Abrams Foundation Inc
Abrams Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing lists grants to organizations working in areas including journalism, arts and culture, education and opportunity, and public spaces.
Abrams Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Abrams Foundation Inc gave $6.9M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $382K), top state District of Columbia. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,880,000
- -10.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -28.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $382,222
- +24.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $125,000
- Total assets
- $99,587,949
- -3.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (3 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Abrams Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 646-6140
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Abrams Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Journalism Project ($2.5M). Together the top 10 received $6.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 33 grants of 108 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Washington, DC (47%), New York (25%), and Massachusetts (24%). Recipients in Texas received 3% and those in Illinois received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Abrams Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 18 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $450K; repeat grants $369K. How we count
Medians: $500K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.0M (2022) to $8.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $6.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Journalism Project Washington, DC | In Support of Fund II | $2,500,000 |
| Propublica New York, NY | To Support the Propublica Local Reporting Network | $1,300,000 |
| The Esplanade Association Boston, MA | To provide support for the construction of the charlesbank landing on the esplanade | $750,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Support of the enterprise journalism initiative/frontline series support and frontline dispatch podcast | $505,000 |
| Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC | To support the center for the study of global slavery at the national museum of african American history and culture | $500,000 |
| Year up Inc Boston, MA | To Support the Campaign for an Equitable Future | $250,000 |
| Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Washington, DC | To Support the Local Legal Initiative | $200,000 |
| The 19TH News Austin, TX | General Operating Support to Advance Reproductive Rights Coverage | $200,000 |
| The Public Theater New York, NY | In support of public works and the mobile unit | $150,000 |
| Jazz at Lincoln Center New York, NY | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Abrams Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $99,587,949 | $4,874,203 | $8,126,089 | $6,880,000 | 18 | $6,880,515 | $3,664,742 | $6,747,282 |
| 2023 | $102,839,835 | $9,783,405 | $8,256,365 | $7,656,666 | 25 | $7,657,146 | $3,251,411 | $5,881,514 |
| 2022 | $101,312,795 | $7,947,302 | $6,904,943 | $5,954,667 | 26 | $5,951,877 | $994,355 | $5,690,627 |
| 2021 | $100,270,436 | $19,294,314 | $9,260,905 | $8,329,667 | 18 | $8,287,931 | $5,311,676 | $6,098,159 |
| 2020 | $90,237,494 | $18,931,017 | $8,494,235 | $7,871,500 | 21 | — | $4,339,518 | $4,768,739 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Abrams Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for journalism and news organizations, arts and cultural organizations, and other charitable work. For example, the American Journalism Project describes its own mission as building and supporting local news across the country; Salt Lick Incubator says it supports emerging musicians; and Year Up says its mission is to help young adults gain skills and support for careers and higher education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $6,880,000. Grants ranged from $25,000 to $2,500,000, with a median of $125,000. Its largest grants included $2,500,000 to the American Journalism Project in support of Fund II; $1,300,000 to ProPublica for its Local Reporting Network; and $750,000 to the Esplanade Association for construction of Charlesbank Landing on the Esplanade. Other notable awards included $505,000 to WGBH Educational Foundation for journalism initiatives, $500,000 to the Smithsonian Institution for the Center for the Study of Global Slavery, and $250,000 to Year Up for the Campaign for an Equitable Future.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David C. Abrams and Amy Abrams as directors.
Abrams Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amy Abrams
Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David C. Abrams
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Abrams Foundation Inc
How much does Abrams Foundation Inc give each year?
Abrams Foundation Inc gave $6.9M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.7M across 25 grants.
What is Abrams Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Abrams Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $125,000, and its average grant was $382,222, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Abrams Foundation Inc that year got $450K on average.
Where does Abrams Foundation Inc give grants?
Abrams Foundation Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (25%) and Massachusetts (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does Abrams Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Abrams Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Abrams Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Abrams Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include American Journalism Project ($2,500,000), Propublica ($1,300,000) and The Esplanade Association ($750,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Abrams Foundation Inc?
Abrams Foundation Inc reported $99.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Abrams Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for journalism and news organizations, arts and cultural organizations, and other charitable work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Abrams Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Abrams Foundation Inc's EIN?
Abrams Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6856820. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Abrams Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Abrams Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/abrams-foundation-inc-morg_888f8433bcfa436eb2ea9989e5f2eac4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046856820_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Abrams Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/abrams-foundation-inc-morg_888f8433bcfa436eb2ea9989e5f2eac4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Abrams Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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