The Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation

WALTHAM, MA EIN: 02-0534424

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

+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

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Florida $564K (47%)

Massachusetts $380K (32%)

New York $118K (10%)

Pennsylvania $55K (5%)

California $45K (4%)

Colorado $15K (1%)

Utah $10K (1%)

Illinois $5K (0%)

States

California Colorado Florida Illinois Massachusetts New York Pennsylvania Utah

Cities

Bala CynwydBeverly HillsBoca RatonBostonBrooklineBryn MawrCambridgeChicagoCoconut GroveCohassetEdenEstes ParkFalmouthHollywoodMiamiMiami BeachMiami GardensMill ValleyNeedhamNew York

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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.