Trefler Foundation
Trefler Foundation is a private foundation based in Newton, Massachusetts. It supports work in equalizing healthcare access, enhancing educational opportunity, and expanding economic security, and describes its approach as “following passion, not precedent.”
Trefler Foundation at a glance
In short: Trefler Foundation gave $1.6M across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $82K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,557,120
- +446.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +46.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $81,954
- +273.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $18,710,560
- +144.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% 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 Trefler Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 233 Needham Street 210, Newton, MA 02464
Phone: (617) 454-1135
Website: https://treflerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Trefler Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Massachusetts General Hospital ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 73 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in the 2025 filing went to recipients in Massachusetts. The foundation’s website also describes its work in Greater Boston and identifies Chelsea, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and East Boston as economically insecure neighborhoods where 73% of its grants have been given.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
How Trefler Foundation gives
- 37% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 592% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 366% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $225K (2022) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,050,000 |
| Year up Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $100,000 |
| Ma League of Community Health Centers Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $75,000 |
| Noble and Greenough School Dedham, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $57,000 |
| Ellie Fund Needham, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $50,000 |
| Leadership Brainery Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $40,000 |
| Union Capital Boston Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $40,000 |
| Massachusetts Alliance for Early College Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $35,000 |
| The Teachers Lounge Roslindale, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $35,000 |
| Duet Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Trefler Foundation?
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 | $18,710,560 | $13,346,480 | $3,270,851 | $1,557,120 | 19 | $2,196,859 | $1,770,556 | $599,635 |
| 2024 | $7,658,819 | $1,201,703 | $2,386,367 | $285,000 | 13 | $869,660 | $2,090,382 | $282,236 |
| 2023 | $5,041,485 | $1,253,343 | $1,769,618 | $685,500 | 33 | $1,169,920 | $1,081,194 | $214,516 |
| 2022 | $4,342,470 | $1,174,387 | $946,785 | $225,000 | 2 | $756,617 | $11,333 | $284,741 |
| 2021 | $5,946,479 | $1,009,131 | $3,205,361 | $1,205,000 | 6 | $1,654,734 | $3,606 | $383,826 |
| 2020 | $7,012,665 | $3,096,735 | $1,507,324 | $625,000 | 8 | — | $3,940,048 | $352,881 |
| 2019 | $5,451,163 | $2,062,730 | $1,737,173 | $921,742 | 17 | — | $2,006,530 | $321,449 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Trefler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $600K 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 foundation’s stated priorities are equalizing healthcare access, enhancing educational opportunity, and expanding economic security. Its website describes healthcare work as supporting early screenings and health management resources; education work as improving access to quality education; and economic security work as investing in career advancement programs.
The foundation’s 2025 grants included organizations working in education, workforce development, healthcare, and community life. For example, Year Up says its mission is to help young adults build skills and access careers and higher education. The Teachers’ Lounge says it works to recruit, revitalize, and retain educators of color. The Ellie Fund says it provides support services to breast cancer patients. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $1,557,120. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,050,000, with a median of $25,000. Its website reports an average grant size of $44,403 and an average of 22 grants annually; it also states that 36% of all grants over its history are unrestricted. The listed purposes for the grants itemized in 2025 were unrestricted charitable gifts.
The largest 2025 grant was $1,050,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Year Up, $75,000 to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, $57,000 to Noble and Greenough School, and $50,000 to the Ellie Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Alan N. Trefler and Pamela L. Trefler as trustees and Daniel Sherman as president. The foundation’s website identifies Jessica Castro as vice president of programs and operations. It describes Sherman as leading day-to-day operations and setting strategic priorities alongside the trustees.
Trefler Foundation is led by Daniel Sherman, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel Sherman
President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$163K (2019) → $360K (2025)
Alan N. Trefler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela L. Trefler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $360K, to Daniel Sherman (President).
Frequently asked questions about Trefler Foundation
How much does Trefler Foundation give each year?
Trefler Foundation gave $1.6M across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $285K across 13 grants.
What is Trefler Foundation's typical grant size?
Trefler Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $81,954, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Trefler Foundation give grants?
Trefler Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (14 grants).
Does Trefler Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Trefler Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Trefler Foundation's largest grantees?
Trefler Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Massachusetts General Hospital ($1,050,000), Year up ($100,000) and Ma League of Community Health Centers ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Trefler Foundation?
Trefler Foundation reported $18.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $600K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Trefler Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated priorities are equalizing healthcare access, enhancing educational opportunity, and expanding economic security. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Trefler Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Trefler Foundation's EIN?
Trefler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3369962. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Trefler 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Trefler Foundation'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
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
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
The Klarman Family Foundation
Boston, MA
The Klarman Family Foundation funds health research, democracy, access to services and enrichment, and the global Jewish community, through operating, project, and capital grants, with giving across the U.S. and internationally and a strong Massachusetts presence. Its 2024 grants ranged from $50 to $5 million, with a median of $100,000. Most grants are by invitation; the Community Capital Fund accepts applications for eligible Massachusetts capital projects.
Assets
$713.2M
Grants
260
Total Given
$82.2M
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
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Trefler Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/trefler-foundation-morg_7b190dc59f9141f9a7da983b25ef5e14
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043369962_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Trefler Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/trefler-foundation-morg_7b190dc59f9141f9a7da983b25ef5e14},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Trefler Foundation'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.
Trefler Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?