The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing describes direct activities focused on teaching children water and open-water safety, raising public awareness of pool-related safety, and publishing a children’s water-safety book distributed at no cost to ZAC Camps participants.
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety at a glance
In short: The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety gave $207K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), top state Connecticut. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $207,447
- +234.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,931
- +192.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,056
- Total assets
- $20,608,120
- +13.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American National Red Cross ($97K across 2 grants). Together the top 5 received $207K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 76 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (47%), Georgia (41%), Maryland (5%), Florida (5%), and California (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety gives
- Giving fell 80% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2023) to $1.0M (2021). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $207K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Clubs of America Atlanta, GA | General & Unrestricted | $75,500 |
| American National Red Cross Farmington, CT | General & Unrestricted | $66,836 |
| American National Red Cross Farmington, CT | In support of the ARC Swim app | $30,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of America Atlanta, GA | General & Unrestricted (SEE GENERAL EXPLANATION ATTACHMENT) | $10,111 |
| Safe Kids Worldwide Silver Spring, MD | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Team Kareem Memorial Foundation Coral Springs, FL | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| National Drowning Prevention Alliance Tustin, CA | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| National Drowning Prevention Alliance Tustin, CA | 2023-2024 NDPA Sponsorship | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $20,608,120 | $3,690,106 | $1,306,763 | $207,447 | 8 | $1,127,816 | $3,525,059 | $1,219,893 |
| 2023 | $18,214,666 | $548,847 | $1,051,085 | $62,091 | 7 | $918,357 | $429,468 | $1,057,203 |
| 2022 | $18,710,955 | $-11,424,419 | $2,008,534 | $885,235 | 12 | $1,813,430 | — | $916,973 |
| 2021 | $32,141,447 | $-5,848,778 | $2,627,695 | $1,026,482 | 32 | $1,961,618 | — | $1,808,163 |
| 2020 | $40,616,912 | $12,326,045 | $2,932,441 | $940,000 | 17 | — | $11,029,834 | $1,985,425 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — 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 foundation’s stated direct activities include ZAC Camps, which teach children about water and open-water safety through swimming lessons, classroom exercises, and engagement with first responders. It also conducts advocacy and public-awareness activities related to pool safety and develops and publishes a children’s book addressing water safety, including pool-drainage safety.
Among its 2024 grantees, Boys & Girls Clubs of America describes its mission as serving children and teens through a network of local Clubs, providing safe spaces, caring mentors, meals, and programs that support academic success and leadership. This is the grantee’s description of its own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 8 grants totaling $207,447. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $75,500, with a median of $10,056. The largest awards were $75,500 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and $66,836 to the American National Red Cross, both for general and unrestricted purposes. The foundation also gave the Red Cross $30,000 in support of its ARC Swim app.
Other 2024 grants included $10,111 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America for general and unrestricted purposes, $10,000 to Safe Kids Worldwide, $10,000 to Team Kareem Memorial Foundation, and two $2,500 grants to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Karen Cohn as president, director, and secretary, and Brian Cohn as director and vice president.
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety is led by Karen Cohn, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Cohn
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Cohn
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety
How much does The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety give each year?
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety gave $207K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $62K across 7 grants.
What is The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's typical grant size?
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's median grant in 2024 was $10,056, and its average grant was $25,931, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety give grants?
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's top state is Connecticut, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was Georgia (41%). The most frequent recipient cities were Farmington, CT (2 grants), Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and Tustin, CA (2 grants).
Does The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's largest grantees?
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's largest 2024 grantees include American National Red Cross ($96,836 across 2 grants), Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($85,611 across 2 grants) and Safe Kids Worldwide ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety?
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety reported $20.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety fund?
The foundation’s stated direct activities include ZAC Camps, which teach children about water and open-water safety through swimming lessons, classroom exercises, and engagement with first responders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's EIN?
The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1622144. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety 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 2020–2024
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