The Birchrock Foundation
The Birchrock Foundation is a private foundation based in Albany, New York. Established in 1998 in Massachusetts, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization that does not engage in direct charitable activities. Instead, it provides financial support to other charitable organizations exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
Key facts about The Birchrock Foundation
- EIN
- 04-3424527
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $379,803
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- Average grant
- $12,660
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $5,590,849
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who The Birchrock Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Birchrock Foundation's 30 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (89%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Brunswick, GA (5 grants), Boston, MA (4 grants) and Wellesley, MA (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.6M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$380K
+17.8% YoY
Grant Count
30
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Birchrock Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support charitable organizations through contributions. Its stated funding interests include:
- Art museums
- Private foundations
- Aid to indigent persons through the "In a Pinch Fund" program
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling at least $260,000 in 2023, with documented grants to:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is located in Albany, New York and operates from offices at Graypoint, 4 Tower Place, 1001 Albany, NY 12203.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 30 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $5,561,213
- Total Revenues: $345,166
- Total Expenses: $552,909
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,590,849 | $5,561,213 | $5,768,949 |
| Revenue | $627,278 | $345,166 | $385,488 |
| Expenses | $597,153 | $552,909 | $408,053 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $382,123 | $326,869 | $173,249 |
| Net Investment Income | $400,399 | $114,463 | $173,153 |
| Distributable Amount | $265,987 | $271,162 | $274,771 |
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
125 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Williams College ($200,000), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ($50,000), The Rashi School ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| THE RASHI SCHOOL DEDHAM, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,500 |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSUEM OF ART NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| TEMPLE BETH ELOHIM WELLESLEY, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,380 |
| ADAS YOSHURN SYNAGOGUE ROCKLAND, ME | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TEMPLE BETH ELOHIM WELLESLEY, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE J LASSER | MANAGER | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE LASSER | MANAGER | 1 | — |
| ETHAN LASSER | MANAGER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Telephone: 518-218-5497
- EIN: 04-3424527
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Birchrock Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support charitable organizations through contributions. Its stated funding interests include: • Art museums • Private foundations • Aid to indigent persons through the "In a Pinch Fund" program
How do I apply for a grant from The Birchrock Foundation?
**Recent Grant Activity (2023)** The foundation made grants totaling at least $260,000 in 2023, with documented grants to: • The Ayco Charitable Foundation: $150,000 • Beth Israel Lahey Health: $60,000 • Rashi School: $50,000 All grants were designated for general charitable purposes. The foundation made two grants in the most recent reporting year.
Where does The Birchrock Foundation make grants?
The foundation is located in Albany, New York and operates from offices at Graypoint, 4 Tower Place, 1001 Albany, NY 12203.
What size grants does The Birchrock Foundation award?
In 2024, The Birchrock Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $380K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Birchrock Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Birchrock Foundation reported a distributable amount of $266K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Birchrock Foundation's EIN?
The Birchrock Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3424527. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Birchrock 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.