Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation
The Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. In 2024, it gave 12 grants totaling $41,151 to charitable organizations, including organizations in Maine, Arizona, and New York.
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation gave $41K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Maine. 58% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $41,151
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +200.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,429
- -71.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,800
- Total assets
- $877,168
- +3.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (7 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (78% 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 Gene R Cohen Charitable 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 Hawley R Strait Esq Po 9, Portland, ME 04104-5029
Phone: (207) 774-1200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hillel of Southern Maine - JCA ($14K). Together the top 10 received $39K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 38 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine, 17% to recipients in Arizona, and 4% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 12 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 17% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 60% 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 $23K (2020) to $48K (2023). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hillel of Southern Maine - JCA Portland, ME | GRANT | $14,000 |
| Charlie Miller Foundation Portland, ME | GRANT | $7,500 |
| JCC Cohen Campership Portland, ME | GRANT | $6,651 |
| GRMBC Shiva Fundcongregation Beth Tefillah Scottsdale, AZ | GRANT | $1,800 |
| Arizona Jewish Academy Nishmat Adin Scottsdale, AZ | GRANT | $1,800 |
| Arizona Holocaust Museum Tuscon, AZ | GRANT | $1,800 |
| Smile on Seniors Phoenix, AZ | GRANT | $1,800 |
| Steinsaltz Institute New York, NY | GRANT | $1,800 |
| Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc Portland, ME | GRANT | $1,000 |
| Temple Beth El Rabbi Fund Portland, ME | GRANT | $1,000 |
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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 | $877,168 | $83,362 | $53,251 | $41,151 | 12 | $45,852 | $82,315 | $76,076 |
| 2023 | $847,057 | $67,698 | $82,824 | $48,000 | 4 | $61,123 | $66,185 | $57,866 |
| 2022 | $862,183 | $135,102 | $71,322 | $25,000 | 9 | $40,221 | $128,357 | $57,195 |
| 2021 | $798,403 | $173,437 | $85,411 | $33,000 | 7 | $60,922 | $166,306 | $67,000 |
| 2020 | $710,377 | $153,856 | $72,470 | $23,000 | 6 | — | $146,248 | $53,840 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $76K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including Hillel of Southern Maine, the Charlie Miller Foundation, the JCC Cohencampership, the Arizona Holocaust Museum, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Maine College of Art, and the University of Southern Maine Foundation.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance describes its mission as ensuring that laws affecting people with low incomes are upheld and addressing systemic barriers to justice for Mainers with low incomes; it says it provides free civil legal assistance in cases affecting basic human needs. The University of Southern Maine Foundation says it builds and stewards resources in support of the university’s education, research, and public-service mission and educates the public about the university’s activities and programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $41,151. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $14,000, with a median of $1,800.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $14,000 to Hillel of Southern Maine – JCA, $7,500 to the Charlie Miller Foundation, and $6,651 to JCC Cohencampership. Other listed grants included $1,800 each to the GRMBC Shiva Fund/Congregation Beth Tefillah, Arizona Jewish Academy Nishmat Adin, Arizona Holocaust Museum, Smile on Seniors, and Steinsaltz Institute. Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Temple Beth El Rabbi Fund, Maine College of Art, and the University of Southern Maine Foundation each received $1,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jonathan S. Cohen, Scott A. Cohen, William S. Busker, Greyson Cohen, and Hawley R. Strait, Esq., as trustees.
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Greyson Cohen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan S. Cohen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott A. Cohen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William S. Busker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hawley R. Straitesq
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charles E. Miller Esq. (2020–2023) — Trustee
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 Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation
How much does Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation give each year?
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation gave $41K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $48K across 4 grants.
What is Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,800, and its average grant was $3,429, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation give grants?
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (7 grants) and Scottsdale, AZ (2 grants).
Does Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (12 grants).
Who are Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hillel of Southern Maine - JCA ($14,000), Charlie Miller Foundation ($7,500) and JCC Cohen Campership ($6,651), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation?
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation reported $877K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $46K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $76K (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 Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gene R Cohen 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 Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Gene R Cohen Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3075611. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Gene R Cohen Charitable 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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