The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation is a private foundation based in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations involved in humanitarian work, research, and education.
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation gave $26K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), top state New York. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $26,300
- +32.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,195
- +20.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $102,115
- +260.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (40% 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 Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 606 Ballytore Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096
Phone: (610) 284-2500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Friends of Magen David Adom ($5K). Together the top 10 received $21K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 105 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in New York received 40% of grant dollars, Pennsylvania 34%, and Washington, DC 19%. California and Missouri each received 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 21 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $750 repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 79% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 354% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $26K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $26K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends of Magen David Adom Washington, DC | Humanitarian | $5,000 |
| Friends of the IDF New York, NY | Humanitarian | $5,000 |
| American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science New York, NY | Research | $3,000 |
| Jewish Relive Agency Bala Cynwyd, PA | Humanitarian | $2,000 |
| American Friends of Israel Elwyn Bala Cynwyd, PA | Research | $1,000 |
| Garces Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Humanitarian | $1,000 |
| Israel Cancer Research Fund New York, NY | Research | $1,000 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,500 |
| The Jewish Braille Institute of America New York, NY | Humanitarian | $1,000 |
| The Philadelphia Orchestra Association Philadelphia, PA | Humanitarian | $1,000 |
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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 | $102,115 | $101,843 | $28,020 | $26,300 | 22 | $26,300 | $270 | $7,439 |
| 2024 | $28,292 | $11,404 | $20,494 | $19,800 | 20 | $19,800 | $10,712 | $3,274 |
| 2023 | $37,382 | $154 | $18,542 | $17,800 | 22 | $17,800 | $117 | $3,683 |
| 2022 | $55,770 | $-2,318 | $15,747 | $14,700 | 19 | $14,700 | $576 | $4,452 |
| 2021 | $73,835 | $3,713 | $17,569 | $16,550 | 22 | — | $2,724 | $5,200 |
| 2020 | $87,691 | $4,055 | $11,134 | $10,050 | 13 | — | $2,975 | $4,810 |
| 2019 | $94,770 | $-3,321 | $10,750 | $10,750 | 12 | — | $420 | $4,439 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2025 — 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own stated work includes scientific research, cancer research, humanitarian services, Holocaust education and remembrance, and services for people with disabilities. For example, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute raises funds for scientific research, and Inglis says its mission is to help people with disabilities and those who care for them achieve their goals and live life to the fullest.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $26,300 across 22 grants. Grants ranged from $100 to $5,000, with a median grant of $500.
Among the largest listed grants were $5,000 each to American Friends of Magen David Adom for humanitarian purposes and Friends of the IDF for humanitarian purposes; $3,000 to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science for research; and $2,000 to Jewish Relive Agency for humanitarian purposes. Other listed grants included $1,000 to Israel Cancer Research Fund for research and $500 to the American Society for Yad Vashem for educational purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mario Rafalin is listed as president on the 2025 filing.
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation is led by Mario Rafalin, President on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mario Rafalin
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation
How much does The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation give each year?
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation gave $26K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 20 grants.
What is The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,195, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation give grants?
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's top state is New York, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (34%) and District of Columbia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (4 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Bala Cynwyd, PA (2 grants).
Does The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Humanitarian" (15 grants), "Research" (4 grants) and "Educational" (3 grants).
Who are The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Friends of Magen David Adom ($5,000), Friends of the IDF ($5,000) and American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation?
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation reported $102K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $26K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own stated work includes scientific research, cancer research, humanitarian services, Holocaust education and remembrance, and services for people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's EIN?
The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2489543. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Mario and Sara Rafalin Foundation 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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