J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation
The J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Portland, Maine. Established in 2017, the foundation operates as a philanthropic entity focused on distributing grants to charitable organizations. The foundation maintains its mailing address at PO Box 135, Portland, ME 04112.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.4M
+12.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+32.9% YoY
Grant Count
40
+1233.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
-90.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is grantmaking and philanthropy. While specific funding priorities are not publicly disclosed, historical grant activity indicates support across multiple sectors including education, human services, and global programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes regular charitable distributions. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
Typical awards range from $1,000 to $1,198,782, with median grant amounts around $550,000.
How to Apply
The foundation does not maintain a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustee, likely to pre-selected organizations or through existing relationships.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking has historically focused on New York, the District of Columbia, and Florida, though specific geographic restrictions are not publicly disclosed.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
- Total Assets (2024): $30,409,524
- Total Assets (2023): $27.1 million
- Total Revenue (2024): $9,123,257
- Total Expenses (2024): $2,066,919
- Investment Income (2024): $647,901
- Contributions (2024): $7,631,681
Giving Metrics
- Annual Giving (2024): $2,039,925
- Annual Giving (2023): $1.55 million
- Liabilities: $0
The foundation's revenue is primarily generated through contributions (83.7% of revenue) and investment income from dividends and asset sales.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,409,524 | $27,092,607 | $25,306,261 |
| Revenue | $9,123,257 | $2,321,440 | $-7,590,090 |
| Expenses | $2,066,919 | $1,546,482 | $2,448,189 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,039,925 | $1,536,904 | $2,158,580 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,368,668 | $2,311,862 | $136,370 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,765,755 | $1,512,209 | $1,541,650 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Friends of the Isreal Defense Force ($500,000), Meto Inc ($438,425), The Louis D Brandeis Center Inc ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMP INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BOUNDLESS ISRAEL INC BELMONT, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| PRIZMAH CENTER FOR JEWISH DAY SCHOO NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| JEWBELONG INC UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| IMAGINATION PRODUCTIONS INC SUNRISE, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NATAL INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| STANDWITH US CENTER FOR LEGAL JUSTI WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| UN WATCH MANHATTAN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HADAR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SPRING VALLEY, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Foster Stewart serves as Trustee of the foundation and receives no compensation for this role.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOSTER STEWART | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting research initiatives and charitable organizations. Historical news coverage indicates the foundation's involvement in funding scholarships, environmental research, and brain disorder research initiatives through partnerships with research organizations.
The FNIH Launches the Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of theSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is grantmaking and philanthropy. While specific funding priorities are not publicly disclosed, historical grant activity indicates support across multiple sectors including education, human services, and global programs.
How do I apply for a grant from J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation?
The foundation makes regular charitable distributions. Recent grant activity includes: • **2024**: Total giving of $2,039,925 across multiple grants • **2023**: Total giving of $1.5 million • **2020**: Total giving of $750,000 Notable 2024 grantees include: • Meto ($438,425) • The Louis D Brandeis Center ($300,000) • Merona Leadership Foundation ($150,000) • Quest Bridge (historical grantee) Typical awards range from $1,000 to $1,198,782, with median grant amounts around $550,000. The foundatio…
Where does J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking has historically focused on New York, the District of Columbia, and Florida, though specific geographic restrictions are not publicly disclosed.
What size grants does J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation award?
In 2024, J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation's EIN?
J Blair & Tena Frank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4175987. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in J Blair & Tena Frank 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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