James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio

Foundation · Grantmaker Cleveland Heights, OH EIN: 26-1248696

James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Cleveland Heights, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 24 grants totaling $95K. Net investment income was $77K.

Key facts about James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio

EIN
26-1248696
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$94,950
Grants made (2024)
24
Average grant
$3,956
Median grant
$2,250
New grantees (estimate)
8% first-time grantees (2 of 24, 2024)
Total assets
$1,276,336
Primary geography
Ohio (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio's 24 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (50%) and Indiana (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (9 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio open to new grantees?

8%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 24 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 129% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

-1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$95K

+7.0% YoY

Grant Count

24

+14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$4K

-6.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio reported a distributable amount of $74K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio

Based on IRS filings

James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Cleveland Heights, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 24 grants totaling $95K. Net investment income was $77K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of all 24 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

ClevelandCleveland HeightsAlexandriaBethesdaMemphisMorristownNew YorkPhoenixRockfordRye BrookWellesley HillsWest LafayetteDallasJacksonvillePepper PikeCleveland HtsUniversity HeightsCelvelandBaltimoreCarmel

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$54K$108K$162K$216K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,276,336$1,291,732$1,332,725
Revenue$94,803$61,590$69,539
Expenses$110,199$102,583$127,710
Qualifying Distributions$94,950$88,700$110,000
Net Investment Income$77,207$47,707$54,329
Distributable Amount$73,584$64,767$66,660

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$28K$55K$83K$110K23 grants202027 grants202121 grants202221 grants202324 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Purdue Foundation: $28KPurdue Foundation$28KCatholic Community Foundation: $8KCatholic Community Foundation$8KGesu Church: $8KGesu Church$8KGreater Cleveland Food Bank: $7KGreater Cleveland Food Bank$7KCarmel of the Holy Family: $5KCarmel of the Holy Family$5KDiocese of Cleveland: $5KDiocese of Cleveland$5KDiocese of Phoenix Cda: $5KDiocese of Phoenix Cda$5KSt Jude Children's Research Hospita: $5KSt Jude Children's ResearchHospita$5KLegatus: $4KLegatus$4KSt Ignatius High School: $3KSt Ignatius High School$3K

Grant Size Distribution

116 grants across all recorded years

116<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Purdue Foundation ($28,000), Catholic Community Foundation ($8,400), Gesu Church ($8,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
PURDUE FOUNDATION West Lafayette, INGENERAL FUND$28,000
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Cleveland, OHGENERAL FUND$8,400
GESU CHURCH University Heights, OHGENERAL FUND$8,000
GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK Cleveland, OHGENERAL FUND$7,000
CARMEL OF THE HOLY FAMILY Cleveland HTS, OHGENERAL FUND$5,000
DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND Cleveland, OHGENERAL FUND$5,000
DIOCESE OF PHOENIX CDA Phoenix, AZGENERAL FUND$4,500
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITA Memphis, TNGENERAL FUND$4,500
LEGATUS Rockford, MIGENERAL FUND$4,300
ST IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL Cleveland, OHGENERAL FUND$3,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
James J AbelPresident/Tr——
Sharon R AbelVice-Preside——
Catherine E AbelSecretary——

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio?

James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Cleveland Heights, OH. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio?

As of 2024, James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio holds $1.3M in total assets with $95K in annual revenue. It awarded 24 grants totaling $95K in 2024.

Where does James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio operate?

James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio has awarded grants in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

What size grants does James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio award?

In 2024, James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio awarded 24 grants totaling $95K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio reported a distributable amount of $74K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio's EIN?

James J and Sharon R Abel Foundatio's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1248696. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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