Ruderman Family Foundation
The Ruderman Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Newton Center, Massachusetts, established in 1996. Guided by Jewish values, the foundation works to create a fair and flourishing community through strategic philanthropy, with a focus on inclusion, mental health, and understanding between American Jewish and Israeli communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$163.6M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.0M
+11.8% YoY
Grant Count
43
-4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$138K
+17.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruderman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Guided by Jewish values, the foundation works to end the stigma surrounding mental health and promote emotional well-being for all; foster a more nuanced understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders; and model the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide.
Core Focus Areas:
- Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being — Ending stigma and promoting emotional well-being, particularly among young adults and college students
- Israel-American Jewish Relations — Fostering understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders
- Strategic Philanthropy — Modeling and promoting effective philanthropic practices globally
- Inclusion — Advocating for and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout society
The foundation previously focused extensively on disability inclusion in the Jewish community, having distributed approximately $75 million over 18 years before announcing a strategic shift in 2020.
Grantmaking
Recent grants include $250,000 to William James College for a college mental health initiative, $320,000 to support mental health services in Boston's Jewish community, and $200,000 to The Giving Back Fund. The foundation has also partnered with the Red Sox Foundation to award grants to 18 New England nonprofits addressing the mental health crisis.
Grant Range
$1,000–$200,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Primary: Boston/Massachusetts and Newton Center, MA
- Secondary: Israel
- Tertiary: Select national U.S. programs
The foundation maintains offices in both the United States and Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $163.6–$164.6 million
- Total annual giving: $5.3–$8.5 million
- Total revenue (2024): $8.7 million
- Total expenses (2024): $9.6 million
- Giving rate: 5.1%
Staffing:
- 9–18 employees (figures vary by source)
- Presence in United States (13 employees) and Israel (5 employees)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $163,623,826 | $164,639,803 | $168,637,781 |
| Revenue | $8,697,226 | $5,201,717 | $20,908,845 |
| Expenses | $9,603,371 | $9,030,545 | $13,804,227 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,244,034 | $8,542,134 | $13,146,689 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,552,091 | $6,463,529 | $20,593,292 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,510,326 | $8,230,099 | $8,406,941 |
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ruderman Family Foundation Israel (amutah) ($3,000,000), American Society of the Univ of Haifa ($400,000), William James College ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY FOUNDATION BEVERLY HILLS, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $205,000 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (LEARNINGWELL) WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $90,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $155,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY OF THE UNIV OF HAIFA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $400,000 |
| ANDREA BOCELLI FOUNDATION | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| ASSN OF UNIV CTRS ON DISABILITIES (AUCD) SILVER SPRING, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| BAMIDBAR DENVER, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $185,000 |
| BEKER FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $72,000 |
| BOSTON COMMUNITY PEDIATRICS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jay Ruderman — President & Trustee (50 hrs/week, $330,687 annual compensation)
- Shira Ruderman — Executive Director (40 hrs/week, $225,738 annual compensation)
- Hanna Shaul Bar Nissim — Deputy Director (40 hrs/week, $156,716 annual compensation)
- Sharon Ellen Shapiro — Community Liaison & Trustee (30 hrs/week, $123,693 annual compensation)
- Galia Granot — Deputy Director, Israel
- Todd Adam Ruderman — Trustee
- Marcia Ruderman — Trustee
- Lawrence Jacobs — Trustee
The foundation was founded by Morton E. Ruderman, a successful businessman who began with generous giving to the Jewish community in Boston. His son Jay Ruderman, an attorney with civil rights experience, leads the foundation today.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY SETH RUDERMAN | PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 50 | $330,424 |
| SHARON ELLEN SHAPIRO | COMMUNITY LIAISON & TRUSTEE | 30 | $125,724 |
| TODD ADAM RUDERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARCIA RUDERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LAWRENCE JACOBS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHIRA RUDERMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $226,200 |
| HANNA SHAUL BAR NISSIM | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $175,405 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**College Mental Health Initiative** — William James College and the foundation launched a college mental health initiative through a $250,000 grant.
Ruderman Family Foundation and Chaplaincy Innovation Lab Launch Mental Health\**Mental Health Training for Spiritual Counselors** — The Ruderman Family Foundation and Chaplaincy Innovation Lab launched mental health support training for spiritual counselors in colleges across Massachusetts.
Ruderman Family Foundation and Chaplaincy Innovation Lab Launch Mental Health\**Mental Health Services for Jewish Teens** — A $320,000 grant brought a unique mental health model to Boston's Jewish community, providing services to local Jewish teens and young adults.
Ruderman Family Foundation and Chaplaincy Innovation Lab Launch Mental Health\**Red Sox Foundation Partnership** — The foundation partnered with the Red Sox Foundation to award grants to 18 New England nonprofits addressing the mental health crisis.
Ruderman Family Foundation and Chaplaincy Innovation Lab Launch Mental Health\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ruderman Family Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** Guided by Jewish values, the foundation works to end the stigma surrounding mental health and promote emotional well-being for all; foster a more nuanced understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders; and model the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide. **Core Focus Areas:** • **Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being** — Ending stigma and promoting emotional well-being, particularly among young adults and college students • **Israel-American Je…
How do I apply for a grant from Ruderman Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000–$200,000 • Grants can reach up to several million dollars for major partners • Application method: Invitation only • Number of grants awarded: 45–80 annually (varies by year) • Median grant amount: $160,787 **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants include $250,000 to William James College for a college mental health initiative, $320,000 to support mental health services in Boston's Jewish community, and $200,000 to The Giving Back Fund. T…
Where does Ruderman Family Foundation make grants?
• **Primary:** Boston/Massachusetts and Newton Center, MA • **Secondary:** Israel • **Tertiary:** Select national U.S. programs The foundation maintains offices in both the United States and Israel.
What size grants does Ruderman Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Ruderman Family Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $6.0M — an average of about $138K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ruderman Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ruderman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ruderman Family Foundation's EIN?
Ruderman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3334973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ruderman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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