The Brook J Lenfest Foundation Inc
Audubon, PA · EIN 23-3031338. Reported 120 grants totalling $12.5M to 90 recipients across tax years 2019-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Brook J Lenfest Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $15,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $1,287 and the largest $3,000,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastery Charter Schools Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $2,400,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | $2,200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2020 |
| Temple University Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $800,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia School Partnership | Philadelphia, PA | $400,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport, PA | $299,354 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Penn State University | University Park, PA | $268,692 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kimmel Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $250,696 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives | Harrisburg, PA | $225,000 | 2 | 2 | 2020 |
| The Commonwealth Foundation | Harrisburg, PA | $175,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| I-Lead | Bryn Mawr, PA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Way of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation | Williamsport, PA | $99,935 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wissahickon Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Children's Literacy Iniative | Philadelphia, PA | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2020 |
| Avenue of the Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Big Picture Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| College Possible Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Greenlight Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Heights Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Leash on Life USA | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Futures for Youth Philadelphia Futures for Youth | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philabundance | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Futures for Youth | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| The Commonwealth Society | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Wistar Institute | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| West Chester University Foundation | West Chester, PA | $46,812 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Baker Industries | Malvern, PA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tech Impact | Philadelphia, PA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cristo Rey Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mercy Career & Technical High Schoo Mercy Career & Technical High School | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of the Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Chester County Futures | Exton, PA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mercy Career & Tech | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Steppingstone Scholars Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Beat the Streets Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphi Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children's Literacy Iniat Children's Literacy Initiative | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clarke Schools for Hearing and Spee Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech | Northampton, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Episcopal Community Services | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hopeworks | Camden, NJ | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corp Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mercy Career & Technical High School | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Opportunities Industrialization Cen Opportunities Industrialization Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Parentchild | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Per Scholas | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Film Society | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Reading Allowed | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rock to the Future | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Settlement Music School | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Philadelphia Education Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Variety-the Children's Charity of T Variety-the Children's Charity of the Delaware Val | Worchester, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Variety - the Children's Charity | Worcester, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| NORTH10 Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $22,645 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chester County Futures Chester County Futures | Coatesville, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech | Northhampton, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clarke Pennsylvania Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Teach for America | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Achieveability | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Anti-Defamation League Foundation Anti-Defamation League Foundation | New York, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| CASA of Philadelphia County | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hias Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| North Light Community Center | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| The Welcoming Center | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Variety the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley | Worcester, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Adoption Center of Delaware Valley | Philadelphia, PA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Historical Society of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Compass Working Capital | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cradle of Hope | Jenkintown, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cradle of Hope Inc Cradle of Hope Inc | Jenkintown, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Green Light Fund Philadelphia | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Ar Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia Outward Bound School | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Summer Search Phila | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Garage Community and Youth Center | Kennett Square, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Fairness Center | Harrisburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | Lancaster, PA | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Cathedral Soup Kitchen Inc | Camden, NJ | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Adults With Developmental Disabilit Adults With Developmental Disabilities | Jenkintown, PA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Adults With Developmental Disabilities | Jenkintown, PA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Garage Community & Youth Center | Kennett Square, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Leveling the Playing Field | Sharon Hill, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Union League Legacy Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
19 of 90 (21%) received money in more than one year over the 6 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 16%, across 5 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- The Pennsylvania State University
The Brook J. Lenfest Foundation Trustee Scholarship Endowment - Temple University Temple University
BROOK J. LENFEST ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP - Temple University
Last dollar scholarship program - Philadelphia Futures for Youth Philadelphia Futures for Youth
OFFICE OF COLLEGE SUCCESS - Philadelphia Futures for Youth
College Retention and Success Programs - Big Picture Philadelphia
REAL WORLD LEARNING PROGRAM
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 58 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | $6,638,500 | $25,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | $1,360,000 | $125,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | $1,181,935 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | $1,823,056 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | $291,382 | $27,000 |
| 2024 | 42 | $1,183,761 | $25,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Brook J Lenfest Foundation Inc has 17 of them, worth $6,206,432. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $2,400,000 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $1,600,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | $800,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | $600,000 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $250,000 |
| Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives | Harrisburg, PA | $125,000 |
| Philadelphia School Partnership | Philadelphia, PA | $125,000 |
| NORTH10 Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $100,000 |
| I-Lead | Bryn Mawr, PA | $75,000 |
| The Commonwealth Foundation | Harrisburg, PA | $50,000 |
| Children's Literacy Iniative | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 |
| Historical Society of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $12,500 |
| Avenue of the Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 |
| Tricounty Community Network Resilient Students | Pottstown, PA | $10,000 |
| NORTH10 Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $7,645 |
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Brook J Lenfest Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 6 returns (tax years 2019-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 939 Jefferson Ave, Audubon, PA, 19403. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 23-3031338 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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