The Bressler Family Foundation
The Bressler Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It reported 18 grants totaling $406,654 in 2024, supporting charitable organizations including medical institutions, museums, and arts and cultural organizations.
The Bressler Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bressler Family Foundation gave $407K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Massachusetts. 71% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $406,654
- -30.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +80.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,592
- -61.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,900
- Total assets
- $14,217,090
- +24.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 71% first-time grantees (10 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% 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 Bressler Family 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: Co Trove PO Box 962049, Boston, MA 02196
Phone: (617) 880-5246
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Bressler Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Massachusetts General Hospital ($200K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $404K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 44 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation reported that 100% of its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and less than 1% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Bressler Family Foundation open to new grantees?
71%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 14 grantees (71%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% 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 $407K (2024) to $3.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $407K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | General | $199,253 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Boston Boston, MA | General | $99,651 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA | General | $50,340 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Boston Boston, MA | General | $25,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra Boston, MA | General | $10,000 |
| Martha's Vineyard Community Services Oak Bluffs, MA | General | $5,264 |
| Martha's Vineyard Community Services Oak Bluffs, MA | General | $5,000 |
| CJP - the Miriam Fund Boston, MA | General | $2,500 |
| Hebrew Seniorlife Roslindale, MA | General | $2,000 |
| Friends of the IDF New York, NY | General | $1,800 |
Ready to take the next step with The Bressler Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,217,090 | $3,359,492 | $523,639 | $406,654 | 18 | $418,729 | $473,727 | $501,795 |
| 2023 | $11,379,737 | $768,327 | $700,206 | $585,296 | 10 | $597,328 | $220,858 | $456,630 |
| 2022 | $11,311,616 | $1,716,755 | $3,340,707 | $3,217,500 | 5 | $3,225,625 | $616,531 | $536,459 |
| 2021 | $12,935,568 | $4,495,155 | $611,160 | $498,000 | 6 | $509,300 | $1,438,095 | $494,083 |
| 2020 | $9,051,573 | $3,874,841 | $582,720 | $489,000 | 5 | — | $793,440 | $327,008 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bressler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $502K 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
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants included support for medical institutions and organizations working in music, visual arts, and cultural programming. For example, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s grantee-stated mission includes supporting medical research, instruction, and activities intended to improve public health. The Boston Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as making music and providing educational and training programs. Fuller Craft Museum says it offers exhibitions, collections, education, and public programs focused on contemporary craft.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $406,654. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $199,253, with a median of $1,900. Its largest reported grants included $199,253 to Massachusetts General Hospital, $99,651 and $25,000 to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and $50,340 to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Other recipients included the Boston Symphony Orchestra ($10,000), Martha’s Vineyard Community Services ($5,264 and $5,000), and CJP - The Miriam Fund ($2,500). The listed grants were reported as general-purpose contributions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lorraine Bressler, Karen S Bressler, Daryl Bressler, and Nancy Bressler-Starn as trustees.
The Bressler Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daryl Bressler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen S. Bressler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lorraine Bressler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Bressler-Starn
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/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 Bressler Family Foundation
How much does The Bressler Family Foundation give each year?
The Bressler Family Foundation gave $407K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $585K across 10 grants.
What is The Bressler Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bressler Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,900, and its average grant was $22,592, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bressler Family Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Bressler Family Foundation give grants?
The Bressler Family Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (11 grants) and Oak Bluffs, MA (2 grants).
Does The Bressler Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Bressler Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Bressler Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bressler Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Massachusetts General Hospital ($200,000 across 2 grants), Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($125,000 across 3 grants) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ($50,340), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Bressler Family Foundation?
The Bressler Family Foundation reported $14.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $419K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $502K (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 Bressler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants included support for medical institutions and organizations working in music, visual arts, and cultural programming. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bressler Family 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 The Bressler Family Foundation's EIN?
The Bressler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6837456. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Bressler Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Bressler Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bressler Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bressler-family-foundation-morg_5f0a1c89ad3e4d40a77dee960b795506
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046837456_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bressler Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bressler-family-foundation-morg_5f0a1c89ad3e4d40a77dee960b795506},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-26. 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 Bressler Family 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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