Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in South Boston, Massachusetts. It made 14 grants totaling $178,225 in filing year 2025 to charitable organizations.
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc gave $178K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in New York. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $178,225
- -40.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,730
- -31.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $773,826
- -4.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2023 filing says no specific application form is necessary; a complete description of the request’s charitable purpose is required. It lists Joseph Karas as the contact for requests and states that awards are restricted to tax-exempt charitable organizations. The filing says there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Joseph Karas
Mailing address: 50 Liberty Drive 9K, Boston, MA 02210
Phone: (617) 268-8800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Crohn & Colitis Foundation ($105K). Together the top 10 received $172K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 58 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New York (60%), Massachusetts (34%), Connecticut (3%), Maine (3%), and Washington, DC (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 457% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $103K (2022) to $310K (2021). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $178K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Crohn & Colitis Foundation New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $105,000 |
| Friends of the Children Boston, MA | Charitable Contribution | $20,000 |
| Shirat Hayam Swampscott, MA | Charitable Contribution | $15,500 |
| Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy Boston, MA | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| Italian Heritage Month Committee of Massachusetts Boston, MA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Kellie Kennedy Golf Classic East Haven, CT | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation Ogunquit, ME | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Brigham & Womens Hospital Boston, MA | Charitable Contribution | $2,500 |
| Temple Israel of Sharon Sharon, MA | Charitable Contribution | $2,400 |
| Friends of the High Line New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Elia & Fannie Karas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $773,826 | $150,000 | $184,400 | $178,225 | 14 | $178,225 | — | $38,958 |
| 2024 | $808,226 | $150,079 | $308,557 | $297,948 | 16 | $297,948 | $79 | $42,968 |
| 2023 | $966,704 | $200,933 | $137,850 | $133,225 | 12 | $133,225 | $933 | $46,044 |
| 2022 | $903,621 | $500,000 | $107,500 | $102,900 | 8 | $102,900 | — | $34,838 |
| 2021 | $511,121 | — | $310,000 | $310,000 | 8 | — | — | $32,806 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $39K for 2025 — 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 grants have supported organizations working in areas including theatre, public space, and crisis response. The Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation describes its mission as producing theatre performances, cultivating new stage works, and preserving a historic organization. Friends of the High Line says it works to build and maintain a public space and protect the historic structure. World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $178,225. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $105,000, with a median of $3,750.
Among the 2025 grants were $105,000 to Crohn & Colitis Foundation; $20,000 to Friends of the Children in Boston; $15,500 to Shirat Hayam; $10,000 to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy; $5,000 each to Italian Heritage Month Committee of Massachusetts, Kellie Kennedy Golf Classic, and Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation; and $2,000 to Friends of the High Line. World Central Kitchen received $1,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joseph Karas is listed as president and treasurer on the 2025 filing.
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc is led by Joseph Karas, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2021) — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph Karas
President & Treasurer
President → President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Barbara Karas (2021–2023) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc
How much does Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc give each year?
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc gave $178K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $298K across 16 grants.
What is Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $12,730, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc give grants?
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (34%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Who are Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Crohn & Colitis Foundation ($105,000), Friends of the Children ($20,000) and Shirat Hayam ($15,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc?
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc reported $774K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $178K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants have supported organizations working in areas including theatre, public space, and crisis response. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2023 filing says no specific application form is necessary; a complete description of the request’s charitable purpose is required. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's EIN?
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6074427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Hobsonlucas Family Foundation
San Rafael, CA
The foundation funds a broad range of work, including higher education, arts and film, legal advocacy, health and substance-use services, youth programs, and international development. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $13 million, with a median of $5,000; funding went mainly to organizations in California, New York, and New Jersey. It accepts requests by letter, with no stated deadlines or award restrictions.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
336
Total Given
$56.8M
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elia-and-fannie-karas-foundation-inc-morg_cbc511a177e14c3cbfaeccb6af0378a9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046074427_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elia \& Fannie Karas Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elia-and-fannie-karas-foundation-inc-morg_cbc511a177e14c3cbfaeccb6af0378a9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Elia & Fannie Karas 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.
Elia & Fannie Karas Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?