Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable is a private foundation based in Newton, Massachusetts. It reported 24 grants totaling $23,706 in 2024, supporting charitable organizations including Armenian cultural and community organizations, health-related charities, and other nonprofits.
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable at a glance
In short: Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable gave $24K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $987.75), mostly in Massachusetts. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $23,706
- -7.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $988
- -38.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $458
- Total assets
- $546,985
- -4.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (11 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (76% 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 Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. No application process or materials are specified.
- Contact
Mailing address: 373 Dedham Street, Newton, MA 02459-2902
Phone: (617) 589-3242
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St James Armenian Apostol ($10K). Together the top 10 received $21K.
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 99 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts. Other reported recipient-state shares were New York (9%), and Washington, DC, Michigan, and Tennessee (4% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 24 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $647; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $505 repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% 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 $24K (2024) to $41K (2021). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $24K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St James Armenian Apostol Watertown, MA | Contribution | $9,630 |
| Hadassah New York, NY | Contribution | $2,000 |
| Metrowest Di Foundation Inc Sherborn, MA | Contribution | $2,000 |
| PMC Leslie's Links Dana Farber Needham, MA | Contribution | $1,500 |
| Armenian Assembly of America Washington, DC | Contribution | $1,000 |
| Naasr Belmont, MA | Contribution | $1,000 |
| The Genesis Foundation for Children Boston, MA | Contribution | $1,000 |
| Armenian Youth Federation Livonia, MI | Contribution | $1,000 |
| St Jude Childrens Reseach HOS Memphis, TN | Contribution | $1,000 |
| Holy Trinity Armenian APO Cambridge, MA | Contribution | $830 |
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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 | $546,985 | $356 | $27,703 | $23,706 | 24 | $23,706 | $1,080 | $26,079 |
| 2023 | $574,332 | $11,387 | $29,316 | $25,530 | 16 | $25,530 | $7,676 | $26,989 |
| 2022 | $591,181 | $29,185 | $35,345 | $31,220 | 19 | $31,220 | $23,171 | $32,910 |
| 2021 | $597,341 | $159,021 | $46,340 | $40,989 | 19 | $40,989 | $311 | $35,925 |
| 2020 | $489,476 | $-33,572 | $32,181 | $28,458 | 21 | — | $1,410 | $29,343 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable reported a distributable amount of $26K 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 included support for organizations whose own stated missions include providing coordinated care for children with complex disorders (The Genesis Foundation for Children), humanitarian assistance and education about Armenian culture and history (Armenian Assembly of America), and collecting and sharing Armenian artifacts and educating the public about Armenian heritage (Armenian Museum of America).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $23,706. Grants ranged from $55 to $9,630, with a median grant of $458. Its largest listed grants included $9,630 to St James Armenian Apostol, $2,000 each to Hadassah and MetroWest DI Foundation, and $1,500 to PMC Leslie's Links Dana Farber.
Other listed recipients included Armenian Assembly of America ($1,000), NAASR ($1,000), The Genesis Foundation for Children ($1,000), Armenian Youth Federation ($1,000), St Jude Children's Research Hospital ($1,000), and Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic ($830). The foundation also gave $100 to Veterans of Foreign Wars, $75 to Armenian Museum of America, and $55 to Aleppo Shriners.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leon Semonian and Marion Semonian are listed as trustees on the 2024 filing.
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leon Semonian
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marion Semonian
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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 Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable
How much does Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable give each year?
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable gave $24K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $26K across 16 grants.
What is Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's typical grant size?
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's median grant in 2024 was $458, and its average grant was $988, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable that year got $647 on average.
Where does Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable give grants?
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable gives mostly in Massachusetts: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Watertown, MA (3 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants), Cambridge, MA (2 grants) and Newton, MA (2 grants).
Does Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (23 grants).
Who are Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's largest grantees?
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's largest 2024 grantees include St James Armenian Apostol ($9,630), Hadassah ($2,000) and Metrowest Di Foundation Inc ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable?
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable reported $547K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (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 Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable?
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 ↑
What is Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's EIN?
Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-6337514. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable 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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Figures come from Leon and Marion Semonian Charitable'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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