The a & a Fund
The A & A Fund is a private foundation based in Waltham, Massachusetts. In 2024, it gave $540,000 through 21 grants to organizations working in areas that include education, public media, youth leadership, food access, religious activity, and Indigenous-led solar solutions.
The a & a Fund at a glance
In short: The a & a Fund gave $540K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in New York. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $540,000
- +5.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,714
- +10.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $7,451,018
- +2.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (52% 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 The a & a Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1075 Main Street 200, Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: (617) 423-3900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The a & a Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dungkar Gonpa Society ($150K). Together the top 10 received $395K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 96 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (52%) and California (23%), followed by Connecticut (7%), Massachusetts (6%), and Illinois (4%). The listed grants also included recipients in Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The a & a Fund open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (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 $380K (2021) to $540K (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $540K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dungkar Gonpa Society Lew Beach, NY | Religious | $150,000 |
| Yale University (Lex Hixon Archive Fund) New Haven, CT | To improve the world through research, scholarship, education, preservation, and practice | $40,000 |
| Muslims for Progressive Values Los Angeles, CA | Educational/Cultural | $35,000 |
| Tomorrow's Leaders NYC Brooklyn, NY | Empower Over-Age Middle School Students | $30,000 |
| Democracy Now Productions Inc New York, NY | Independent Non-Profit Public Media Collaboration | $25,000 |
| Echoing Green Inc New York, NY | Philanthropy/ Voluntarism | $25,000 |
| Tides Center Kairos Center Poor People's Campaign San Francisco, CA | Supports local change leaders and connects diverse people and organizations | $25,000 |
| Urban Association of Forestry and Fire Professionals Inc Azusa, CA | To Increase Wildfire Personnel | $25,000 |
| College for Social Innovation Inc Boston, MA | Educate and inspire the next generation of problem solvers | $20,000 |
| Dion's Chicago Dream Inc Matteson, IL | Eliminate Food Insecurity | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The a & a Fund?
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 | $7,451,018 | $481,481 | $629,469 | $540,000 | 21 | $547,673 | $659,794 | $586,614 |
| 2023 | $7,280,374 | $330,737 | $610,080 | $510,000 | 22 | $519,820 | $358,636 | $562,657 |
| 2022 | $7,454,271 | $90,181 | $568,563 | $490,000 | 20 | $490,070 | $211,565 | $581,495 |
| 2021 | $7,618,262 | $531,244 | $474,707 | $380,000 | 16 | $392,185 | $1,041,677 | $552,428 |
| 2020 | $7,561,725 | $1,051,896 | $478,600 | $400,400 | 17 | — | $1,077,139 | $453,976 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The a & a Fund reported a distributable amount of $587K 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 fund is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Muslims for Progressive Values says it is “creating a culture rooted in human rights in Muslim societies in the U.S. and around the world.” Tomorrows Leaders NYC says it helps students and community members address social, emotional, and academic challenges and become community leaders. Democracy Now Productions says it produces a daily non-commercial public radio and television news show and trains journalist interns and community video producers in civic journalism.
Other 2024 grantees describe work in leadership development, social innovation, arts, and Indigenous-led solar solutions. Echoing Green says it supports emerging leaders and the growth of their ideas; the College for Social Innovation says it educates and inspires the next generation of problem solvers; Spirit Awakening Foundation describes itself as a multidisciplinary arts organization; and Native Renewables says it grows Indigenous-led solar knowledge and solutions with Hopi and Diné families and communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund made 21 grants totaling $540,000. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $150,000, with a median grant of $20,000. The largest grant was $150,000 to Dungkar Gonpa Society, listed for a religious purpose. Other large grants included $40,000 to Yale University’s Lex Hixon Archive Fund; $35,000 to Muslims for Progressive Values; and $30,000 to Tomorrows Leaders NYC.
Additional 2024 grants included $25,000 each to Democracy Now Productions, Echoing Green, the Tides Center for the Kairos Center/Poor People’s Campaign, and the Urban Association of Forestry and Fire Professionals. The fund also awarded $20,000 each to the College for Social Innovation, Dion’s Chicago Dream, Native Renewables, and NY Community Fridge Corp Grassroots Grocery. Other grantees included Spirit Awakening Foundation ($20,000) and PEF Israel Endowment Funds ($10,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sheila K Hixon, Alexandra H Ballard, Dylan H Hixon, Shanti S Hixon, and India T Radfar on the advisory board. Jennifer Pelis and Brooke Manfredi are listed as trustees.
The a & a Fund's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brooke Manfredi
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Pelis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra H. Ballard
Advisory Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dylan H. Hixon
Advisory Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
India T. Radfar
Advisory Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shanti S. Hixon
Advisory Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila K. Hixon
Advisory Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 The a & a Fund
How much does The a & a Fund give each year?
The a & a Fund gave $540K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $510K across 22 grants.
What is The a & a Fund's typical grant size?
The a & a Fund's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,714, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The a & a Fund that year got $20K on average.
Where does The a & a Fund give grants?
The a & a Fund gives mostly in New York: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (23%) and Connecticut (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The a & a Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on The a & a Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Religious" (4 grants).
Who are The a & a Fund's largest grantees?
The a & a Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Dungkar Gonpa Society ($150,000), Yale University (Lex Hixon Archive Fund) ($40,000) and Muslims for Progressive Values ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The a & a Fund?
The a & a Fund reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $548K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $587K (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 The a & a Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Muslims for Progressive Values says it is “creating a culture rooted in human rights in Muslim societies in the U.S. and around the world.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The a & a Fund?
The foundation 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 The a & a Fund's EIN?
The a & a Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3127721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The a & a Fund 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The a & a Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-a-and-a-fund-morg_b3d854f8ae08484b9937f2df2dbc74b8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043127721_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The a \& a Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-a-and-a-fund-morg_b3d854f8ae08484b9937f2df2dbc74b8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 The a & a Fund'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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