Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable
The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 in Massachusetts. Founded by Paul Fireman, former CEO of Reebok International, and Phyllis Fireman, the foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization based in Waltham, MA. The foundation is recognized as a leader in funding homeless relief programs and maintains a focus on ending family homelessness while supporting communities where the Fireman family members live and work.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$178.8M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.1M
-16.3% YoY
Grant Count
77
+1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$105K
-17.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable reported a distributable amount of $8.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation dedicates a major share of its resources to ending family homelessness in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond.
Primary funding interests include:
- Housing and economic development
- Homelessness prevention and relief
- Health
- Education
- Arts
- Human rights
- Jewish causes
The foundation has demonstrated a growing interest in supporting organizations with antipoverty strategies and has invested in housing efforts that reflect broader Fireman family funding initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes grants to pre-selected organizations only. However, the foundation accepts contact inquiries.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $2,550,000
Average Grant
amount varies by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation maintains a primary focus on Massachusetts, tax filings reveal giving priorities that extend far beyond Boston and the state. The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with notable activity in:
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $178,776,659
- Total revenue: $12,844,546
- Total expenses: $9,058,864
- Net income: $3,785,682
- Giving rate: 5.2%
Tax Status:
- EIN: 22-2677986
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since March 1986
- Required to file IRS Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $178,776,659 | $176,242,688 | $204,325,586 |
| Revenue | $12,844,546 | $16,616,042 | $5,670,320 |
| Expenses | $9,058,864 | $10,487,743 | $10,671,576 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,297,294 | $9,874,508 | $9,701,636 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,995,542 | $12,400,349 | $4,166,568 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,147,579 | $8,422,540 | $10,059,536 |
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 Brockton Hospital ($1,800,000), Emory University (foundation) ($1,193,000), The People's Park Foundation ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE TO PROTECT NANTUCKET SOUND HYANNIS, MA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION BRASELTON, GA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $550,000 |
| ANGELACARES INC JERSEY CITY, NJ | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY BOSTON, MA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (FOUNDATION) CHESTNUT HILL, MA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF METRO SOUTH TAUNTON, MA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BROCKTON HOSPITAL BROCKTON, MA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,800,000 |
| CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY SALEM, NH | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $200,000 |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF GREATER BOSTON INC BOSTON, MA | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Paul Fireman (0.5 hours/week)
- Phyllis Fireman (0.5 hours/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL FIREMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PHYLLIS FIREMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported notable organizations and initiatives in recent years:
The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) received a significant donation that led to the rebranding of the Liberty National ACE Grant
AJGA Unveils Renamed Liberty National ACE Grant Following Donation by PaulThe First Tee has received ongoing support from the foundation, including donations to support chapter operations in New Jersey and Sacramento
Paul and Dan Fireman Show Support For The First Tee Chapters of New JerseyThe foundation has provided support to organizations including Everytown for Gun Safety, Facing History and Ourselves, Massachusetts General Hospital, City Connects, Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute, Anti-Defamation League, and One Family, Inc.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable fund?
The foundation dedicates a major share of its resources to ending family homelessness in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond. Primary funding interests include: • Housing and economic development • Homelessness prevention and relief • Health • Education • Arts • Human rights • Jewish causes The foundation has demonstrated a growing interest in supporting organizations with antipoverty strategies and has invested in housing efforts that reflect broader Fireman family funding initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $1,000 to $2,550,000 • Median grant amount: $123,198 • Average grant amount varies by year • Total giving (2024): $8,057,500 • Total grants awarded (recent period): 105 recipients **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes grants to pre-selected organizations only. However, the foundation accepts contact inquiries. **Notable Initiatives:** • Secure Jobs Initiative: A partnership between the founda…
Where does Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable make grants?
While the foundation maintains a primary focus on Massachusetts, tax filings reveal giving priorities that extend far beyond Boston and the state. The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with notable activity in: • Massachusetts • New Jersey • New York • California • Texas • Florida • Illinois • Maryland
What size grants does Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable award?
In 2024, Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable awarded 77 grants totaling $8.1M — an average of about $105K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable reported a distributable amount of $8.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable's EIN?
Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2677986. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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