Five Below Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 2019, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for charitable, educational, and philanthropic purposes. The foundation is affiliated with Five Below Inc., which serves as its principal officer.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
-0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+111.7% YoY
Grant Count
28
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+96.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Five Below Foundation reported a distributable amount of $157K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, and environmental quality, protection and beautification. The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, with a particular emphasis on general support funding.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made 77 grants totaling $2 million since its inception. Grantmaking activity peaked in 2023 with $1.3 million distributed across 42 grants. The foundation has supported 37 unique organizations across multiple states.
Average Grant
amount: approximately $26,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, California, and Louisiana, with these three states accounting for 65% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states, with particular concentration in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $3,256,122
- Total Revenues: $1,114,665
- Total Expenses: $1,119,685
- Total Liabilities: $13,000
Investment Performance:
- Investment income and dividends (2025): $170,436
- Total grants and contributions (2025): $944,229
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $400,000 in 2019 to $3.3 million by 2023, demonstrating significant growth in the foundation's asset base since its establishment.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,256,122 | $3,260,642 | $2,539,035 |
| Revenue | $1,114,665 | $1,259,932 | $52,988 |
| Expenses | $1,119,685 | $537,065 | $672,836 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,073,000 | $511,750 | $645,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $170,436 | $131,109 | $50,832 |
| Distributable Amount | $157,204 | $130,796 | $146,227 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Reading Partners ($300,000), Boys and Girls Club of America ($150,000), Make a Wish Foundation of America ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BOUNCE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION DEERFIELD, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| CH PENNSYLVANIA UNDER 21 PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CRADLES TO CRAYONS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| EAGLES AUTISM CHALLENGE PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ELUNA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key officers and trustees include:
- Judy Werthauser (President, as of 8/17/20)
- Aaron Bookman (Vice President & Assistant Treasurer, as of 8/17/20)
- Ron Masciantonio (Vice President & Secretary, as of 8/17/20)
- Sarah K.S. Auerbach (Assistant Secretary, as of 8/17/20)
The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RON MASCIANTONIO | PRESIDENT | 0.8 | — |
| SARAH KS AUERBACH | VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 0.02 | — |
| CARMELO JALOSJOS | VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 0.2 | — |
| KENNETH BULL | DIRECTOR | 0.02 | — |
| MOLLY GELLERMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.02 | — |
| GEORGE HILL | DIRECTOR | 0.02 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with 21 grants distributed in 2025. Recent recipients include major national organizations such as Reading Partners, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, indicating a focus on well-established charitable organizations with broad impact.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Five Below Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, and environmental quality, protection and beautification. The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, with a particular emphasis on general support funding.
How do I apply for a grant from Five Below Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $1,073,000 • Total giving in 2025: $1,114,665 • Typical grant awards range from $250,000 to $300,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $26,000 • Median grant amount: $15,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $260,000 **Recent Grants (2025):** • Reading Partners: $300,000 (General Support) • Boys and Girls Clubs of America: $150,000 (General Support) • Make-A-Wish Foundation of America: $100,000 (General Support) **Historical G…
Where does Five Below Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, California, and Louisiana, with these three states accounting for 65% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states, with particular concentration in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Five Below Foundation award?
In 2025, Five Below Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Five Below Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Five Below Foundation reported a distributable amount of $157K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Five Below Foundation's EIN?
Five Below Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5406623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Five Below 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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