SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION
The Samuel and Helene Soref Foundation is a private foundation based in Studio City, California. In its 2025 filing, it reported 46 grants totaling $725,800 to organizations including Jewish community and cultural groups, social-service organizations, and advocacy and educational organizations.
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION at a glance
In short: SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION gave $726K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in California. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $725,800
- -11.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,778
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $13,237,874
- +8.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (5 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (55% 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 SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF 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: 11530 Dona Dorotea Dr, Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: (323) 654-9725
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Community Foundation ($110K). Together the top 10 received $535K.
Grant Size Distribution
273 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 243 grants of 273 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed primarily to organizations in California (55%), New York (28%), and the District of Columbia (14%). Massachusetts accounted for 3%; Florida accounted for 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 46 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $726K (2025) to $1.1M (2022). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $726K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Foundation Los Angleles, CA | Donor Advised Fund | $110,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater LA Los Angeles, CA | Program | $100,000 |
| Washington Inst for Near E Policy Washington, DC | Program | $100,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund New York, NY | Donor Advised Fund | $60,000 |
| Association of Graduates West Point, NY | Program | $50,000 |
| American Jewish Joint Dist New York, NY | Program | $35,000 |
| Los Angeles Family Housing North Hollywood, CA | Operations | $25,000 |
| Tzedek America Los Angeles, CA | Program | $25,000 |
| Disability Voices United Los Angeles, CA | Program | $15,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, CA | Program | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION?
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 | $13,237,874 | $1,856,074 | $860,441 | $725,800 | 46 | $771,443 | $1,767,076 | $857,583 |
| 2024 | $12,241,916 | $728,818 | $955,947 | $818,200 | 47 | $871,489 | $653,065 | $863,954 |
| 2023 | $12,468,103 | $854,758 | $1,012,080 | $875,100 | 53 | $921,747 | $745,453 | $816,099 |
| 2022 | $12,625,427 | $1,215,838 | $1,211,392 | $1,085,600 | 70 | $1,136,293 | $1,137,439 | $845,000 |
| 2021 | $12,620,980 | $1,095,853 | $1,008,867 | $880,560 | 57 | $904,572 | $998,926 | $908,654 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION reported a distributable amount of $858K 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
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Disability Voices United describes itself as directed by and for people with disabilities and their family members, advocating for choice, meaningful outcomes, and accountable systems. The National Yiddish Book Center says it works to recover, celebrate, and regenerate Yiddish and modern Jewish literature and culture. Tzedek America describes a program combining travel, social-justice internships, and other experiences to engage participants with social challenges.
Other 2025 recipients include Los Angeles Family Housing, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Planned Parenthood, and the Association of Graduates at West Point.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 46 grants totaling $725,800. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $110,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the largest listed grants were $110,000 to Jewish Community Foundation, $100,000 to Jewish Federation of Greater LA, and $100,000 to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Other notable awards included $60,000 to Jewish Communal Fund, $50,000 to the Association of Graduates, and $35,000 to American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
The filing lists purposes including donor-advised funds, programs, and operations. The Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County describes its work as building a culture of legacy and supporting meaningful giving in the Orange County Jewish community. Camp Ramah in California says it creates educational communities where campers and staff learn to live committed Jewish lives.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Benjamin F Breslauer, Irma G Breslauer, Alan D Breslauer, Jeffrey I Abrams, and Richard Demak.
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alan D. Breslauer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin F. Breslauer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irma G. Breslauer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey I. Abrams
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Demak
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION
How much does SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION give each year?
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION gave $726K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $818K across 47 grants.
What is SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's typical grant size?
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,778, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION that year got $5K on average.
Where does SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION give grants?
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION gives mostly in California: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (28%) and District of Columbia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (17 grants), New York, NY (10 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Encino, CA (2 grants).
Does SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 46 grants with a stated purpose on SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program" (42 grants).
Who are SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's largest grantees?
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish Community Foundation ($110,000), Jewish Federation of Greater LA ($100,000) and Washington Inst for Near E Policy ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION?
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION reported $13.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $771K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $858K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF 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 SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's EIN?
SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2246963. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/samuel-and-helene-soref-foundation-morg_85c75844bef54469b9a589b712da8986
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_592246963_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF FOUNDATION funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/samuel-and-helene-soref-foundation-morg_85c75844bef54469b9a589b712da8986},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 SAMUEL and HELENE SOREF 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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