The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation
The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WALTHAM, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 18 grants totaling $369K. Net investment income was $830K.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+7.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$369K
+70.3% YoY
Grant Count
18
+80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-5.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $373K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WALTHAM, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 18 grants totaling $369K. Net investment income was $830K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,967,440 | $4,636,113 | $4,817,933 |
| Revenue | $905,556 | $238,370 | $222,326 |
| Expenses | $574,229 | $420,190 | $390,902 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $498,187 | $344,014 | $312,004 |
| Net Investment Income | $829,514 | $162,686 | $143,428 |
| Distributable Amount | $373,023 | $341,748 | $332,051 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Ransom Everglades School ($50,000), Make a Wish Southern Florida Foundation ($43,000), Jewish Learning Center ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STYLE SAVES INC MIAMI, FL | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL GOODS AND RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO INCREASE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND FOSTERING SELF CONFIDENCETO SUPPORT THE THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMING THROUGH THE BONDS BETWEEN ANIMALS AND HUMANS | $20,000 |
| LEHRMAN COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL MIAMI BEACH, FL | TO PROVIDE A DYNAMIC GENERAL AND JUDAIC CURRICULUM NURTURING EACH CHILDS POTENTIAL, SOCIAL CONFIDENCE AND SPIRITUALITY THROUGH ENGAGING EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES | $25,000 |
| BOLD BEAUTY PROJECT MIAMI, FL | TO CREATE CHANGE FOR WOMEN BY UTILIZING ART AT THE INTERSECTION OF BEAUTY AND DISABILITY | $15,000 |
| FALMOUTH SERVICE CENTER FALMOUTH, MA | TO SUPPORT THE CENTERS MISSION TO EASE STRESS, REDUCE HUNGER AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED | $15,000 |
| HAYMAKERS FOR HOPE BOSTON, MA | TO HELP CANCER RESEARCH, CARE, AWARENESS AND SURVIVORSHIP | $10,000 |
| THE SOBE ROOM INC MIAMI BEACH, FL | TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT HOME FOR RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS AND OTHER 12 STEP RECOVERY PROGRAMSTO PROVIDE A PERMANENT HOME FOR ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND OTHER RECOVERY PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL DEMOCRACY COALITION BRYN MAWR, PA | TO HELP JEWS IN ISRAEL WITH FOOD, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND HOUSING | $25,000 |
| JEWISH LEARNING CENTER HOLLYWOOD, FL | TO ASSIST THE LEARNING CENTER GOAL TO BROADEN THE UNDERSTANDING OF JUDAISM | $35,000 |
| PLUM ISLAND FOUNCATION NEWBURYPORT, MA | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATION TO FOSTERING AND PROTECTING A SUSTAINABLE PLUM ISLAND | $15,000 |
| PASADENA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BEVERLY HILLS, CA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION TO IMPROVE AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE INCLUDING SUPPORT OF FIRE RECOVERY | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WENDY APPEL | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| MICHAEL APPEL | TRUSTEE | 32 | $135,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation?
The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in WALTHAM, MA. It holds $5.0M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation?
As of 2025, The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation holds $5.0M in total assets with $906K in annual revenue. It awarded 18 grants totaling $369K in 2025.
Where does The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation operate?
The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah.
What size grants does The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation award?
In 2025, The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $369K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $373K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation's EIN?
The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0534424. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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