Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation
The Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation is a private foundation established in 1993 and based in Sheffield, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since October 1994. It is a non-operating foundation that makes grants to preselected charitable organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-17.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$383K
-11.9% YoY
Grant Count
61
+10.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-20.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to supporting a variety of causes with primary focus areas including:
- Environment — funding projects to protect the environment and environmental education
- Alternative Healthcare — support for alternative health care initiatives and holistic medicine
- The Arts — funding for music, dance, literature, visual arts, performing arts, and artist services
- Education — educational initiatives on environment and arts, particularly for youth
- Human Services — general human services support
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism — grantmaking and charitable giving initiatives
The foundation aims to bring awareness and education in these areas to underserved populations, particularly young people, while maintaining flexibility to support other causes as determined by its Trustees.
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Rolling application deadlines are available.
Grant Range
$2,500–$3,000
Average Grant
award: approximately $6,000–$7,000
Review Cycle
are available.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- Berkshire County, Massachusetts
- New York City metropolitan area
- New York and Massachusetts (primary funding regions)
The foundation also funds organizations in New Jersey, District of Columbia, and other parts of the United States, though organizations outside the primary regions are occasionally considered. Approximately 93% of all grants support organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia.
The foundation has supported 83 unique organizations across its grantmaking history.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $1,927,022
- Total Revenue: $191,805
- Total Expenses: $706,248
- Investment Income and Dividends: $52,450
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $136,355
Asset Trends:
- Total assets have decreased from $7.7 million in 2011 to $1.9 million in 2023
Staffing:
- 2 employees (as of 2023)
Financial Ratios:
- Expense Ratio: 368.2% of total revenue
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,587,306 | $1,927,022 | $2,441,465 |
| Revenue | $310,789 | $191,805 | $358,450 |
| Expenses | $650,505 | $706,248 | $680,330 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $558,973 | $613,415 | $582,130 |
| Net Investment Income | $219,584 | $97,008 | $262,750 |
| Distributable Amount | $97,036 | $119,065 | $144,966 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Shakespeare & Company ($26,000), Beginning With Children Foundation ($25,000), Cata ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY CHARLESTOWN, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALVIN ALLEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ANSONIA MUSIC OUTREACH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING MASSACHUSETTS INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BALLET TECH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| BEGINNING WITH CHILDREN FOUNDATION BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Barry R. Shapiro — Trustee, President, and CEO
- Norman Leben — Trustee, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer
- Stella Lello — Listed as key personnel
The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARRY R SHAPIRO | TRUSTEE, PRESIDENT, CEO | 30 | $96,000 |
| NORMAN LEBEN | TRUSTEE, EVP, CFO | 30 | $84,000 |
| STELLA LELLOS | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $500 |
| RAYMOND S KASEVICH | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $500 |
| WILLIAM LEONE | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $500 |
| DANIEL SEITZ | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $500 |
Contact Information
- Website: sohnfoundation.org
- Phone: (212) 408-0596
- Location: Sheffield, MA
- EIN: 99-0306576
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to supporting a variety of causes with primary focus areas including: • **Environment** — funding projects to protect the environment and environmental education • **Alternative Healthcare** — support for alternative health care initiatives and holistic medicine • **The Arts** — funding for music, dance, literature, visual arts, performing arts, and artist services • **Education** — educational initiatives on environment and arts, particularly for youth • **Human Ser…
How do I apply for a grant from Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation?
**Grant Patterns:** • Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $48,000 • Average grant award: approximately $6,000–$7,000 • Median grant size: $2,500–$3,000 • The foundation has made 187 grants totaling $1.3 million across available records **Recent Activity:** • 2023: 69 grants totaling approximately $435,000 • 2022: Annual giving of $816,000 • 2024: 55 grants awarded totaling $435,000 **Application Process:** The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. R…
Where does Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • **Berkshire County, Massachusetts** • **New York City metropolitan area** • **New York and Massachusetts** (primary funding regions) The foundation also funds organizations in New Jersey, District of Columbia, and other parts of the United States, though organizations outside the primary regions are occasionally considered. Approximately 93% of all grants support organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. The fou…
What size grants does Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation award?
In 2024, Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation awarded 61 grants totaling $383K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation's EIN?
Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0306576. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dr Robert C & Tina Sohn 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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