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.
Key facts about The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation
- EIN
- 02-0534424
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $369,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- Average grant
- $20,500
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (11 of 18, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,967,440
- Primary geography
- Florida (62% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation's 18 itemized 2025 grants were Florida (62%), Massachusetts (11%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Miami, FL (3 grants) and Miami Beach, FL (3 grants). 6% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 18 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 28% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 83% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). 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 Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation
- How to evaluate The Michael & Helen Schaffer 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 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
Share of all 18 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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 recipients include Ransom Everglades School ($50,000), Make a Wish Southern Florida Foundation ($43,000), Jewish Learning Center ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RANSOM EVERGLADES SCHOOL Coconut Grove, FL | TO CREATE AWARENESS TO HELP THE UNDERSERVED, PROTECT THE ENDANGERED AND STAND UP FOR JUSTICE. | $50,000 |
| MAKE A WISH SOUTHERN FLORIDA FOUNDATION Miami, FL | TO CREATE LIFE CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES | $43,000 |
| JEWISH LEARNING CENTER Hollywood, FL | TO ASSIST THE LEARNING CENTER GOAL TO BROADEN THE UNDERSTANDING OF JUDAISM | $35,000 |
| 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 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL DEMOCRACY COALITION Bryn Mawr, PA | TO HELP JEWS IN ISRAEL WITH FOOD, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND HOUSING | $25,000 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SAG HARBOR CINEMA ARTS CENTER Sag Harbor, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CINEMA'S WORLD CLASS PROGRAMS AND TO KEEP THEIR VISION STRONG OF PRESERVING THE FILMGOING EXPERIENCE | $20,000 |
| BOLD BEAUTY PROJECT Miami, FL | TO CREATE CHANGE FOR WOMEN BY UTILIZING ART AT THE INTERSECTION OF BEAUTY AND DISABILITY | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.