Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation
The Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation is a private foundation based in Stamford, Connecticut. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in health, hunger relief, education, community services, and support for Israel’s protectors.
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation at a glance
In short: Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation gave $50K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in New York. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $50,076
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +27.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,788
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $765,100
- -12.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (8 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Frank Axel 24 River Oaks Dr, Stamford, CT 06902
Phone: (914) 949-2990
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Jewish Joint Distribution Comm ($5K). Together the top 10 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 105 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in New York received 52% of grant dollars, followed by Connecticut, California, and Tennessee at 10% each, and Washington, DC, at 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 28 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2020) to $54K (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Jewish Joint Distribution Comm New York, NY | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Mazon a Jewish Response to Hunger Los Angeles, CA | Program Support | $5,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Westchester Community College Valhalla, NY | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces New York, NY | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Channel Thirteen New York, NY | Program Support | $2,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | Program Support | $2,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | Program Support | $2,000 |
| Keren-or Center New York, NY | Program Support | $1,800 |
| Dorot New York, NY | Program Support | $1,800 |
Ready to take the next step with Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $765,100 | $-47,870 | $63,481 | $50,076 | 28 | $50,076 | $13,624 | $53,290 |
| 2023 | $876,451 | $29,272 | $58,877 | $46,476 | 22 | $46,476 | $16,871 | $49,822 |
| 2022 | $906,056 | $22,816 | $67,085 | $54,000 | 21 | $54,000 | $9,777 | $51,761 |
| 2021 | $950,325 | $14,714 | $62,232 | $35,292 | 20 | $35,292 | $2,961 | $51,543 |
| 2020 | $997,843 | $8,000 | $10,522 | $2,100 | 14 | — | $788,886 | $31,719 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $53K for 2024 — 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 formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for catastrophic pediatric diseases through research and treatment. MAZON says it works to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel. Friends of the Israel Defense Forces says it supports the health, well-being, and education of Israel’s protectors.
Other 2024 grantees describe missions that include providing food access (Feeding America), alleviating social isolation and loneliness among older adults (DOROT), making materials and community programs available to the public (The Ferguson Library), and providing housing and support services (Inspirica).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $50,076. Grants ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. Its largest listed grants were $5,000 each to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, MAZON A Jewish Response to Hunger, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Westchester Community College, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. Other listed grants included $2,000 to Channel Thirteen, Environmental Defense Fund, and Feeding America, and $1,800 each to Keren-Or Center and DOROT.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Franklin B. Axel, Barbara Axel, and Jacob Axel as trustees.
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara Axel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Franklin B. Axel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Axel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation
How much does Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation give each year?
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation gave $50K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $46K across 22 grants.
What is Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's typical grant size?
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,788, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation give grants?
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation gives mostly in New York: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (10%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Stamford, CT (2 grants).
Does Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (28 grants).
Who are Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's largest grantees?
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Jewish Joint Distribution Comm ($5,000), Mazon a Jewish Response to Hunger ($5,000) and St Jude Children's Research Hospital ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation?
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation reported $765K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $53K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frank and Barbara Axel 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 Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's EIN?
Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6693730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/frank-and-barbara-axel-foundation-morg_85f47d4799f24af3b345da9c17bf8766
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_846693730_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/frank-and-barbara-axel-foundation-morg_85f47d4799f24af3b345da9c17bf8766},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Frank and Barbara Axel Foundation'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.
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