Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust
The Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Newton Center, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations in Massachusetts and California.
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust gave $300K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Massachusetts. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $300,000
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,667
- -10.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,678,595
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (6 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing states there is no required format and no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- No submission deadlines.
- Contact
Mailing address: 373 Dedham Street, Newton Center, MA 02459
Phone: (617) 877-9555
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Armenian Heritage Fdn ($50K). Together the top 10 received $260K.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 75 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 25% to recipients in California, and 1% to recipients in Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 18 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $234K (2020) to $321K (2021). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $300K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Armenian Heritage Fdn Watertown, MA | Further Programs | $50,000 |
| Naasr Belmont, MA | Further Programs | $50,000 |
| Agbu Lexington, MA | Further Programs | $40,000 |
| Armenian Eyecare Project San Dimas, CA | Further Programs | $25,000 |
| Friends Fast Glendale, CA | Further Programs | $25,000 |
| Armenian Church of the Holy Trans Framingham, MA | Further Programs | $20,000 |
| Armenian Relief and Development Pasadena, CA | Further Programs | $20,000 |
| Armenian Tree Project Woburn, MA | Furtyher Programs | $10,000 |
| Welcome Home Newton, MA | Further Programs | $10,000 |
| Armenian Museum of America Watertown, MA | Further Programs | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,678,595 | $447,574 | $374,293 | $300,000 | 18 | $300,000 | $92,300 | $299,190 |
| 2024 | $4,605,314 | $207,478 | $345,103 | $278,600 | 15 | $278,600 | $77,194 | $282,339 |
| 2023 | $4,742,939 | $326,840 | $326,458 | $269,770 | 17 | $269,770 | $96,378 | $271,207 |
| 2022 | $4,741,483 | $429,314 | $338,935 | $286,500 | 14 | $286,500 | $111,532 | $282,029 |
| 2021 | $4,651,104 | $378,351 | $399,400 | $321,200 | 11 | $321,200 | $32,109 | $315,755 |
| 2020 | $4,672,153 | $323,025 | $329,556 | $233,500 | 8 | — | $10,272 | $236,618 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $299K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants include support for Armenian cultural, heritage, church, relief, and educational organizations. The Armenian Museum of America describes its own mission as collecting, preserving, and sharing Armenian artifacts and heritage, and promoting awareness of Armenian culture through exhibitions and educational programs. Haymakers for Hope describes its mission as raising money and awareness for charities through amateur athletic and related events. Knights of Vartan describes its mission as developing leadership skills and supporting churches, schools, grants, scholarships, and humanitarian aid. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $300,000 through 18 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Notable grants included $50,000 each to Armenian Heritage Fdn and NAASR; $40,000 to AGBU; $25,000 each to Armenian Eyecare Project and Friends FAST; and $20,000 each to Armenian Church of the Holy Trans and Armenian Relief and Development. Other reported 2025 grants included $10,000 each to Armenian Museum of America, Project Save Photo Archive, Welcome Home, and Armenian Tree Project; $5,000 to Knights of Vartan; and $5,000 to Haymakers for Hope.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leon Semonian is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust is led by Leon Semonian, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leon Semonian
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust
How much does Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust give each year?
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust gave $300K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $279K across 15 grants.
What is Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,667, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust that year got $13K on average.
Where does Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust give grants?
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were Watertown, MA (5 grants).
Does Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Further Programs" (17 grants).
Who are Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Armenian Heritage Fdn ($50,000), Naasr ($50,000) and Agbu ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust?
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $300K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $299K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for Armenian cultural, heritage, church, relief, and educational organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's EIN?
Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6231333. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Robert a Semonian Charitable 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-a-semonian-charitable-trust-morg_ec626e691ff34dceb14fbb4356592c2f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_206231333_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert a Semonian Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-a-semonian-charitable-trust-morg_ec626e691ff34dceb14fbb4356592c2f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Robert a Semonian Charitable 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.
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