The Lois Zaro

Private foundation · Grantmaker Miami Beach, FL EIN: 30-6035876

The Lois Zaro is a private foundation based in Miami Beach, Florida. In 2024, it reported 16 grants totaling $232,677 to charitable organizations.

The Lois Zaro at a glance

In short: The Lois Zaro gave $233K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in New York. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$232,677
-53.1% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
16
-15.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$14,542
-44.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$6,250
Total assets
$3,046,644
+1.9% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2024; small sample)
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 Lois Zaro

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 7213 Fisher Island Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33109
Phone: (212) 824-1100

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Lois Zaro funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery FDNT: $67KAlzheimer's Drug DiscoveryFDNT$67KThe Breast Cancer Research Foundation: $50KThe Breast Cancer ResearchFoundation$50KCentral Synagogue: $37KCentral Synagogue$37KThe Freddy & Olivia Wexler Foundation: $25KThe Freddy & Olivia WexlerFoundation$25KVirginia United: $15KVirginia United$15KCrohns & Colitis Foundation of America: $10KCrohns & Colitis Foundation ofAmerica$10KHamptons Intl Film Festival: $10KHamptons Intl Film Festival$10KIcahn School of Medicine: $10KIcahn School of Medicine$10KBrothers for Life: $3KBrothers for Life$3KHearst Castle Preservation Foundation: $2KHearst Castle PreservationFoundation$2K

The largest 2024 recipient was Alzheimer's Drug Discovery FDNT ($67K). Together the top 10 received $228K.

Grant Size Distribution

105 grants across all recorded years

86<$50K16$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 105 (82%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, New York recipients received 98% of grant dollars. Washington and California recipients each received 1%; Florida and Virginia each accounted for 0% as reported.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkEast HamptonWashingtonBay Harbor IslandsMiamiSouthhamptonAnn ArborArlingtonBridgehamptonBronxLos AngelesMiami BeachNewtonPhoenixSan RamonSeattleSpeonkWest HollywoodWest Palm Beach

Is The Lois Zaro open to new grantees?

50%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $26K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $18K repeat.

  • 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 119% 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

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K33 grants2020 22 grants2021 15 grants2022 19 grants2023 16 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $233K (2024) to $707K (2020). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $233K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Alzheimer's Drug Discovery FDNT New York, NYDonation$66,667
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation New York, NYDonation$50,000
Central Synagogue New York, NYDonation$37,150
The Freddy & Olivia Wexler Foundation New York, NYDonation$25,000
Virginia United New York, NYDonation$15,000
Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America New York, NYDonation$10,000
Hamptons Intl Film Festival East Hampton, NYDonation$10,000
Icahn School of Medicine New York, NYDonation$10,000
Brothers for Life Seattle, WADonation$2,500
Hearst Castle Preservation Foundation San Ramon, CADonation$1,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$3,046,644$309,396$241,325$232,67716$232,677$262,998$196,127
2023$2,990,539$288,631$502,137$496,28019$496,280$204,358$178,685
2022$3,327,417$400,643$470,709$451,60015$451,600$183,784$189,176
2021$4,458,616$680,675$454,773$445,05022$445,050$502,252$204,121
2020$3,914,060$597,556$716,453$706,80533—$227,758$184,096

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lois Zaro reported a distributable amount of $196K 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 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Brothers for Life says it supports Jewish and Israeli veterans through education, mentoring, social services, and financial aid. The Hearst Castle Preservation Foundation describes its mission as the conservation and promotion of Hearst Castle. Hamptons Community Outreach says it works to meet basic needs and create opportunities for marginalized neighbors.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $232,677. Grants ranged from $360 to $66,667, with a median of $6,250.

Among its largest 2024 grants were $66,667 to Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, $50,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, $37,150 to Central Synagogue, and $25,000 to The Freddy & Olivia Wexler Foundation. It also gave $15,000 to Virginia United and $10,000 each to Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, Hamptons International Film Festival, and Icahn School of Medicine.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Lois Zaro is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.

The Lois Zaro is led by Lois Zaro, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Lois Zaro

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Andrew Zaro (2020–2023) — Trustee

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.

Frequently asked questions about The Lois Zaro

How much does The Lois Zaro give each year?

The Lois Zaro gave $233K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $496K across 19 grants.

What is The Lois Zaro's typical grant size?

The Lois Zaro's median grant in 2024 was $6,250, and its average grant was $14,542, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lois Zaro that year got $3K on average.

Where does The Lois Zaro give grants?

The Lois Zaro 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 (10 grants).

Does The Lois Zaro give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Lois Zaro's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (16 grants).

Who are The Lois Zaro's largest grantees?

The Lois Zaro's largest 2024 grantees include Alzheimer's Drug Discovery FDNT ($66,667), The Breast Cancer Research Foundation ($50,000) and Central Synagogue ($37,150), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Lois Zaro?

The Lois Zaro reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $233K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $196K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Lois Zaro fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Brothers for Life says it supports Jewish and Israeli veterans through education, mentoring, social services, and financial aid. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Lois Zaro?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Lois Zaro's EIN?

The Lois Zaro's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6035876. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Lois Zaro accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Lois Zaro funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lois-zaro-morg_3f2a164c3832422b9651e96d465f8b66

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_306035876_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Lois Zaro funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lois-zaro-morg_3f2a164c3832422b9651e96d465f8b66},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Lois Zaro'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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