The Jayne and Leonard Abess Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2004–2005 and based in Miami, Florida. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation supports a broad range of charitable causes through strategic philanthropic giving across multiple states and focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.6M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$676K
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
19
+5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-0.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jayne and Leonard Abess reported a distributable amount of $839K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse portfolio of causes including:
- Arts and Culture — arts services and arts education
- Education — higher education and educational initiatives
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking — supporting nonprofit organizations
- Community and Economic Development — economic development initiatives
- Employment and Job Training — job services and vocational rehabilitation
- Human Services — social and human services programs
- Religion — with particular attention to Jewish causes
- Health — various health-related initiatives
The foundation places particular emphasis on arts education, job training, and vocational rehabilitation.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 19 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes grants across multiple states, with 46% of grants remaining in Florida. Other states receiving significant support include:
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Maine
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Ohio
- New Hampshire
The foundation supports various cities including Miami, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $11,565,216
- Total Revenues: $1,178,196
- Total Expenses: $742,966
- Total Giving: $675,775
- Investment Income and Dividends: $248,007
Prior Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $11.1 Million
- Total Revenues: $1.15 Million
- Total Expenses: $695,000
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no liabilities and generates revenue primarily through investment income.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,565,216 | $11,134,246 | $11,257,269 |
| Revenue | $1,178,196 | $1,146,952 | $1,211,134 |
| Expenses | $742,966 | $694,800 | $808,027 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $689,080 | $656,445 | $721,216 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,123,193 | $250,281 | $156,737 |
| Distributable Amount | $838,964 | $680,307 | $661,444 |
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
86 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Miami Jewish Federation ($230,000), United Way of Miami-dade ($137,500), Miami Country Day School ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION MIAMI, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,000 |
| CENTER FOR NORTHERN WOODLANDS EDUCATION LYME, NH | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $500 |
| FLORIDA OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TALLAHASSE, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,500 |
| GREATER MIAMI JEWISH FEDERATION MIAMI, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $230,000 |
| HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION PEPPER PIKE, OH | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,000 |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF MIAMI INC CORAL GABLES, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $175 |
| KRISTI HOUSE CHILDREN'S ADV MIAMI, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| MIAMI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL MIAMI, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $110,000 |
| MONTGOMERY BOTANICAL CENTER MIAMI, FL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by the Abess family:
- Leonard L. Abess — President and Director
- Jayne Harris Abess — Vice Chair and Director
- Ashley Abess — Director and Secretary
- Brett U. Abess — Director
- Matthew U. Abess — Director
All directors serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEONARD L ABESS | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAYNE HARRIS ABESS | VICE CHAIR/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ASHLEY ABESS | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW U ABESS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRETT U ABESS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking, with recent contributions to major institutions including The New York Botanical Garden and regional organizations serving Miami and surrounding areas. The foundation maintains regular grant distribution activity, with 19 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period.
Jayne And Leonard Abess Foundation Inc - Full Filing - News AppsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jayne and Leonard Abess fund?
The foundation supports a diverse portfolio of causes including: • **Arts and Culture** — arts services and arts education • **Education** — higher education and educational initiatives • **Philanthropy and Grantmaking** — supporting nonprofit organizations • **Community and Economic Development** — economic development initiatives • **Employment and Job Training** — job services and vocational rehabilitation • **Human Services** — social and human services programs • **Religion** — with partic…
How do I apply for a grant from The Jayne and Leonard Abess?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 19 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include: • Greater Miami Jewish Federation: $230,000 • United Way Miami: $137,500 • Miami Country Day School: $110,000 • The New York Botanical Garden: $373,000 • Montgomery Botanical Center: $10,000 • Nicklaus Children's Hospital: $10,000 • Kristi House Children's Advocacy Center: $2,500 **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $100 to $373,000. **Application Process:** The foundation only makes c…
Where does The Jayne and Leonard Abess make grants?
The foundation distributes grants across multiple states, with 46% of grants remaining in Florida. Other states receiving significant support include: • New York • Pennsylvania • Maine • Michigan • Illinois • Ohio • New Hampshire The foundation supports various cities including Miami, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
What size grants does The Jayne and Leonard Abess award?
In 2024, The Jayne and Leonard Abess awarded 19 grants totaling $676K — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jayne and Leonard Abess required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jayne and Leonard Abess reported a distributable amount of $839K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jayne and Leonard Abess's EIN?
The Jayne and Leonard Abess's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0052304. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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