The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation is a private foundation based in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, established during the lifetime of Lester G. Abeloff to continue his philanthropic legacy. The foundation supports Jewish causes worldwide and other worthy causes in the local Monroe County, Pennsylvania area, with a particular focus on helping underserved and differently abled people and organizations.
Key facts about The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
- EIN
- 26-3528330
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,313,250
- Grants made (2024)
- 55
- Average grant
- $23,877
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (17 of 55, 2024)
- Total assets
- $24,417,680
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Grant requests and acknowledgment letters should be sent to:. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- All applications must be received no later than November 1 to be considered for funding that year
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lester G Abeloff Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's 55 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (95%). The most frequent recipient cities were Stroudsburg, PA (23 grants), East Stroudsburg, PA (6 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Scranton, PA (4 grants). None of its 55 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Community Services" (10 grants), "Support of Jewish Resources" (5 grants) and "Support for Educational Initiatives" (4 grants).
Is The Lester G Abeloff Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 55 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 55% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
- How to evaluate The Lester G Abeloff Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.4M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-7.8% YoY
Grant Count
55
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-26.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester G Abeloff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to carry on Lester G. Abeloff's tradition of philanthropy supporting:
- Jewish causes worldwide
- Human services and poverty alleviation
- Organizations serving underserved and differently abled populations
- Worthy causes in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Primary funding focus areas include nonprofit human services, human and social service grants, and poverty alleviation.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
** All applications must be received no later than November 1 to be considered for funding that year
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Lester G Abeloff Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Primary focus: Monroe County, Pennsylvania
- Secondary focus: Jewish causes worldwide
- Additional giving in Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 55 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2023):
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,382,519 |
| Total Giving | $1,424,750 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,417,680 | $24,382,519 | $24,764,616 |
| Revenue | $1,720,782 | $1,401,187 | $1,076,932 |
| Expenses | $1,685,621 | $1,783,284 | $1,740,613 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,502,625 | $1,618,400 | $1,399,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,550,497 | $1,235,316 | $772,687 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,678,030 | $1,529,177 | $1,589,278 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
211 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania ($495,500), Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos ($200,000), The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Corps ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA Scranton, PA | SUPPORT OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICES PROVIDED | $495,500 |
| JEWISH RESOURCE CENTER OF THE POCONOS Stroudsburg, PA | SUPPORT OF JEWISH RESOURCES | $200,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY EAST STROUDSBURG CORPS East Stroudsburg, PA | SUPPORT OF THE HOMETOWN ENDOWMENT FUND FOR LOCAL OPERATIONS | $125,000 |
| DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION SERVICES OF MONROE COUNTY INC Stroudsburg, PA | SUPPORT OF SERVICES FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS | $106,500 |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE POCONOS Stroudsburg, PA | TO REPLENISH THE RESERVE ACCOUNT | $55,000 |
| ELAN SKILLED NURSING Scranton, PA | SUPPORT FOR JEWISH MEDICAL SERVICES | $25,000 |
| LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK Allentown, PA | SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS | $25,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA Scranton, PA | SUPPORT OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES | $20,000 |
| YESHIVA BETH MOSHE Scranton, PA | SUPPORT FOR YESHIVATH BETH MOSHE'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| MONROE COUNTY MEALS ON WHEELS Stroudsburg, PA | SUPPORT TO PROVIDE MEALS TO HOMEBOUND ADULTS | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Charles Cahn — President, Treasurer
- Aaron Cahn — Vice President
- Jason Cahn — Assistant Treasurer
- Rebekah Newman — Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Cahn | President/Treasurer | 10 | $60,000 |
| Rebekah Newman | Secretary | 10 | $60,000 |
| Jason Cahn | Director | 5 | $30,000 |
| Aaron Cahn | Director | 5 | $30,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lester G Abeloff Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to carry on Lester G. Abeloff's tradition of philanthropy supporting: • Jewish causes worldwide • Human services and poverty alleviation • Organizations serving underserved and differently abled populations • Worthy causes in Monroe County, Pennsylvania Primary funding focus areas include nonprofit human services, human and social service grants, and poverty alleviation.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lester G Abeloff Foundation?
Grant requests and acknowledgment letters should be sent to:. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Lester G Abeloff Foundation make grants?
• Primary focus: Monroe County, Pennsylvania • Secondary focus: Jewish causes worldwide • Additional giving in Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida
What size grants does The Lester G Abeloff Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lester G Abeloff Foundation awarded 55 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lester G Abeloff Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lester G Abeloff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's EIN?
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3528330. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.