Adelson Family Foundation
The Adelson Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2007 by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson. Based in Needham, Massachusetts, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since February 2010.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.0M
+2727.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$66.9M
+52.6% YoY
Grant Count
55
+7.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.2M
+41.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Adelson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $710K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The primary purpose of the foundation is to strengthen the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The foundation focuses on the following categories:
- Healthcare
- Holocaust and Anti-Semitism awareness
- Israel Advocacy and defense
- Israel studies
- Jewish and Zionist identity and education
- Media and culture
- Welfare
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to individuals and organizations aligned with its mission. Recent grant activity demonstrates significant giving:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on New York, Nevada, and Massachusetts, with significant international focus on Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 (Most Recent):
- Total Assets: $21,016,741
- Total Revenue: $87,963,664
- Total Expenses: $67,690,290
- Total Giving: $66,861,072
2023:
- Total Assets: $743,367
- Total Revenue: $45,022,474
- Total Expenses: $44,514,097
2022:
- Total Assets: $5,626,414
- Total Revenue: $39,973,149
- Total Expenses: $45,364,573
The foundation maintains zero liabilities and operates with zero employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,016,741 | $743,367 | $234,990 |
| Revenue | $87,963,664 | $45,022,474 | $39,973,149 |
| Expenses | $67,690,290 | $44,514,097 | $45,364,573 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $66,927,152 | $43,806,189 | $45,363,584 |
| Net Investment Income | $618,493 | $20,018 | $15,761 |
| Distributable Amount | $710,415 | $46,598 | $63,330 |
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
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Friends of Ariel University ($10,850,000), Birthright Israel Foundation ($9,000,000), Friends of Sourasky Tel Aviv Medical Center ($5,666,667).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADELSON CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE LAS VEGAS, NV | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $40,000 |
| ADELSON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE LAS VEGAS, NV | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $4,900,000 |
| ALEH INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $26,595 |
| ALS ASSOCIATION ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ARIEL UNIVERSITY BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,850,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BATSHEVA DANCE FOREST HILLS, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF JORDAN RIVER VILLAGE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIBI BRIGHTON, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LUBAVITCH WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NATAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $6,753 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael Bohnen is listed as President.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR MIRIAM ADELSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL BOHNEN | PRESIDENT | 30 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Adelson Family Foundation made a close to eight-figure donation to Bar-Ilan University to establish the Adelson Institute for Smart Materials. The foundation also awarded $4.5 million to the Shalem Center in Jerusalem. Additionally, the foundation supports the Adelson Scholarship through the Public Education Foundation, helping local students.
Adelson family makes \u2018close to an eight-figure\u2019 donation to Bar-Ilan\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Adelson Family Foundation fund?
The primary purpose of the foundation is to strengthen the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The foundation focuses on the following categories: • Healthcare • Holocaust and Anti-Semitism awareness • Israel Advocacy and defense • Israel studies • Jewish and Zionist identity and education • Media and culture • Welfare
How do I apply for a grant from Adelson Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to individuals and organizations aligned with its mission. Recent grant activity demonstrates significant giving: **2024 Notable Grants:** • American Friends of Ariel University: $10,850,000 • Birthright Israel Foundation: $9,000,000 • Friends of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center: $5,666,667 **2023 Notable Grants:** • Maccabee Task Force Foundation: $9,990,542 • Birthright Israel Foundation: $9,000,000 • Israeli American Council (IAC): $5,000,000 Typical award ranges …
Where does Adelson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on New York, Nevada, and Massachusetts, with significant international focus on Israel.
What size grants does Adelson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Adelson Family Foundation awarded 55 grants totaling $66.9M — an average of about $1.2M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Adelson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Adelson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $710K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Adelson Family Foundation's EIN?
Adelson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-7024330. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Adelson Family Foundation'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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