Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc
Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Brooklyn, New York. The foundation has been tax-exempt since March 1994 and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.5M
+2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+5.9% YoY
Grant Count
55
+5.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+0.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $843K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Jewish Nonprofits
- After School Programs
- Mentoring and Tutoring Programs
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $270,000
Average Grant
amount varies by year
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total assets: $14,200,000 to $14,526,267
- Total giving: $1,335,743 to $1,414,684
- Giving rate: 9.4% of assets
Financial History:
- 2023 Revenue: $1.17 million
- 2023 Expenses: $1.34 million
- Total liabilities (2023): $19,100
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,526,267 | $14,197,305 | $14,082,432 |
| Revenue | $1,470,941 | $1,172,357 | $1,060,401 |
| Expenses | $1,420,584 | $1,341,703 | $1,963,214 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,414,684 | $1,335,743 | $1,957,799 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,470,941 | $667,357 | $1,060,401 |
| Distributable Amount | $842,945 | $773,524 | $798,181 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Keren Olam Hatora ($180,000), Agudath Israel of America ($115,500), Bmg ($115,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AVRECHEI TORAH VODAATH BROOKLYN, NY | CONGREGATION | $1,000 |
| CONG MEFOR HATFILA BROOKLYN, NY | CONGREGATION | $2,500 |
| CONG MOSDOS TOLDOS AHARON BROOKLYN, NY | CONGREGATION | $5,000 |
| CONG SHOMER SHABBOS BROOKLYN, NY | CONGREGATION | $50,000 |
| CONG TIFERES ZVI BROOKLYN, NY | CONGREGATION | $5,000 |
| CONG TORAH TEMIMA BROOKLYN, NY | CONGREGATION | $1,000 |
| CONGREGATION SHUTZ LAKEWOOD, NJ | CONGREGATION | $6,000 |
| PROJECT WITNESS BROOKLYN, NY | CHARITY | $7,900 |
| HATZALAH VOLANTEER AMBULANCE BROOKLYN, NY | CHARITY | $3,600 |
| KEREN MUGIN MOISHE BROOKLYN, NY | CHARITY | $7,460 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERWIN ZAFIR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| RUTH ZAFIR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Jewish Nonprofits • After School Programs • Mentoring and Tutoring Programs
How do I apply for a grant from Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000 to $270,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Recent Activity:** • 2023: 52 grants awarded totaling $1,335,743 • 2022: 61 grants awarded totaling $2,000,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Where does Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • New Jersey • Pennsylvania
What size grants does Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc awarded 55 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $843K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc's EIN?
Erwin & Ruth Zafir Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3135109. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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