The Zeckhauser Foundation
The Zeckhauser Foundation is a private foundation based in Hobe Sound, Florida. Its 2025 filing lists grants for research and education, including support for universities, a hospital, a school, and charitable funds.
The Zeckhauser Foundation at a glance
In short: The Zeckhauser Foundation gave $453K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), top state Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $452,897
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -38.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,612
- +79.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,674
- Total assets
- $5,873,277
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Zeckhauser Foundation
- 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: 425 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound, FL 33455
Phone: (617) 495-1174
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Zeckhauser Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($200K). Together the top 8 received $453K.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 52 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (44%), Massachusetts (34%), and Tennessee (22%); Florida accounted for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Zeckhauser Foundation gives
- Giving grew 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2020) to $453K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $453K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Cincinnati, OH | Research | $200,000 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Education | $100,000 |
| Brigham & Women's Hospital Boston, MA | Research | $90,000 |
| Winsor School Boston, MA | Research | $30,347 |
| Harvard College Cambridge, MA | Research | $25,000 |
| Beacon Communities Charitable Fund Boston, MA | Research | $7,000 |
| Norton Museum of Arts Inc W Palm Beach, FL | Research | $300 |
| Musem of Science Boston, MA | Research | $250 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,873,277 | $168,411 | $514,046 | $452,897 | 8 | $452,897 | $108,958 | $443,108 |
| 2024 | $6,218,912 | $190,748 | $467,398 | $409,270 | 13 | $409,270 | $133,624 | $405,605 |
| 2023 | $6,495,562 | $209,129 | $505,472 | $438,343 | 6 | $438,343 | $144,145 | $420,775 |
| 2022 | $6,791,905 | $1,555,472 | $355,002 | $298,795 | 11 | $298,795 | $217,637 | $389,357 |
| 2021 | $5,591,435 | $1,601,709 | $347,778 | $301,140 | 14 | $301,140 | $280,398 | $412,973 |
| 2020 | $4,337,504 | $116,307 | $213,233 | $175,000 | 4 | — | $79,208 | $371,083 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zeckhauser Foundation reported a distributable amount of $443K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants list research and education as purposes. One supported organization, Beacon Communities Charitable Fund, describes its own mission as raising funds for quality-of-life initiatives through wellness, educational, social, and supportive services and programs benefiting people living in affordable housing developments.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 8 grants totaling $452,897. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $200,000, with a median grant of $27,674. Notable grants included $200,000 to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund for research, $100,000 to Vanderbilt University for education, and $90,000 to Brigham & Women’s Hospital for research. Other listed grants included $30,347 to Winsor School, $25,000 to Harvard College, and $7,000 to Beacon Communities Charitable Fund, all for research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Zeckhauser, Sally Zeckhauser, Bryn Zeckhauser, and Benjamin Zeckhauser as trustees.
The Zeckhauser Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benjamin Zeckhauser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$32K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Bryn Zeckhauser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Zeckhauser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally Zeckhauser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 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.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
Frequently asked questions about The Zeckhauser Foundation
How much does The Zeckhauser Foundation give each year?
The Zeckhauser Foundation gave $453K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $409K across 13 grants.
What is The Zeckhauser Foundation's typical grant size?
The Zeckhauser Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $27,674, and its average grant was $56,612, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Zeckhauser Foundation give grants?
The Zeckhauser Foundation's top state is Ohio, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (34%) and Tennessee (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants).
Does The Zeckhauser Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Zeckhauser Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (7 grants).
Who are The Zeckhauser Foundation's largest grantees?
The Zeckhauser Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($200,000), Vanderbilt University ($100,000) and Brigham & Women's Hospital ($90,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Zeckhauser Foundation?
The Zeckhauser Foundation reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $453K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $443K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Zeckhauser Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants list research and education as purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Zeckhauser Foundation?
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 Zeckhauser Foundation's EIN?
The Zeckhauser Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2940586. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Zeckhauser Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 27, 2026)
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