The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 2023, it made 36 grants totaling $70,983 to charitable organizations.
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable at a glance
In short: The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable gave $71K across 36 grants in 2023 (avg $2K), mostly in Massachusetts. 50% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $70,983
- -9.5% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 36
- +2.9% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $1,972
- -12.0% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $972
- Total assets
- $816,453
- -2.6% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (18 of 36, 2023)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (95% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 306 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 471-1127
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Jewish Federation of Central MA ($10K). Together the top 10 received $51K.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 95 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, with 3% going to Texas and 1% to New York. Massachusetts recipients included organizations in Worcester, Boston, Westborough, Brookline, and Framingham.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 18 of 36 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $880; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $325 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 42% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 138% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2023). 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 2021 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2021) to $78K (2022). In 2023 it made 36 grants totaling $71K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Central MA Worcester, MA | General | $10,000 |
| Shamrock Foundation Boston, MA | General | $6,800 |
| Brain Injury Assoc of Mass Westborough, MA | General | $5,870 |
| Arck Boston, MA | General | $5,000 |
| Mass General Hospital Development Boston, MA | General | $5,000 |
| Umass Memorial Worcester, MA | General | $5,000 |
| Rosies Place Boston, MA | General | $4,000 |
| White Snake Projects Brookline, MA | General | $4,000 |
| Temple Beth Am Framingham, MA | General | $3,026 |
| Jewish Healthcare Center Worcester, MA | General | $2,710 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $816,453 | $60,406 | $84,889 | $70,983 | 36 | $70,983 | $15,900 | $51,620 |
| 2022 | $838,099 | $160,388 | $92,616 | $78,448 | 35 | $78,448 | $94,420 | $54,784 |
| 2021 | $1,164,547 | $63,230 | $80,001 | $66,889 | 24 | — | $33,318 | $52,766 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2023 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, White Snake Projects describes itself as an activist opera company that creates original opera and seeks to uplift historically marginalized voices. Jewish Healthcare Center describes its work as operating a skilled nursing facility providing long-term care and recuperative services. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 36 grants totaling $70,983. Grants ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $972. Among its largest grants were $10,000 to Jewish Federation of Central MA, $6,800 to Shamrock Foundation, $5,870 to Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, and $5,000 each to ARCK, Mass General Hospital Development, and UMass Memorial.
The 2023 recipients also included Rosie's Place ($4,000), White Snake Projects ($4,000), Temple Beth Am ($3,026), Jewish Healthcare Center ($2,710), Dress for Success ($2,575), and Worcester JCC ($2,500). The grantee description associated with Shamrock Foundation’s $6,800 grant describes Shamrock Pet Foundation as a volunteer-based animal welfare organization providing animal care and assistance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Lois L. Herman, Peter L. Herman, Laura B. Herman, Robert A. Adler, and Jacob A. Herman as trustees.
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's 2023 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Jacob A. Herman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura B. Herman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lois L. Herman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter L. Herman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert A. Adler
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2023. "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 Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable
How much does The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable give each year?
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable gave $71K across 36 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $78K across 35 grants.
What is The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's typical grant size?
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's median grant in 2023 was $972, and its average grant was $1,972, across 36 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable that year got $880 on average.
Where does The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable give grants?
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable gives mostly in Massachusetts: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Worcester, MA (9 grants), Boston, MA (6 grants), Westborough, MA (2 grants) and Framingham, MA (2 grants).
Does The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's largest grantees?
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's largest 2023 grantees include Jewish Federation of Central MA ($10,000), Shamrock Foundation ($6,800) and Brain Injury Assoc of Mass ($5,870), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable?
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable reported $816K in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $71K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, White Snake Projects describes itself as an activist opera company that creates original opera and seeks to uplift historically marginalized voices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's EIN?
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6747988. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Does The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
Live grants for the work The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Sumner & Lois Herman Charitable down — hundreds of funders to go?