The Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation is an Ohio-based grantmaking organization whose efforts primarily focus on Jewish and left-of-center social policy priorities. ¹ Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation is the sister organization of the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for the Living Torah. Together, the two organizations represent the Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies. ²

In 2022, Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation made $1,381,800 of grants including $125,000 to the left-of-center A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. ³

History and Leadership

Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation originally was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1966 as the “Jerome Lippman Family Foundation.” ⁴ In 2000, the name of the foundation was changed to the “Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation” to reflect the generational giving efforts of the family. Following the death of Jerome Lippman in 2005, the foundation expanded to support Lippman’s legacy and the family’s broad philanthropic interests. ²

In 2013, the Lippman family launched a sister foundation, the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for the Living Torah. The Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation and the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for the Living Torah work together to develop a multi-generational culture of philanthropy within the Lippman Kanfer family. ^{2 5}

As of June 2024, Mamie Kanfer Stewart is the director of the Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation. She is also a member of the board of the Brooklyn Community Foundation and the director of the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah. ⁶

Josh Rolnick is a board member of Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies and a professor of writing at Johns Hopkins University. Rolnick co-authored an article in Inside Philanthropy with representatives from the left-of-center Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) and A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy to discuss how faith-based funding can “protect democracy” from other threats. ⁷

Activities and Funding

Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation is a grantmaking organization that primarily focuses its giving on Jewish and left-of-center social causes. ¹ The foundation has been dedicated to multi-generational philanthropy in support of Jewish life in Akron, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Brooklyn, New York; and Chautauqua, New York. ⁸ As of June 2024, the foundation is headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio. ⁹

The Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation is one of two foundations that are considered Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies. The other member of the Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies is the Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, which supports the concept of a “living Torah” and applying Jewish principles to shape the world. ¹⁰

Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the Lippman Foundation for the Living Torah and the Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation worked to address what they considered to be threats to American democracy. ¹ According to news reports, the foundation also changed the scope of its giving to focus on domestic issues beyond the Jewish community following the election of President Donald Trump. ¹¹

Grantmaking

The Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation makes grants to support various Jewish and left-of-center social causes. ¹² In 2022, the foundation made $1,381,800 of grants. These grants included $405,000 to the Lipman Day School, $310,000 to JCBA, $300,000 to the Chautauqua Foundation, and $125,000 to left-of-center A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. ³

Funding

Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation receives most of its funding from dividends, investments, and asset sales. In 2022, the foundation reported revenue of $888,973 and expenses of $1,563,050. ¹³

1. “Judaism and Democracy.” Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://lkflt.org/judaism-and-democracy/.
2. “History.” Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://lippmankanfer.org/.
3. “Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/340974875/202323199349102217/full.
4. Lipman Kanfer Family Foundation.” Pitchbook. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/limited-partner/53237-26#overview.
5. Putnam-Walkerly, Kris. “Empower Your Philanthropy With These 4 Questions.” Forbes. May 12, 2020. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/krisputnamwalkerly/2020/05/12/empower-your-philanthropy-with-these-4-questions/.
6. “Mamie Kanfer Stewart.” Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation. Accessed Jun 13, 2024. https://lkff.wordpress.com/board-and-staff/mamie-kanfer-stewart/.
7. Kristen Cambell, Aaron Dorfman, and Josh Rolnick. “Faith-Based Funding Can Help Protect Democracy.” Inside Philanthropy. June 4, 2024. Accessed via web Archive June 13, 2024. https://archive.md/wLAtE.
8. “Welcome.” Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://lkff.wordpress.com/
9. “Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation.” Candid. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=LIPP010.
10.  “Home.” Lippman Kanfer Family Philanthropies. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://lippmankanfer.org/.
11. Sales, Ben. “Trump era prompts Jewish donors to step up giving to liberal causes.” Jewish Telegraphic Agency. March 21, 2017. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://www.jta.org/2017/03/21/united-states/trump-era-prompts-jewish-donors-to-step-up-giving-to-liberal-causes.
12. “Grantee Partners.” Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation. Accessed Jun 13, 2024. https://lkflt.org/partners/.
13. “Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/340974875/202323199349102217/full