The Lida Foundation
Philadelphia, PA · EIN 23-2706456. Reported 182 grants totalling $2,094,550 to 75 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. 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 Lida Foundation 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 $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,750 and $17,500; the smallest was $100 and the largest $125,000. 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. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Wissahickon | Philadelphia, PA | $272,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wilma Theater | Philadelphia, PA | $182,150 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Morris Arboretum of the Univ of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $121,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Opera Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $115,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Aspen Community Foundation | Basalt, CO | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $97,700 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Philadelphia Orchestra | Philadelphia, PA | $85,700 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Bearded Ladies | Philadelphia, PA | $77,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Ballet X | Philadelphia, PA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Philadelphia Ballet | Philadelphia, PA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Womens Way | Philadelphia, PA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Theatre Company | Philadelphia, PA | $40,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art | Philadelphia, PA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Women's Law Project | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Theatre Horizon | Norristown, PA | $32,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Fringe Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania Pa | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Project 440 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Metropolitan Opera Association | New York, NY | $26,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Balletx | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Barnes Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bearded Ladies Cabaret | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fringearts | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Orchestra Association | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Young Playwrights | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Pennsylvania Ballet Association Dba Philadelphia Ballet | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Theatre Exile | Philadelphia, PA | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Food Moxie | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Interact Theatre Company | Philadelphia, PA | $19,250 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Abortion Liberation Fund of Pa | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Philadelphia Film Society | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Play Penn | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Project Home | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Whyy 91FM | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wrti Temple University Public Radio | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Arden Theatre Company | Philadelphia, PA | $14,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| 1812 Productions | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Azuka Theatre | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lantern Theater Company | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Philabundance | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Brian Sanders' Junk | Philadelphia, PA | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Philadelphia Artists Collective | Philadelphia, PA | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pig Iron Theatre Company | Philadelphia, PA | $8,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Gunnar Montana Productions | Philadelphia, PA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bread and Roses Community Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Friends of Chestnut Hill Library | Philadelphia, PA | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance | Philadelphia, PA | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Intercultural Journeys | Philadelphia, PA | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pyo Music Institute | Philadelphia, PA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 11TH Hour Theater Company | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Academy of Vocal Arts | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chestnut Hill Community Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sunrise Day Camp-Greater Philadelphia | Oceanside, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lyric Fest | Philadelphia, PA | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Quintessence Theatre Group | Philadelphia, PA | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Headlong Dance Theater | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Neighborhood Bike Works | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Painted Bride Art Center Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fund for the School District of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $2,100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jack Arts Inc | Brooklyn, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Main Line Symphony | Wayne Pa, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Barrington Stage Company Inc | Pittsfield, MA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Theatre Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shakespeare & Co | Lenox, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Theatre Exile Company | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford | West Hartford, CT | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Virginia League for Planned Parenthood | Richmond, VA | $150 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mass Moca | North Adams, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
49 of 75 (65%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 85%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
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.
- Friends of the Wissahickon Inc
$30,000 FOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION AND $25,500 TO CONSERVE NATURAL BEAUTY AND THE WILDNESS OF WISSAHICKON VALLEY AND TO STIMULATE PUBLIC INTEREST THEREIN - Philadelphia Orchestra
$10,000 FOR "THE HOURS" PROGRAM AND GENERAL SUPPORT - Opera Philadelphia
COMMITTED TO EMBRACING INNOVATION AND DEVELOPING OPERA FOR THE 21ST CENTURY - Morris Arboretum of the Univ of Pennsylvania
$27,500 FOR OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND $3,500 IN GENERAL SUPPORT TO INSPIRE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND PLACE THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND HORTICULTURAL DISPLAY - Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania Pa
TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, INCREASE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND INFORMATION, AND PROMOTE SEXUAL HEALTH. - Aspen Community Foundation
BUILDS PHILANTHROPY AND SUPPORTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BY CONNECTING DONORS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUILDING PERMANENT CHARITABLE FUNDS AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SOLVE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 125 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | $606,750 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 53 | $533,750 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 50 | $478,550 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | $475,500 | $10,000 |
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.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 94% of this one's giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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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 the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- 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 Lida Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 504 West Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19118. 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 23-2706456 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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