Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 04-6869254

The Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations supporting areas including housing stability, food access, education, health, and services for people experiencing domestic violence.

Key facts about Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation

In short: Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation gave $185K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Massachusetts. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
04-6869254
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$185,000
Grants made (2025)
12
Average grant
$15,417
Median grant
$17,500
New grantees (estimate)
8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2025)
Total assets
$5,165,550
Primary geography
Massachusetts (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.2M

+4.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$185K

+11.4% YoY

Grant Count

12

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-16.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $249K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

8%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $16K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No foundation mission is stated in the provided information. Its 2025 grants were all listed as general operating support. Among its grantees, Cradles to Crayons says it provides essential items to children in low-income or homeless situations, and Housing Families says its mission is to strengthen housing stability. Perkins School for the Blind describes work serving people with disabilities through education and accessibility services, while Reach Beyond Domestic Violence says it supports survivors and promotes healthy relationships.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $185,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $17,500. Larger grants included $25,000 each to Cradles to Crayons, Housing Families, and Women’s Lunch Place; $20,000 each to Huntington Theater Company, Learning Ally, and Perkins School for the Blind; and $15,000 to Reach Beyond Domestic Violence.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars went to organizations in Massachusetts (76%), New Jersey (11%), California (5%), New York (5%), and Maine (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of all 12 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

BostonEast BoothbayMaldenNewtonvilleWatertownOaklandPrincetonQuincyWabanWalthamDorchesterNew YorkRoxburySan FranciscoSomervilleArlingtonGloucesterJamaica PlainLincolnLowell

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K25 grants202111 grants202213 grants20239 grants202412 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2024) to $240K (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $185K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Cradles to Crayons: $25KCradles to Crayons$25KHousing Families Inc: $25KHousing Families Inc$25KWomen's Lunch Place: $25KWomen's Lunch Place$25KHuntington Theater Company: $20KHuntington Theater Company$20KLearning Ally: $20KLearning Ally$20KPerkins School for the Blind: $20KPerkins School for the Blind$20KReach Beyond Domestic Violence: $15KReach Beyond Domestic Violence$15KPeer Health Exchange: $10KPeer Health Exchange$10KPlanned Parenthood Federation of America: $10KPlanned Parenthood Federationof America$10K826 Boston: $5K826 Boston$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Cradles to Crayons ($25K). Together the top 10 received $175K.

Grant Size Distribution

70 grants across all recorded years

70<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 70 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cradles to Crayons Newtonville, MAGeneral Operating Support$25,000
Housing Families Inc Malden, MAGeneral Operating Support$25,000
Women's Lunch Place Boston, MAGeneral Operating Support$25,000
Huntington Theater Company Boston, MAGeneral Operating Support$20,000
Learning Ally Princeton, NJGeneral Operating Support$20,000
Perkins School for the Blind Watertown, MAGeneral Operating Support$20,000
Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Waltham, MAGeneral Operating Support$15,000
Peer Health Exchange Oakland, CAGeneral Operating Support$10,000
Planned Parenthood Federation of America New York, NYGeneral Operating Support$10,000
826 Boston Roxbury, MAGeneral Operating Support$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $5,165,550 $427,469 $254,271 $185,000 (12 grants)
2024 $4,942,830 $131,768 $230,508 $166,000 (9 grants)
2023 $4,336,381 -$81,773 $318,498 $240,000 (13 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$5,165,550$4,942,830$4,336,381
Revenue$427,469$131,768$-81,773
Expenses$254,271$230,508$318,498
Qualifying Distributions$232,668$209,405$290,863
Net Investment Income$405,866$110,665$65,123
Distributable Amount$249,339$226,849$220,027

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Kristin Abati, Richard J Eckstein, and Jessica L Lambert as trustees.

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Richard J Eckstein

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2021) → $10K (2025)

  • Kristin Abati

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jessica L Lambert

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Robert A Russo (2021–2022) — Trustee

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Richard J Eckstein — Trustee: $10KRichard J EcksteinTrustee$10K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $10K, to Richard J Eckstein (Trustee).

Contact

Mailing address: Choate Hall Stewart PO Box 961, Boston, MA 02196
Phone: (617) 248-4045

Frequently asked questions about Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation

How much does Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation give each year?

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation gave $185K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $166K across 9 grants.

What is Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $15,417, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation give grants?

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Jersey (11%) and California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).

Does Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cradles to Crayons ($25,000), Housing Families Inc ($25,000) and Women's Lunch Place ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation?

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $233K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $249K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation fund?

No foundation mission is stated in the provided information. Its 2025 grants were all listed as general operating support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6869254. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does Esther B Kahn Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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