The Edward W Hazen Foundation logo

The Edward W Hazen Foundation

BROOKLYN, NY EIN: 06-0646671 Website

The Edward W Hazen Foundation is a private foundation based in Brooklyn, New York, incorporated in 1925 in Connecticut and tax-exempt since May 1938. The foundation operates with a small staff of 2 employees and focuses its grantmaking on education and youth development, with particular emphasis on grassroots and community-based organizations.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$261K

-90.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.5M

-64.8% YoY

Grant Count

70

-28.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$22K

-50.7% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's work is currently focused on public education and youth development. In public education, the foundation prioritizes parent and community organizing and training around school reform issues. In youth development, the foundation favors proposals that focus on training young people to become community or peer organizers around concrete social issues.

The foundation is a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise, an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), committing to allocate the majority of its grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25 percent to social justice strategies, including advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement.

Grantmaking

The foundation makes grants to community-based and grassroots organizations. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $125,000. Recent grants have included $125,000 awards to organizations such as Arkansas Public Policy Panel and Khmer Girls in Action for general and project support.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's geographic focus varies by program area, with grantmaking activity spanning California, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as national coverage.

Grant Distribution by State

26states
+18 more states

Cities

AlbanyAlbuquerqueAustinBristolBronxBrooklynCalabasasChicagoDenverDurantFar RockawayHartfordJamaica PlainLittle RockLong BeachLos AngelesMadisonMilwaukeeNew MarketNew Orleans

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Financial data shows significant variation across reporting periods:

  • Total Assets (2024): $261,086
  • Total Assets (2023): $2,702,035
  • Total Giving (2024): $1,529,500
  • Total Revenues (2023): $160,540
  • Total Expenses (2023): $2,906,126

The foundation's asset levels have declined substantially, reflecting a strategic decision to spend down resources.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$3M$4M$6M2021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$261,086$2,702,035$7,810,805
Revenue$12,581$160,540$-178,266
Expenses$1,323,194$2,906,126$3,680,739
Qualifying Distributions$2,394,850$5,256,731$4,404,522
Net Investment Income$137,932$59,247
Distributable Amount$39,315$260,762$469,875

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M55 grants202163 grants202298 grants202370 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

HIGHLANDER RESEARCH & ED…$125KNOLLIE JENKINS FAMILY CE…$125KBEND THE ARC$75KCENTER FOR CIVIC POLICY$50KMAINE INITIATIVES$50KMAINE INITIATIVES$50KNEO PHILANTHROPY$50KNOLLIE JENKINS FAMILY CE…$50KACTION IN MONTGOMERY$25KBLACK ORGANIZING PROJECT$25K

Grant Size Distribution

200 grants across all recorded years

113<$50K68$50–100K19$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Lori Bezahler serves as President of the Edward W Hazen Foundation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

LORI BEZAHLERPRESIDENT/SECRETARY$389K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ALBERTO RETANACHAIR3
LORI BEZAHLERPRESIDENT/SECRETARY40$389,408
STEVE FAHRERTREASURER3
CRISTINA JIMENEZ MORETAVICE CHAIR3

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The Edward W Hazen Foundation announced a significant strategic shift, with the 100-year-old foundation spending down its assets with final grants to support youth organizing. This decision reflects the foundation's commitment to directing millions to BIPOC-led nonprofits during its final grantmaking period.

100-year-old foundation spends down assets with final grants to support youth

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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