Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation
MAURICE AND LENA RUSSO FAMILY is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations including Jewish community and cultural organizations, health and medical organizations, and humanitarian and housing organizations.
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation gave $371K across 69 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state New York. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $371,392
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 69
- -45.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,382
- +64.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $9,932,214
- -0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (19 of 68, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (42% 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 Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation
- 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: 401 Broadway Suite 1712, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (631) 249-8200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Jewish Committee (Kastoria Monument Project) ($90K). Together the top 10 received $212K.
Grant Size Distribution
476 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 475 grants of 476 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (42%) and Pennsylvania (33%). Other listed recipient-state shares were Florida (6%), the District of Columbia (3%), and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 68 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $371K (2021) to $412K (2023). In 2024 it made 69 grants totaling $371K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Jewish Committee (Kastoria Monument Project) Philadelphia, PA | Charitable Contribution | $90,000 |
| American Jewish Committee (For the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki) Philadelphia, PA | Charitable Contribution | $23,000 |
| The Sephardic Temple Cedarhurst, NY | Charitable Contribution | $16,950 |
| Colel Chabad Brooklyn, NY | Charitable Contribution | $15,000 |
| Friends of Israel Defense Forces New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $15,000 |
| Wounded Warrior Project Jacksonville, FL | Charitable Contribution | $12,500 |
| Association of Friends of Greek Jewry-Eran Huntington, NY | Charitable Contribution | $12,000 |
| Shriners Hospital for Children Tampa, FL | Charitable Contribution | $9,000 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Charitable Contribution | $9,000 |
| Gabrielle's Angel Foundation New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $8,000 |
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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 | $9,932,214 | $316,055 | $397,951 | $371,392 | 69 | $387,476 | $305,281 | $315,201 |
| 2023 | $10,003,010 | $316,990 | $436,663 | $412,442 | 126 | $428,445 | $308,772 | $326,081 |
| 2022 | $10,113,883 | $252,038 | $445,806 | $401,295 | 127 | $439,533 | $245,765 | $355,496 |
| 2021 | $10,307,651 | $250,365 | $397,875 | $370,984 | 98 | $387,683 | $240,173 | $397,330 |
| 2020 | $10,455,161 | $264,004 | $388,514 | $379,900 | 56 | — | $257,891 | $376,941 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $315K 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 show support for organizations working in areas that include Jewish community and cultural programs, veterans’ services, medical research and care, emergency response, and affordable housing.
These are grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s: Wounded Warrior Project describes its work as serving post-9/11 wounded, ill, and injured veterans, service members, and their families. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says its mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. World Central Kitchen describes providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Habitat for Humanity says it builds affordable homes in partnership with lower-income households.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 69 grants totaling $371,392 in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $309 to $90,000, with a median of $2,500. Notable grants included $90,000 to the American Jewish Committee for its Kastoria Monument Project; $23,000 to the American Jewish Committee for the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki; $16,950 to The Sephardic Temple; and $15,000 each to Colel Chabad and Friends of Israel Defense Forces. Other 2024 grants included $12,500 to Wounded Warrior Project, $9,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and $7,500 to Global Lyme Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Albert V Russo, Clifton Russo, and Lawrence Russo as directors.
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Albert V. Russo
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clifton Russo
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Russo
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
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 Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation
How much does Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation give each year?
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation gave $371K across 69 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $412K across 126 grants.
What is Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,382, across 69 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation give grants?
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (33%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (27 grants), Brooklyn, NY (5 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (4 grants).
Who are Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Jewish Committee (Kastoria Monument Project) ($90,000), American Jewish Committee (For the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki) ($23,000) and The Sephardic Temple ($18,300 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation?
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation reported $9.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $387K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $315K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas that include Jewish community and cultural programs, veterans’ services, medical research and care, emergency response, and affordable housing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation?
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 Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's EIN?
Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2477939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/maurice-and-lena-russo-family-foundation-morg_fd00e37bac414a78be2fdad307922f26
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472477939_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/maurice-and-lena-russo-family-foundation-morg_fd00e37bac414a78be2fdad307922f26},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Maurice and Lena Russo Family Foundation'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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