The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Falmouth, Maine. Founded in May 2007 to continue the philanthropic work of Dr. Linda K. Jacobs, it is named after her mother, Violet Jabara Jacobs.
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust gave $544K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), mostly in New York. 75% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $544,170
- +74.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $45,348
- +45.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,585
- Total assets
- $228,937
- -64.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (9 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
Submit the letter of inquiry described above to the Trust; the filing lists Steven J. Wohl as the contact.
- Contact
Application contact: Steven J Wohl
Mailing address: 9 Susan Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105
Phone: (914) 953-5145
Website: https://www.jabaratrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust
Who The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Arab American Family Support Center ($100K). Together the top 10 received $534K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 56 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s grant-program description focuses on developing countries in the Middle East and on U.S. organizations working to deepen understanding of Middle East issues and culture in the United States. In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 25% to California, 5% to Washington, D.C., 5% to Michigan, and 2% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 12 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 17% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 105% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $233K (2021) to $544K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $544K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arab American Family Support Center Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Pasadena Community Foundation Pasadena, CA | Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund | $100,000 |
| Myriad USA New York, NY | Friends of the palestinian museum, for "restoration of the palestinian cultural scene" | $100,000 |
| Washington St Historical Society New York, NY | For General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | For Angelica Modabber Project; MEI | $36,000 |
| Street Child US Washington, DC | Provide Support for Children in South Sudan | $28,170 |
| Arab American National Museum Dearborn, MI | For General Operating Expenses | $25,000 |
| Muslims for Progessive Values Los Angeles, CA | For Markaz Review | $25,000 |
| Liberty Hill Foundation Los Angeles, CA | In Honor of Joy Friedman | $10,000 |
| Acor Alexandria, VA | For General Operating Expenses | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $228,937 | $143,108 | $553,605 | $544,170 | 12 | $549,057 | $138,560 | $24,771 |
| 2024 | $639,434 | $150,898 | $325,889 | $312,269 | 10 | $317,418 | $142,427 | $42,366 |
| 2023 | $816,439 | $-13,795 | $407,431 | $393,000 | 11 | $397,556 | $14,911 | $53,389 |
| 2022 | $1,226,391 | $26,937 | $290,918 | $265,650 | 14 | $276,293 | $21,461 | $70,429 |
| 2021 | $1,754,967 | $146,235 | $250,293 | $232,500 | 9 | $234,063 | $130,005 | $87,700 |
| 2020 | $1,588,738 | $-42,094 | $299,933 | $264,018 | 10 | — | $17,603 | $86,222 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s grant-program description identifies international economic development in developing Middle Eastern countries as a focus, including health, environmental issues, peace initiatives, microfinance, social entrepreneurship, education, reproductive health, women’s welfare and livelihoods, and arts and culture. It also supports American organizations promoting deeper understanding of Middle East issues and culture in the United States. Examples it encourages include films, film series, art exhibitions, blogs, popular books, and academic research; it asks applicants to make a strong case for broad, positive, lasting impact on American attitudes.
The Trust’s 2025 grants included support for cultural and community organizations. Myriad USA describes its mission as facilitating thoughtful, effective giving across borders. Pasadena Community Foundation says it builds and preserves endowed charitable funds, makes grants and provides assistance to strengthen community organizations, serves donors, and promotes community partnerships. Liberty Hill Foundation describes itself as a laboratory for social-change philanthropy that advances social justice through grants, leadership training, and campaigns.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust gave $544,170 through 12 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $26,585. The largest awards included $100,000 each to Arab American Family Support Center for general operating support; Pasadena Community Foundation for its Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund; Myriad USA for Friends of the Palestinian Museum’s “Restoration of the Palestinian Cultural Scene”; and Washington St Historical Society for general purposes. Other notable awards included $36,000 to Columbia University for the Angelica Modabber Project; MEI, and $28,170 to Street Child US to support children in South Sudan.
The Trust’s grant program is described as currently open. Its 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should submit an electronic letter of inquiry of no more than three pages, in Arial font at a minimum of 12-point size; it may be sent by mail if necessary. The letter should describe the project, intended beneficiaries, short- and long-term impact, and fit with the Trust’s criteria. Awards must relate to charitable purposes specified in the Trust’s organizational documents and comply with government regulations, including OFAC requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Linda K. Jacobs as trustee.
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust is led by Linda K. Jacobs, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda K. Jacobs
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
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 Violet Jabara Charitable Trust
How much does The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust give each year?
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust gave $544K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $312K across 10 grants.
What is The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $26,585, and its average grant was $45,348, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust that year got $35K on average.
Where does The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust give grants?
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust gives mostly in New York: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (25%) and District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Arab American Family Support Center ($100,000), Pasadena Community Foundation ($100,000) and Myriad USA ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust?
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust reported $229K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $549K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s grant-program description identifies international economic development in developing Middle Eastern countries as a focus, including health, environmental issues, peace initiatives, microfinance, social entrepreneurship, education, reproductive health, women’s welfare and livelihoods, and arts and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust?
Submit the letter of inquiry described above to the Trust; the filing lists Steven J. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7560427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-violet-jabara-charitable-trust-morg_9927815536fa4bf6b7a348b67467f952
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_137560427_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-violet-jabara-charitable-trust-morg_9927815536fa4bf6b7a348b67467f952},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust'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.
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