Julius & Ray Charlestein Foundation
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting a variety of causes, with a strong emphasis on Jewish faith and community initiatives. Its mission focuses on enhancing Jewish education, promoting cultural and artistic endeavors, and addressing health-related issues, particularly ALS treatment and research. The foundation also provides assistance to disadvantaged populations, including efforts to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired individuals, and supports local community services. Overall, it demonstrates a commitment to fostering education, health, and community engagement.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A Pennsylvania-based nonprofit (often Jewish community, education, arts, or health-related) with local presence or an existing local introduction, able to manage modest to mid-size one-time grants and align with the foundation's community-focused priorities.
Good Fit
- • Organization is located in Pennsylvania, ideally in the Philadelphia area.
- • Mission aligns with Jewish community services, education, arts/culture, or health causes (notably ALS-related support).
- • Has a local relationship, board member introduction, or prior interaction with the foundation.
- • Seeks a single-year project or program grant in the small-to-mid funding range.
Geography
Giving is strongly concentrated in Pennsylvania: in the latest year 87% of dollars and about 71% of grants were in-state, with recipients in only three states overall.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 17 distinct recipients (and 36 in the prior year) across Jewish community, education, arts, health, and social services, indicating a broadly diverse recipient set despite some dollar concentration among a few grants.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of turnover is limited but present—four new recipients appeared in 2022 while 13 were repeats—and the foundation provides a named contact, phone, and mailing address with no required form; this suggests new entrants can access funding but selection appears relationship-influenced.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
