John and Golda Cohen Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Brookline Village, MA EIN: 59-7222346

The John and Golda Cohen Trust is a private foundation based in Brookline Village, Massachusetts. In 2024, it made grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in reproductive justice, housing, homelessness services, immigrant support, and healthcare access.

John and Golda Cohen Trust at a glance

In short: John and Golda Cohen Trust gave $1.6M across 87 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), top state Florida. 2% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,621,550
+42.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
87
-4.4% vs 2023
Average grant
$18,639
+49.1% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$32,526,470
+5.2% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
2% first-time grantees (2 of 87, 2024)
Primary geography
Florida (28% 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 John and Golda Cohen Trust

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: PO Box 470777, Brookline Village, MA 02447
Phone: (407) 767-0037

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who John and Golda Cohen Trust funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

MSI-US: $175KMSI-US$175KIpas: $170KIpas$170KEngender Health: $170KEngender Health$170KDave's House: $100KDave's House$100KPlanned Parenthood of Southwest and: $80KPlanned Parenthood ofSouthwest and$80KLa Amistad Foundation: $50KLa Amistad Foundation$50KPCI Media Impact: $50KPCI Media Impact$50KMindful Birthing & Parenting Foundation: $43KMindful Birthing & ParentingFoundation$43KCoalition for the Homeless: $38KCoalition for the Homeless$38KHope Community Center: $38KHope Community Center$38K

The largest 2024 recipient was MSI-US ($175K). Together the top 10 received $914K.

Grant Size Distribution

437 grants across all recorded years

411<$50K20$50–100K6$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 411 grants of 437 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (28%), Washington, DC (22%), Massachusetts (18%), Georgia (12%), and North Carolina (11%).

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 87 itemized grants.

Cities

AtlantaOrlandoBostonBrooklineWashingtonDecaturCambridgeNew YorkBrookline VillageLincolnPhiladelphiaAlbuquerqueApopkaBaltimoreBeverlyBrightonChapel HillDaytona BeachFern ParkFramingham

Is John and Golda Cohen Trust open to new grantees?

2%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 87 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $18K. How we count

Medians: $48K first-time, $4K repeat.

  • 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 116% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 148% of 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M85 grants2020 84 grants2021 90 grants2022 91 grants2023 87 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $718K (2020) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 87 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
MSI-US Washington, DCDonation toGeneralFund$175,000
Ipas Chapel Hill, NCDonation toGeneralFund$170,000
Engender Health Washington, DCDonation to GeneralFund$170,000
Dave's House Windermere, FLDonation toGeneralFund$100,000
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Sarasota, FLDonation toGeneralFund$80,000
La Amistad Foundation Fern Park, FLDonation toHousingFund$50,000
PCI Media Impact New York, NYDonation toGeneralFund$50,000
Mindful Birthing & Parenting Foundation Oakland, CADonation toGeneralFund$43,400
Coalition for the Homeless Orlando, FLDonation to GeneralFund$38,000
Hope Community Center Apopka, FLDonation toGeneralFund$37,500
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with John and Golda Cohen Trust?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$32,526,470$2,410,621$2,152,325$1,621,55087$1,621,550$2,108,017$1,099,332
2023$30,921,642$3,401,635$1,585,446$1,137,75091$1,137,750$1,990,029$546,274
2022$21,674,287$5,295,616$1,292,836$942,25090$942,250$810,011$576,271
2021$18,271,231$3,902,730$1,054,612$752,45084$754,389$569,793$533,760
2020$12,455,267$3,418,234$1,082,089$718,00085—$685,560$382,887

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John and Golda Cohen Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.1M 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 trust is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. IPAS says it works globally to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception. Dave’s House describes its work as providing permanent supportive housing and resident services. Transition House says it works to prevent and end domestic violence through housing, support for survivors and their children, and prevention education.

Other 2024 recipients describe work that includes long-term residential support for adults with chronic mental illness (La Amistad Foundation), services and advocacy with immigrants (Hope Community Center), resources for local growers (Food Well Alliance), and healthcare access for uninsured people (Shepherd’s Hope).

Grantmaking

In 2024, the trust made 87 grants totaling $1,621,550. Grants ranged from $500 to $175,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the largest were $175,000 to MSI-US, $170,000 each to IPAS and Engender Health, and $100,000 to Dave’s House. Other notable grants included $80,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southwest and, $50,000 each to La Amistad Foundation and PCI Media Impact, and $43,400 to Mindful Birthing & Parenting Foundation.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Ann Cohen, Richard S Cohen, Jolyon Ellis Cowan, Vanessa Trien, Richard Stone, Ben Barwick, and Freedom David as trustees.

John and Golda Cohen Trust's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Ben Barwick

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Ann Cohen

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jolyon Ellis Cowan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard S Cohen

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Stone

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vanessa Trien

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Freedom David

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: David Freedom (2020) — 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 John and Golda Cohen Trust

How much does John and Golda Cohen Trust give each year?

John and Golda Cohen Trust gave $1.6M across 87 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 91 grants.

What is John and Golda Cohen Trust's typical grant size?

John and Golda Cohen Trust's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $18,639, across 87 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John and Golda Cohen Trust that year got $48K on average.

Where does John and Golda Cohen Trust give grants?

John and Golda Cohen Trust's top state is Florida, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (22%) and Massachusetts (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (15 grants), Boston, MA (9 grants), Orlando, FL (8 grants) and Brookline, MA (6 grants).

Does John and Golda Cohen Trust give general operating support?

Occasionally: 2% of John and Golda Cohen Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 87) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Donation toGeneralFund" (61 grants), "Donation to GeneralFund" (18 grants) and "Donation toGeneral Fund" (4 grants).

Who are John and Golda Cohen Trust's largest grantees?

John and Golda Cohen Trust's largest 2024 grantees include MSI-US ($175,000), Ipas ($170,000) and Engender Health ($170,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is John and Golda Cohen Trust?

John and Golda Cohen Trust reported $32.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does John and Golda Cohen Trust fund?

No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. IPAS says it works globally to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from John and Golda Cohen Trust?

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 John and Golda Cohen Trust's EIN?

John and Golda Cohen Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-7222346. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does John and Golda Cohen Trust 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

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

Live grants for the work John and Golda Cohen Trust funds

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in John and Golda Cohen Trust's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Aetna Foundation Inc

Hartford, CT

Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.

Assets

—

Grants

65

Total Given

$7.2M

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

Synchrony Foundation

Stamford, CT

In 2024, Synchrony Foundation supported charitable organizations across workforce development, education, financial assistance, and giving, with grants ranging from $150 to $2.6 million and a median of $10,000. Its largest shares of grant funding went to Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina, followed by the District of Columbia and New Jersey; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$72.3M

Grants

394

Total Given

$20.5M

American Tower Corporation Foundation

Boston, MA

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$15.4M

Grants

632

Total Given

$1.7M

Boston Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$2.1B

Grants

2,375

Total Given

$228.4M

Eastern Bank Foundation

Wakefield, MA

Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$266.7M

Grants

1,786

Total Given

$19.0M

More similar funders

More Funders in Massachusetts

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). John and Golda Cohen Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-golda-cohen-trust-morg_08cb13c7f1154eebb844a3f557e774eb

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_597222346_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{John and Golda Cohen Trust funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-golda-cohen-trust-morg_08cb13c7f1154eebb844a3f557e774eb},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 John and Golda Cohen Trust'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.

John and Golda Cohen Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?