Deborah and Robert First
Deborah and Robert First is a private foundation based in Weston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including cancer research and patient care, music and the performing arts, Jewish education, and women’s advocacy.
Deborah and Robert First at a glance
In short: Deborah and Robert First gave $269K across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Massachusetts. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $268,574
- -12.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,974
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $300
- Total assets
- $1,879,398
- -0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (6 of 54, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (96% 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 Deborah and Robert First
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 22 Rockport Road, Weston, MA 02493
Phone: (781) 235-1661
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Deborah and Robert First funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dana Farber- Jimmy Fund ($131K). Together the top 10 received $252K.
Grant Size Distribution
288 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 284 grants of 288 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 2% to New York, and 1% to Vermont. The filing also reports shares of 0% for Florida and Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Deborah and Robert First open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 54 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $517; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $275 repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 243% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 235% 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 $78K (2021) to $308K (2023). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $269K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dana Farber- Jimmy Fund Brookline, MA | The purpose of this contribution is to support cancer patients and research initiatives aimed at advancing treatments and improving patient care. | $130,739 |
| Dana Farber Cancer Institute-Boston Childrens Hospital Boston, MA | Cancer Research | $51,750 |
| Handel and Haydn Society Boston, MA | Period Orchestra | $36,350 |
| Combined Jewish Philanthropies Boston, MA | Jewish Education | $10,000 |
| Huntington Theater Company Boston, MA | Boston City Performing Arts Theater | $6,250 |
| Paradigm for Parity New York, NY | Women's Advocacy | $5,000 |
| Pan Mass Challenge - the Jimmy Fund Brookline, MA | Cancer Research | $3,950 |
| Sheakespeare & Company Lenox, MA | Historic Theatre Company | $3,000 |
| Temple Beth Elohim Wellesley, MA | Religious Center | $2,825 |
| Boston Ballet Boston, MA | Dance Education | $2,500 |
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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 | $1,879,398 | $288,226 | $291,926 | $268,574 | 54 | $268,574 | $274,809 | $114,399 |
| 2023 | $1,887,748 | $239,096 | $326,876 | $307,837 | 63 | $307,837 | $225,742 | $109,974 |
| 2022 | $1,970,878 | $130,841 | $147,752 | $119,806 | 61 | $119,841 | $116,280 | $123,812 |
| 2021 | $1,987,789 | $205,219 | $97,268 | $78,326 | 56 | $78,361 | $190,223 | $130,640 |
| 2020 | $1,881,898 | $126,879 | $111,290 | $91,875 | 54 | — | $113,897 | $111,627 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Deborah and Robert First reported a distributable amount of $114K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for cancer-related work, arts and cultural organizations, educational and religious organizations, and advocacy. For example, Handel and Haydn Society describes its mission as performing Baroque and Classical music and sharing it with diverse audiences, while also fostering music among young people, especially those in underserved schools and communities. Paradigm for Parity says it works with member companies to advance inclusive leadership and opportunity. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 54 grants totaling $268,574. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $130,739, with a median of $300.
The largest 2024 grants included $130,739 to Dana-Farber–Jimmy Fund for cancer patients and research initiatives, $51,750 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute–Boston Children’s Hospital for cancer research, and $36,350 to Handel and Haydn Society for its period orchestra. Other notable grants were $10,000 to Combined Jewish Philanthropies for Jewish education, $6,250 to Huntington Theater Company, and $5,000 to Paradigm for Parity for women’s advocacy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert First, Deborah First, Elizabeth Raddock, Richard First, and Pamela Martin as trustees.
Deborah and Robert First's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Deborah First
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Raddock
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Martin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard First
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert First
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Deborah and Robert First
How much does Deborah and Robert First give each year?
Deborah and Robert First gave $269K across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $308K across 63 grants.
What is Deborah and Robert First's typical grant size?
Deborah and Robert First's median grant in 2024 was $300, and its average grant was $4,974, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Deborah and Robert First that year got $517 on average.
Where does Deborah and Robert First give grants?
Deborah and Robert First gives mostly in Massachusetts: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (17 grants), Waitsfield, VT (4 grants), Burlington, VT (3 grants) and Brookline, MA (2 grants).
Does Deborah and Robert First give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Deborah and Robert First's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Cancer Research" (4 grants).
Who are Deborah and Robert First's largest grantees?
Deborah and Robert First's largest 2024 grantees include Dana Farber- Jimmy Fund ($130,739), Dana Farber Cancer Institute-Boston Childrens Hospital ($51,750) and Handel and Haydn Society ($36,350), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Deborah and Robert First?
Deborah and Robert First reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $269K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $114K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Deborah and Robert First fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for cancer-related work, arts and cultural organizations, educational and religious organizations, and advocacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Deborah and Robert First?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Deborah and Robert First's EIN?
Deborah and Robert First's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2776314. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Deborah and Robert First 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 September 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). Deborah and Robert First funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/deborah-and-robert-first-morg_a550eb7383ce43f59ba7d6f85d723ba4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222776314_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Deborah and Robert First funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/deborah-and-robert-first-morg_a550eb7383ce43f59ba7d6f85d723ba4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Deborah and Robert First'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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