George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation
The George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation is a private foundation based in Boca Raton, Florida, created in 2009 with the stated mission of giving back. It supports charitable organizations through grants for areas including scholarships and student financial aid, medical research, humanitarian projects, and education.
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation at a glance
In short: George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation gave $184K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state Florida. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $184,394
- -55.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,683
- -61.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (5 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (31% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1400 S Ocean Blvd Ph 1603 N, Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: (561) 789-1836
Website: https://georgeschaeffer.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chabad East Boca ($30K). Together the top 10 received $147K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($6,250), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 180 grants of 184 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (31%), California (23%), New York (21%), Colorado (12%), and Utah (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 23 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $184K (2024) to $418K (2023). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $184K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chabad East Boca Boca Raton, FL | Religious | $30,000 |
| Chabad of Colorado University Boulder, CO | Education | $23,000 |
| Chabad Lubavitch of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | Humanitarian | $18,000 |
| Braodway Cares New York, NY | Research | $15,000 |
| Young Israel North Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA | Humanitarian | $14,465 |
| Jewish Education Center for STH Flo Boca Raton, FL | Education | $12,500 |
| Bnai Zion Foundation New York, NY | Humanitarian | $10,000 |
| Boca Raton Kollel Boca Raton, FL | Religious | $10,000 |
| Orthodox Union of Jewish Congregati Los Angeles, CA | Religious | $9,259 |
| Chai Lifeline Los Angeles, CA | OTHER | $5,000 |
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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 | $-12,752 | $101,984 | $204,410 | $184,394 | 24 | $204,410 | $1,984 | $1,866 |
| 2023 | $89,674 | $501,168 | $438,937 | $418,480 | 21 | $438,937 | $1,168 | $2,868 |
| 2022 | $27,443 | $375,650 | $377,911 | $356,955 | 55 | $377,911 | — | — |
| 2021 | $29,704 | $370,000 | $350,704 | $329,076 | 48 | $350,704 | — | — |
| 2020 | $10,408 | $243,000 | $288,519 | $263,484 | 36 | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is “giving back.” Its described areas of support include scholarships and student financial aid services, medical research, humanitarian projects, and educational efforts.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Bnai Zion Foundation says its mission includes educational assistance and humanitarian projects in the United States and Israel. Valley Community Healthcare describes its work as providing primary medical care and comprehensive healthcare services to the community, regardless of ability to pay. Chai Lifeline describes itself as an international health support network assisting children, families, and communities facing illness, crisis, or loss. Birthright Israel Foundation raises funds to support educational trips to Israel for eligible young Jewish adults. City of Hope states that its mission is to support people affected by cancer and diabetes.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $184,394. Grant amounts ranged from $180 to $30,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Its largest listed grants included $30,000 to Chabad East Boca for religious purposes, $23,000 to Chabad of Colorado University for education, $18,000 to Chabad Lubavitch of Utah for humanitarian purposes, and $15,000 to Broadway Cares for research.
Other 2024 grants included $14,465 to Young Israel North Beverly Hills, $12,500 to Jewish Education Center for Sth Flo, and $10,000 each to Bnai Zion Foundation and Boca Raton Kollel. Bnai Zion Foundation, Birthright Israel Foundation, Valley Community Healthcare, Chai Lifeline, and City of Hope also received grants of $10,000, $3,600, $5,000, $5,000, and $1,250, respectively.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists George Schaeffer as President & CEO, Vinesh Nathu as Treasurer, and Irina Schaeffer as Secretary.
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation is led by George Schaeffer, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
George Schaeffer
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irina Schaeffer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vinesh Nathu
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 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 George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation
How much does George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation give each year?
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation gave $184K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $418K across 21 grants.
What is George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's typical grant size?
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,683, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation give grants?
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's top state is Florida, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (23%) and New York (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Los Angeles, CA (4 grants), Boca Raton, FL (3 grants) and Beverly Hills, CA (3 grants).
Does George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (5 grants), "Religious" (5 grants) and "Humanitarian" (4 grants).
Who are George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's largest grantees?
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Chabad East Boca ($30,000), Chabad of Colorado University ($23,000) and Chabad Lubavitch of Utah ($18,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($6,250), which are not listed by name. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “giving back.” Its described areas of support include scholarships and student financial aid services, medical research, humanitarian projects, and educational efforts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation?
The foundation 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 ↑
How much is George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's EIN?
George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2261640. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does George & Irina Schaeffer 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.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). George & Irina Schaeffer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/george-and-irina-schaeffer-foundation-morg_1860a49775dc4accb368998bdfab5ad1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_262261640_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{George \& Irina Schaeffer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/george-and-irina-schaeffer-foundation-morg_1860a49775dc4accb368998bdfab5ad1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 George & Irina Schaeffer 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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