The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation is a private foundation based in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Established by Lester G. Abeloff during his lifetime, it supports Jewish causes worldwide as well as other worthy causes in the local Monroe County area, including causes that help underserved and differently abled people and organizations.
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lester G Abeloff Foundation gave $1.5M across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,492,500
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,136
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $24,965,631
- +2.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (16 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website provides an application for funding and says applicants may be asked for further information, including an accounting of expenditures. The 2025 filing lists the application form as “APPLICATION OF FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION” and says to contact all trustees through “ABELOFF-FOUNDA.”
- Review Cycle
- The website states November 1 for consideration that year; the 2025 filing lists September 30.
- Deadline
- The website states November 1 for consideration that year; the 2025 filing lists September 30.
- Contact
Application contact: All Trustees Through Abeloff-Founda
Mailing address: PO Box 488, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Phone: (570) 236-5875
Email: info@abeloff-foundation.org
Website: https://abeloff-foundation.org
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
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania ($450K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($80,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
233 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 202 grants of 233 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Monroe County, Pennsylvania, as its local area of support and says it also supports Jewish causes worldwide. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients, 2% to New York, 1% to Florida, and less than 1% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Lester G Abeloff Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 53 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $529K (2020) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania Scranton, PA | Support of Humanitarian Services Provided | $450,000 |
| Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos Stroudsburg, PA | Support of Jewish Resources | $190,000 |
| The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Pa Corps East Stroudsburg, PA | Support of the hometown endowment fund for local operations | $150,000 |
| Developmental Education Services of Monroe County Inc Stroudsburg, PA | Support of Services for Disabled Individuals | $100,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $80,000 |
| Beth Shalom Academy Scranton, PA | Support for New Classroom Construction | $50,000 |
| Temple Israel of the Poconos Stroudsburg, PA | To Replenish the Reserve Account | $50,000 |
| Congregation B'nai Harim Pocono Pines, PA | Religious Support of the Congregation | $30,000 |
| Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms Lords Valley, PA | Support for Jewish Community | $30,000 |
| Monroe County Historical Association Stroudsburg, PA | Support for Educational Initiatives | $27,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,965,631 | $2,440,340 | $1,892,389 | $1,492,500 | 55 | $1,684,550 | $2,258,981 | $1,784,271 |
| 2024 | $24,417,680 | $1,720,782 | $1,685,621 | $1,313,250 | 55 | $1,502,625 | $1,550,497 | $1,678,030 |
| 2023 | $24,382,519 | $1,401,187 | $1,783,284 | $1,424,750 | 44 | $1,618,400 | $1,235,316 | $1,529,177 |
| 2022 | $24,764,616 | $1,076,932 | $1,740,613 | $1,399,000 | 43 | $1,399,000 | $772,687 | $1,589,278 |
| 2021 | $25,410,820 | $3,314,745 | $1,205,894 | $849,200 | 36 | $849,200 | $2,312,460 | $1,397,015 |
| 2020 | $15,283,730 | $583,463 | $738,959 | $528,700 | 33 | — | $376,424 | $849,858 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester G Abeloff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as carrying on Lester G. Abeloff’s tradition of philanthropy in support of Jewish causes worldwide and other worthy local causes. Its 2025 filing states that at least 70% of contributions are to go to 501(c)(3) exempt charities whose primary purpose is to benefit people of Jewish religion or causes.
The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania describes its mission as rescuing the imperiled, caring for the vulnerable, supporting Israel, and revitalizing Jewish communities in several northeastern Pennsylvania counties. The Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos says it provides Jewish education and cultural, religious, and social programs. Developmental Education Services of Monroe County says it operates an adult program designed to advance living skills for developmentally delayed individuals. Other grantees include health care, family services, meals, and community organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 55 grants totaling $1,492,500. Awards ranged from $500 to $450,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Its largest reported grants included $450,000 to the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania for humanitarian services, $190,000 to the Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos for Jewish resources, and $150,000 to The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg PA Corps for its hometown endowment fund for local operations. Other substantial grants included $100,000 to Developmental Education Services of Monroe County for services for disabled individuals and $50,000 each to Beth Shalom Academy for classroom construction and Temple Israel of the Poconos to replenish its reserve account.
The website says all grants are made to 501(c)(3) or equivalent organizations. It invites funding applications and says the board normally makes grants from October through December; requests received after the annual allocation are considered for the following year. The website also states an annual November 1 application deadline. Separately, the 2025 filing lists a September 30 deadline. Both stated deadlines are past for the 2026 cycle as of October 2, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Charles Cahn as president and treasurer, Rebekah Newman as secretary, and Jason Cahn and Aaron Cahn as directors.
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation is led by Charles Cahn, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Charles Cahn
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Jason Cahn
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$30K (2023) → $30K (2025)
Aaron Cahn
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$30K (2023) → $30K (2025)
Rebekah Newman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $60K, to Charles Cahn (President/Treasurer). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
How much does The Lester G Abeloff Foundation give each year?
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation gave $1.5M across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 55 grants.
What is The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $27,136, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lester G Abeloff Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does The Lester G Abeloff Foundation give grants?
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Stroudsburg, PA (19 grants), East Stroudsburg, PA (7 grants), Scranton, PA (6 grants) and Allentown, PA (4 grants).
Does The Lester G Abeloff Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Community Services" (7 grants), "Support of Jewish Resources" (6 grants) and "Support for Educational Initiatives" (4 grants).
Who are The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania ($450,000), Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos ($190,000) and The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Pa Corps ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($80,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lester G Abeloff Foundation?
The Lester G Abeloff Foundation reported $25.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (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 Lester G Abeloff Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as carrying on Lester G. Abeloff’s tradition of philanthropy in support of Jewish causes worldwide and other worthy local causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lester G Abeloff Foundation?
The website provides an application for funding and says applicants may be asked for further information, including an accounting of expenditures. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Lester G Abeloff Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lester G Abeloff Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lester-g-abeloff-foundation-morg_6b3c7737a8cd4ce6a0e96433656f560e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263528330_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lester G Abeloff Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lester-g-abeloff-foundation-morg_6b3c7737a8cd4ce6a0e96433656f560e},
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 Lester G Abeloff 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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