The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Brooklyn, NY EIN: 81-1772356

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Brooklyn, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $188K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $136K. Net investment income was $22K.

Key facts about The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc

In short: The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc gave $136K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
81-1772356
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$135,785
Grants made (2025)
6
Average grant
$22,631
Median grant
$24,151
Total assets
$188,497
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$188K

-6.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$136K

-45.7% YoY

Grant Count

6

-53.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$23K

+17.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving fell 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

Cities

BrooklynNew YorkAllenhurstOcean TownshipScarsdaleSurfsideOceanWest Long Branch

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K20 grants2020 11 grants2021 10 grants2022 12 grants2023 13 grants2024 6 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $136K (2025) to $250K (2024). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $136K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

Sephardic Bikur Holim: $38KSephardic Bikur Holim$38KYeshiva of Flatbush: $28KYeshiva of Flatbush$28KKol Yaakov: $27KKol Yaakov$27KShaare Zion Congregation: $21KShaare Zion Congregation$21KBeth Torah Congregation: $16KBeth Torah Congregation$16K

The largest 2025 recipient was Sephardic Bikur Holim ($38K). Together the top 5 received $129K.

Grant Size Distribution

52 grants across all recorded years

48<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 52 (92%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Sephardic Bikur Holim Brooklyn, NYUnrestricted Charitable Purposes$37,501
Yeshiva of Flatbush Brooklyn, NYUnrestricted Charitable Purposes$27,800
Kol Yaakov Brooklyn, NYUnrestricted Charitable Purposes$27,302
Shaare Zion Congregation Brooklyn, NYUnrestricted Charitable Purposes$21,000
Beth Torah Congregation Brooklyn, NYUnrestricted Charitable Purposes$15,500
Various Charities Under 2000 Brooklyn, NYUnrestricted Charitable Purposes$6,682

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$188,497$202,151$192,658
Revenue$122,332$260,710$260,010
Expenses$136,030$251,402$212,197
Qualifying Distributions$135,785$250,121$210,298
Net Investment Income$22,268$9,749$8,413
Distributable Amount$5,364$7,443$6,357

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 5, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 17, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc is led by Steven Shamah, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Steven Shamah

    President

    Director → President, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Samuel Shamah

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Ralph Shamah

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc

How much does The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc give each year?

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc gave $136K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $250K across 13 grants.

What is The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $24,151, and its average grant was $22,631, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc give grants?

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (6 grants).

Does The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Sephardic Bikur Holim ($37,501), Yeshiva of Flatbush ($27,800) and Kol Yaakov ($27,302), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc?

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc reported $188K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $136K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Sarah Shamah Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1772356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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