Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation

CLEVELAND, OH EIN: 34-1613094

The Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, established in 1990. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on grantmaking to support educational programs and general operating support for various nonprofit organizations.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$406K

+17.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$73K

-6.5% YoY

Grant Count

+2.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$982.986

-9.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation primarily funds general operating support and educational programs. Their grantmaking demonstrates a broad philanthropic focus across multiple sectors, including education, human services, and religious organizations.

Grantmaking

The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual grant activity:

Average Grant

amount:** Approximately $1,136

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities throughout the United States, including major urban areas such as New York, Chicago, and Washington DC, as well as smaller communities. Their funding reaches various states including California, Florida, Ohio, and others.

Grant Distribution by State

Ohio $201K (79%)

New York $33K (13%)

Colorado $14K (6%)

Florida $1K (1%)

California $1K (0%)

Pennsylvania $900 (0%)

Virginia $600 (0%)

Illinois $480 (0%)

+6 more states

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Illinois Kansas Massachusetts Maine Michigan New Jersey New York Ohio Pennsylvania Virginia

Cities

Ann ArborArlingtonBeachwoodBoca RatonBrooklynChicagoClevelandCleveland HeightsCoral GablesDenverGainesvilleHerndonHolliswoodIndependenceLeawoodLyndhurstMayfieldMonseyMoreland HillsNew York

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of fiscal year ending December 2024:

Total assets: $405,993
Total revenue: $138,136
Total expenses: $77,025
Net income: $61,111
Total liabilities: $0
Number of employees: 0

The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with assets exceeding annual expenses and no outstanding liabilities.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$405,993	$344,882	$353,509
Revenue	$138,136	$73,781	$62,357
Expenses	$77,025	$82,408	$65,076
Qualifying Distributions	$72,741	$77,816	$63,358
Net Investment Income	$23,412	$26,523	$20,269
Distributable Amount	$18,906	$16,437	$16,937

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

250 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fuchs Mizrachi Schools ($22,557), Green Road Synagogue ($18,750), Denver Academy of Torah ($8,750).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$54
ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$200
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BNEI AKIVA YESHIVOT IN ISRAEL INC NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$300
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MIGDAL OHR NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$1,200
AMIT WOMEN INC NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$477
BEACHWOOD LIBRARY BEACHWOOD, OH	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$100
BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, IL	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$100
BIKUR CHOLIM OF CLEVELAND CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$1,000
CHABAD ON CAMPUS INTERNATIONAL INC BROOKLYN, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$180
CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDENS CLEVELAND, OH	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$300

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is managed by trustees:

Joseph Shafran – Trustee
Marla Shafran – Trustee

Neither trustee receives compensation for their roles.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
JOSEPH SHAFRAN	TRUSTEE	1	—
MARLA SHAFRAN	TRUSTEE	1	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation fund?

How do I apply for a grant from Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation?

The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual grant activity: • **Total giving (2024):** $72,741 • **Number of grants (2024):** 64 grants • **Average grant amount:** Approximately $1,136 • **Median grant amount:** $140 • **Typical award range:** $35–$35,238 Recent notable grants include: • Fuchs Mizrachi Schools: $22,557 (Educational Programs) • Green Road Synagogue: $18,750 (General Operating Support) • Denver Academy of Torah (DAT): $8,750 (General Operating Support) The foun…

Where does Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation award?

In 2024, Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation awarded 74 grants totaling $73K — an average of about $982.986 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation's EIN?

Marla & Joseph Shafran Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1613094. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.