The Ajana Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, operating as a 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 2002, the foundation functions as a grantmaking entity focused on philanthropic activities across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.5M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-2.4% YoY
Grant Count
17
-10.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$96K
+9.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ajana Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation maintains a particular focus on supporting education programs and scholarships, with demonstrated commitment to first-generation scholars and women in technology.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $25,000 to $180,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making activities are concentrated in:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,475,956 |
| Total Giving | $1,630,000 |
| Revenue (2023) | $9.61M |
| Expenses (2023) | $1.99M |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,475,956 | $32,652,167 | $21,032,847 |
| Revenue | $6,675,515 | $9,614,719 | $671,022 |
| Expenses | $1,863,112 | $1,986,586 | $1,299,866 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,703,503 | $1,729,728 | $1,064,403 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,076,726 | $473,984 | $516,192 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,543,939 | $1,316,193 | $1,183,271 |
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
148 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Urban Food Initiative Dba Daily Table ($150,000), Trustees of Tufts ($130,000), Urban Farming Institute ($130,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOSTON AREA GLEANERS ACTON, MA | IN SUPPORT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING | $100,000 |
| COMMONWEALTH KITCHEN DORCHESTER, MA | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING | $100,000 |
| EQUITY ADVOCATES HARRISON, NY | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING | $45,000 |
| GREEN CITY FORCE BROOKLYN, NY | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING | $105,000 |
| HALEY HOUSE BOSTON, MA | IN SUPPORT OF EXPANDING THE TAKE BACK THE KITCHEN PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| HARVARD LAW SCHOOL FOOD LAW & POLICY CLINIC CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| LOVIN' SPOONFULS INC NEWTON, MA | IN SUPPORT OF FOOD RESCUE AND HUNGER RELIEF OF MASSACHUSETTS | $100,000 |
| MASHPEE WAMPANOAG TRIBE MASHPEE, MA | IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| REFED LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| STONE BARNS CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POCANTICO HILLS, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $45,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ms. Daphne Hoch Cunningham — Trustee
The foundation is also identified as "Hoch Frank W Et Al Ttee," indicating multiple trustees involved in governance.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAPHNE HOCH CUNNINGHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROLAND E HOCH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEVEN G HOCH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ALIX M LAAGER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2 Liberty Square, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02109
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ajana Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation maintains a particular focus on supporting education programs and scholarships, with demonstrated commitment to first-generation scholars and women in technology.
How do I apply for a grant from The Ajana Foundation?
**Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $25,000 to $180,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation has made significant education-focused grants, including: • $60,000 in education grants • $434,000 contributed to education programs (March 2024) • $64,000 to the Three Angels Haiti Scholarship Program • Ongoing support for education programs and scholarships **Total Annual Giving:** $1,630,000 (based on most recent filing)
Where does The Ajana Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grant-making activities are concentrated in: • Massachusetts • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does The Ajana Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ajana Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $96K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ajana Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ajana Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ajana Foundation's EIN?
The Ajana Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7299038. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ajana 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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