Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc (ACEF) is a New York, New York-based organization that provides financial support to the Diocese, parishes, and related entities of the Armenian Apostolic Church through pooled investment management. It was founded in 1973 as an independent nonprofit investment corporation and describes itself as supporting endowment building, not fundraising. Its filing type is 990T.
Key facts about Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc
In short: Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc gave $2.9M across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $106K), mostly in New York. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 20-2821426
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,863,057
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $106,039
- Median grant
- $33,608
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 25, 2024)
- Total assets
- $151,681,375
- Primary geography
- New York (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$151.7M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+10.0% YoY
Grant Count
27
-6.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$106K
+18.2% YoY
Is Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 25 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $122K. How we count
Medians: $33K first-time, $51K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
ACEF’s mission is to provide financial support to the Diocese, parishes, and related entities of the Armenian Apostolic Church through oversight of pooled investments. Its long-term investment approach is intended to support the financial sustainability of endowed institutions and help Armenian culture and spirituality thrive.
Its 2024 grants included support for church, educational, and relief organizations. St. Nersess Armenian Seminary describes its mission as religious higher education supporting the training of people dedicated to service and ministry in the Armenian Church. Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School says it educates students from nursery through sixth grade. Fund for Armenian Relief describes its work as supporting people in Armenia and advancing an equitable, sustainable, and resilient Armenian homeland.
Grantmaking
In 2024, ACEF reported 27 grants totaling $2,863,057. Grant amounts ranged from $6,225 to $1,451,318, with a median of $33,608. The largest grants included $1,451,318 to the Diocese of the Armenian Church for program services; $396,950 to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary for program services; $124,251 to Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School for program services; and $106,138 to Fund for Armenian Relief for program services.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant distribution was concentrated in New York, which received 77% of grant dollars. Michigan received 6%; New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Florida each received 3%. The listed grants also include recipients in Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2020) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Diocese of the Armenian Church ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 137 (67%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diocese of the Armenian Church New York, NY | Program services | $1,451,318 |
| St Nersess Armenian Seminary Armonk, NY | Program services | $396,950 |
| Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School Bayside, NY | Program services | $124,251 |
| Fund for Armenian Relief New York, NY | Program services | $106,138 |
| St John Armenian Church Southfield, MI | Program services | $93,336 |
| Armenian Apostolic Society Southfield, MI | Program services | $83,086 |
| St Mary Armenian Apostolic Church Washington, DC | Program services | $67,891 |
| Soorp Haroutiun Armenian Church Orlando, FL | Program services | $64,728 |
| St Leon Armenian Church Fair Lawn, NJ | Program services | $63,493 |
| St John the Baptist Armenian Church Greenfield, WI | Program services | $53,136 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $151,681,375 | $11,642,810 | $4,227,436 | $2,863,057 |
| 2023 | $146,847,942 | $4,363,783 | $3,976,412 | $2,602,022 |
| 2022 | $135,682,703 | −$5,279,564 | $3,734,499 | $2,559,690 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $151,681,375 | $146,847,942 | $135,682,703 |
| Revenue | $11,642,810 | $4,363,783 | $-5,279,564 |
| Expenses | $4,227,436 | $3,976,412 | $3,734,499 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,669,304 | $2,546,728 | $-5,999,067 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Lisa A. Kazanjian as Executive Director; Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan as President; Gregory Zorthian as Chair; Gregory Melconian as Treasurer; and Robert E. Cannuscio as Secretary. It also listed Kirk S. Hachigian, Bryan Stepanian, Melanie Dadourian, Eric Baroyan, and Kirk Kazazian as directors.
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc is led by Lisa A Kazanjian, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lisa A Kazanjian
Executive Director
Treasurer → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$65K (2024)
Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Zorthian
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Stepanian
Director
Director → Co-Chair, 2021
Co-Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Shaghalian Vranka
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Baroyan
Director
Co-Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory J Amerkanian
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk Kazazian
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk S Hachigian
Director
Director → Co-Chair, 2021
Co-Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marie A Vanerian
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Dadourian
Director
Co-Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Papalian
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert E Cannuscio
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Melconian
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Krikor Sabounjian (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Nancy Berberian (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Very Rev Fr Mesrop Parsamyan (2022) — President
- Former: Aline Khatchadourian (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Bishop Daniel Findikyan (2020–2021) — President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $65K, to Lisa A Kazanjian (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 812-2255
Website: https://acefinvest.org
Frequently asked questions about Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc
How much does Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc give each year?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc gave $2.9M across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 29 grants.
What is Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $33,608, and its average grant was $106,039, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc that year got $33K on average.
Where does Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc give grants?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc gives mostly in New York: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Michigan (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Southfield, MI (2 grants) and Bayside, NY (2 grants).
Does Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program services" (27 grants).
Who are Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Diocese of the Armenian Church ($1,451,318), St Nersess Armenian Seminary ($396,950) and Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School ($124,251), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc reported $151.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.6M.
What does Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc fund?
ACEF’s mission is to provide financial support to the Diocese, parishes, and related entities of the Armenian Apostolic Church through oversight of pooled investments. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check acefinvest.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's EIN?
Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2821426. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Armenian Church Endowment Fund Inc by hand.
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