Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation

The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking organization located in California. The foundation has supported a variety of left of center organizations, including the National Immigration Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The foundation has also funded abortions by funding the Women’s Rights Reproductive Assistance Project. ¹

At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)

Issue Areas: Abortion Policy, Immigration Policy

Location:

Pacific Palisades, California

Formation:

Tax-exempt since 1986

President:

Thomas Polinger

Tax ID: 95-4057529

Most Recent Filing: 2023

Budget (2023): Assets: $486,054 Revenue: $10,755 Expenses: $35,729

Contents

The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation received tax-exempt status in 1986. ²

Finances

In fiscal year 2019, the Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation had $50,581 in revenue, of which $8,194 was derived from interest and dividends on assets, and $42,377 was derived from the sale of assets. The foundation had $35,932 in expenses, of which $6,682 was allocated towards operating and administrative expenses and $29,250 was spent on grants and contributions. The foundation ended the year with $519,667 in assets. ³

Grant Making and Grant Recipients

The Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation supports an array of left-of-center organizations with contributions ranging from $500 to $8,000. ¹

Women’s Rights Reproductive Assistance Project

In 2019 the foundation provided a $3,000 grant to Women’s Rights Reproductive Assistance Project to provide emergency contraception and abortions. ¹

National Immigration Law Center

In 2019 the foundation provided a $500 general support grant to the National Immigration Law Center with the stated purpose of engaging in policy analyses, litigation, education, and advocacy. ¹ This left-of-center group supports an expansionist immigration policy, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, government-run healthcare, and providing illegal immigrants with driver licenses. The center is also a member of the Check the Sheriff Coalition that opposes Los Angeles County Sherriff Alex Villanueva (D) and demands that he resign and that the California Attorney General investigate the Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department. ⁴ ⁵ ⁶ ⁷ ⁸

Southern Poverty Law Center

In 2019 the foundation provided a general support grant of $3,000 to the Southern Poverty Law Center, for the goal of fighting “hate and bigotry”. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a left-of-center group that has generated controversy for its policy of labeling conventional non-volent conservative organizations as being violent extremists and for conflating such groups with neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups. ¹

Other Grant Recipients

The foundation has provided support to a variety of non-political organizations. These include healthcare-oriented organizations such as Westside Family Health ($1,000), Opica-Adult Day Care ($2,000), and Doctors Without Borders ($500). The organization has also supported a range of community organizations and organizations focused on drug and anti-recidivism support. ¹

Leadership

Thomas Polinger is the president of the Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation. ⁹ He is a lawyer who practices divorce and family law in the Los Angeles area. ¹⁰ In 2012 he donated $250 to the Environment Voter Action PAC, but has not made other federally reported political contributions. ¹¹

Sari Polinger is the secretary of the Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation. ⁹ She is the owner and operator of Sari Polinger Associates, a sales firm that represents textile and lighting manufacturers in the hospitality industry. ¹² She has made contributions to ActBlue, the left-of-center PAC, and the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. ¹³

Financial Statistics

Total Assets

Total Revenue

Total Expenses

Year	Total Assets	Total Revenue	Total Expenses	Filing
2023	$486,054	$10,755	$35,729	View
2022	$511,028	$-75,998	$41,236	View
2021	$624,662	$88,964	$46,650	View
2020	$583,548	$89,171	$27,766	View
2019	$519,667	$50,581	$35,932	View

Prior year filings: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Expenses Detail

Grant Activity

All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

Total Grant Value: $293,708
Number of Grants: 120
Number of Recipients: 35

Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

Amount	Year	Funder	Subject
$4,500	2021	Beit T'Shuvah	to aid in addiction recovery – restore lost souls through a healing community of jewish spirituality, 12 step recovery & psychotherapy & support temple through dues
$3,750	2022	Jewish Vocational Services	scholarships
$3,750	2022	Southern Poverty Law Center Inc	TO FIGHT HATE AND BIGOTRY AND SEEK JUSTICE THROUGH LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
$3,750	2022	World Central Kitchen, Inc.	To change the world through the eyes of a chef. To improve health, increase education rates, provide career skills, and create food businesses.
$3,700	2023	Anti-Defamation League	GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ANTI-HATE ORGANIZATION IN MISSION "TO STOP THE DEFAMATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND TO SECURE JUSTICE AND FAIR TREATMENT TO ALL."
$3,600	2021	Fair Fight Action Inc	FIGHTING ANTI-VOTER BILLS AND WORKING TO PASS FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO VOTE.
$3,600	2021	Jewish Vocational Services	scholarships
$3,600	2021	OPICA – Adult Day Program and Counseling Center, Inc.	adult daycare & caregiver support for alzheimers, parkinsons, & post stroke & related dementia disorders
$3,600	2021	World Central Kitchen, Inc.	To change the world through the eyes of a chef. To improve health, increase education rates, provide career skills, and create food businesses.
$3,500	2022	Beit T'Shuvah	to aid in addiction recovery – restore lost souls through a healing community of jewish spirituality, 12 step recovery & psychotherapy & support temple through dues
$3,500	2020	La Regional Food Bank	MOBILIZE RESOURCES TO FIGHT HUNGER
$3,000	2021	The Royal Way	annual fund – operating costs & scholarships
$3,000	2020	JVS SoCal	scholarships
$2,700	2023	JVS SoCal	SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$2,700	2023	Southern Poverty Law Center Inc	GENERAL SUPPORT: FIGHT HATE AND BIGOTRY AND SEEK JUSTICE THROUGH LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
$2,700	2023	World Central Kitchen, Inc.	GENERAL SUPPORT: IMPROVE HEALTH, INCREASE EDUCATION RATES, PROVIDE CAREER SKILLS, AND CREATE FOOD BUSINESSES.
$2,500	2023	Beit T'Shuvah	GENERAL SUPPORT OF A HEALING COMMUNITY OF JEWISH SPIRITUALITY, 12 STEP RECOVERY & PSYCHOTHERAPY
$2,500	2023	The Royal Way	GENERAL SUPPORT – ANNUAL FUND FOR OPERATING COSTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
$2,500	2023	Vidiots Foundation	GENERAL SUPPORT – PRESERVE, GROW, AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO DIVERSE AND RARE FILM LIBRARY, SHOWCASE EMERGING AND MASTER ARTISTS, AND PRODUCING UNIQUE FILM EVENTS AND VITAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
$2,500	2022	Vidiots Foundation	To inspire human interaction around film through preserving, growing, and providing access to its diverse DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection, showcasing the work of emerging and master artists, and producing unique film events and vital education programs.
$2,500	2021	Vidiots Foundation	To inspire human interaction around film through preserving, growing, and providing access to its diverse DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection, showcasing the work of emerging and master artists, and producing unique film events and vital education programs.
$2,500	2020	MAYORS FUND FOR LOS ANGELES	RESOURCES TO SOLVE CITY'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS
$2,500	2020	Vidiots Foundation	To inspire human interaction around film through preserving, growing, and providing access to its diverse DVD, BluRay, and rare VHS collection, showcasing the work of emerging and master artists, and producing unique film events and vital education programs.
$2,000	2022	The Royal Way	annual fund – operating costs & scholarships
$2,000	2020	Beit T'Shuvah	to aid in addiction recovery – restore lost souls through a healing community of jewish spirituality, 12 step recovery & psychotherapy & support temple through dues

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Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

Mentioned in this Article

References

1. Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation, IRS (Form 990 PF), 2019, Part XV

2. “The Polinger Cohen Charitable Foundation – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954057529.

3. Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation, IRS (Form 990 PF), 2019, Part I

4. “What We Do.” National Immigration Law Center. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/about-us/what_we_do/.

5. “Deferred Action for DREAMers.” National Immigration Law Center. July 15, 2012. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2012/06/15/deferred-action-for-dreamers/.

6. “Medicare for All Act Is a Roadmap to a Better Future.” National Immigration Law Center. February 27, 2019. Accessed August 01, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/2019/02/27/medicare-for-all-act-is-a-roadmap-to-a-better-future/.

7. “Osoria v. Ducey.” NILC. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Osoria-v-Ducey-complaint-2016-09-12.pdf.

8. “About.” Check the Sheriff Coalition. Accessed August 27, 2021, 2021. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about.

9. Polinger-Cohen Charitable Foundation, IRS (Form 990 PF), 2019, Part VIII

10. “Thomas Polinger – Lawyer in Hermosa Beach, CA – Avvo.” Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/90254-ca-thomas-polinger-233373.html.

11. FEC.gov. “Browse Individual Contributions: Thomas Polinger.” Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/.

12. SariPolinger.com. “Sari Polinger — Representing the Finest Textile and Lighting Manufacturers in the Hospitality Field.” Accessed October 11, 2021. http://www.saripolinger.com/aboutus.html.

13. FEC.gov. “Browse Individual Contributions: Sari Polinger.” Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=sari+polinger&min_date=01%2F01%2F2000&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022.