Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund
The Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund is a private foundation based in Needham, Massachusetts, established in 1946. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable entity with no employees, functioning as a grantmaking foundation that supports charitable, educational, medical, and religious organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$184K
-39.9% YoY
Grant Count
15
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund reported a distributable amount of $338K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation contributes to various charitable, educational, medical, and religious organizations. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Charitable causes
- Medical organizations
- Religious organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation also made nine additional grants in 2023 beyond those listed above.
Grant Range
$1,000–$150,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $3,999,480
- Total revenues: $1,360,929
- Total expenses: $329,899
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $3,958,276
- Total giving: $184,100
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,958,276 | $3,999,480 | $2,968,450 |
| Revenue | $170,275 | $1,360,929 | $154,823 |
| Expenses | $211,479 | $329,899 | $221,020 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $184,100 | $301,435 | $179,100 |
| Net Investment Income | $142,896 | $1,332,465 | $112,903 |
| Distributable Amount | $338,039 | $282,576 | $335,352 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Combined Jewish Philanthropies ($60,000), Brandeis University ($53,000), Anti-defamation League ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIDMC BOSTON, MA | MEDICAL | $2,500 |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY WALTHAM, MA | EDUCATIONAL | $53,000 |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $60,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| GANN ACADEMY WALTHAM, MA | EDUCATIONAL | $5,500 |
| HEBREW SENIOR LIFE ROSLINDALE, MA | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| BROTHERS FOR LIFE SEATTLE, WA | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| JALSA BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| KESHET JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | CHARITABLE | $3,600 |
| ITREK NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustee:
- Bram Shapiro
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRAM SHAPIRO | TRUSTEE AS REQ. | — | — |
| JOSEPH MICHELSON | TRUSTEE AS REQ. | — | — |
| ARON AIN | TRUSTEE AS REQ. | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, with its most recent tax filings dated December 1, 2023. The organization continues to support educational institutions, including Brandeis University through its Psi Chi chapter, and major Jewish philanthropic organizations in the Boston area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund fund?
The foundation contributes to various charitable, educational, medical, and religious organizations. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Charitable causes • Medical organizations • Religious organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 14 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $184,100 • Typical grant range: $1,000–$150,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston: $150,000 • Psi Chi - Brandeis University: $53,000 • Anti-Defamation League (ADL): $25,000 The foundation also made nine additional grants in 2023 beyond those listed above.
Where does Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and Washington.
What size grants does Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund award?
In 2024, Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund awarded 15 grants totaling $184K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund reported a distributable amount of $338K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund's EIN?
Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6043588. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Abraham Shapiro Charity Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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