital and Temple Beth-El

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based funder requiring cultivation before any grant consideration
• Focus areas strongly reflect the founders' personal interests: Jewish community, pediatric healthcare, and Tampa Bay area development
• The foundation makes substantial grants ($50,000 for capital campaigns) to organizations they have long-standing relationships with
• Without a public application process, connections through Tampa Bay philanthropic networks or Jewish community organizations may provide introduction opportunities
• The foundation's giving reflects both local Tampa Bay priorities and connections to other states where the family has ties
• Leadership continuity through the Rothman daughters suggests the foundation maintains the founders' original philanthropic vision

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Maurice A & Thelma P Rothman Family Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/592061386 (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ - Maurice A and Thelma P Rothman Family Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/maurice-a-and-thelma-p-rothman-family-foundation,592061386/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Tampa Bay Times - "Furniture chain co-founder Thelma Rothman planted numerous charities" (2014/2019). https://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/furniture-chain-co-founder-thelma-rothman-planted-numerous-charities/2201509/
• Jewish Press of Pinellas County - "Thelma Rothman, a pillar of the Jewish community, dies at 91". https://www.jewishpresspinellas.com/articles/thelma-rothman-a-pillar-of-the-jewish-community-dies-at-91/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Art Festival Beth-El Website. https://www.artfestivalbethel.com/ (Accessed February 2026)
• USF Health News - "Teen helps USF Pediatrics, Rothman Center take on Tourette's syndrome" (2014). https://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/blog/2014/10/09/teen-helps-usf-pediatrics-rothman-center-take-tourettes-syndrome/
• Kane's Furniture About Page. https://www.kanesfurniture.com/pages/about (Accessed February 2026)
• Tampa Bay Lightning - "Margie Rothman honored as Lightning Community Hero". https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/margie-rothman-honored-as-lightning-community-hero (Accessed February 2026)