The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In 2024, it made 32 grants totaling $172,951, primarily to New York organizations, including arts and cultural institutions, theaters, a botanical garden, and a sports and recreation organization.
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc gave $173K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $172,951
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,405
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,430
- Total assets
- $3,455,743
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (98% 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 Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc
- Contact
Application contact: The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc
Mailing address: 829 Park Avenue Apt 6B, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 288-8253
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Metropolitan Museum of Art ($25K). Together the top 10 received $122K.
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 174 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 1% to California, and less than 1% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 32 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $50 first-time, $4K repeat.
- 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 147% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $160K (2022) to $183K (2021). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $173K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $25,000 |
| The Public Theater New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $15,000 |
| The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $13,431 |
| Second Stage Theatre New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $10,000 |
| New York Botanical Garden New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $10,000 |
| Central Park Conservancy New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $10,000 |
| Playwrights Horizons New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $10,000 |
| Lincoln Center Theater New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $10,000 |
| Atlantic Theater CO New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $10,000 |
| Manhattan Theatre Club New York, NY | To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations. | $8,500 |
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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 | $3,455,743 | $192,578 | $273,640 | $172,951 | 32 | $234,530 | $153,468 | $159,150 |
| 2023 | $3,366,595 | $191,539 | $273,539 | $176,235 | 32 | $231,367 | $155,367 | $147,997 |
| 2022 | $3,210,603 | $219,322 | $258,268 | $159,584 | 35 | $213,358 | $179,412 | $171,488 |
| 2021 | $4,036,659 | $499,392 | $277,282 | $182,805 | 39 | $231,603 | $457,115 | $189,268 |
| 2020 | $3,620,699 | $-17,081 | $270,353 | $172,558 | 36 | — | $27,123 | $164,359 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $159K 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 foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions span the arts, culture, horticulture, and recreation. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents works of art across times and cultures. Playwrights Horizons describes itself as a writer’s theater that develops and produces new work and educates future theatermakers. Asphalt Green says it works to transform lives and build community through sports, fitness, and play.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $172,951. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $25,000, with a median grant of $3,430. Larger awards included $25,000 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, $15,000 to The Public Theater, $13,431 to The Metropolitan Opera, and $10,000 each to Second Stage Theatre, New York Botanical Garden, Central Park Conservancy, Playwrights Horizons, Lincoln Center Theater, and Atlantic Theater Co.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. To apply, organizations should contact the foundation and provide the charitable organization’s purpose, an exempt organization certificate, and the purpose of the grant. The filing lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Chien Cho Liu as President, Charles Flynn as Treasurer, and Rod Ongjoco as Secretary.
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc is led by Chien Cho Liu, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chien Cho Liu
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Charles Flynn
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rod Ongjoco
Secretary
On filings since 2020
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $50K, to Chien Cho Liu (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc
How much does The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc give each year?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc gave $173K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $176K across 32 grants.
What is The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,430, and its average grant was $5,405, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc that year got $50 on average.
Where does The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc give grants?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (27 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To extend financial assistance to worthy organizations." (32 grants).
Who are The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Metropolitan Museum of Art ($25,000), The Public Theater ($15,000) and The Metropolitan Opera ($13,431), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $235K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $159K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions span the arts, culture, horticulture, and recreation. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents works of art across times and cultures. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1619844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-irwin-s-scherzer-foundation-inc-morg_2cea0230d87f48efaa17f9fe8a4c6486
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061619844_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-irwin-s-scherzer-foundation-inc-morg_2cea0230d87f48efaa17f9fe8a4c6486},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Irwin S Scherzer Foundation Inc'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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