Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation
The Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation is a private, independent charitable foundation established in 1984 and based in Sharon, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting diverse causes across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$665K
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
60
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+10.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $576K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports a broad range of subject areas including:
- Education
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Sports and recreation
- International human rights
- Human services
- International relations
- International peace and security
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** No specific application procedures or requirements are documented in available sources.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across numerous states and cities throughout the United States, with particular activity in:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Illinois
- And additional states including Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $4,746,662
- Total Giving: $665,300
- Annual Expenses: $604,418
- Annual Revenue: $67,669
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since November 1984
- EIN: 22-2559174
- Filing Requirement: Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,746,662 | $4,447,858 | $4,975,826 |
| Revenue | $1,003,443 | $67,669 | $255,804 |
| Expenses | $704,639 | $604,418 | $476,573 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $669,986 | $577,183 | $448,290 |
| Net Investment Income | $817,479 | $70,120 | $211,466 |
| Distributable Amount | $575,682 | $476,780 | $446,996 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bvm Capacity Building Institute ($120,000), Center for Ai Safety Inc ($100,000), Environmental Defense Fund ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON, MA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| ACTION KIVU LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| ALL OUT ADVENTURES EASTHAMPTON, MA | GENERAL | $32,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $8,000 |
| AMC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUGEE AID (ANERA) WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| APALACHIN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DUFFIELD, VA | GENERAL | $3,000 |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE EAST POINT, GA | GENERAL | $120,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a volunteer board of trustees, including:
- Kenneth Olum
- Joyce Olum-Galaski
- Deborah Barer
- Rebecca O'Murchadha
- Aviva Galaski
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEN OLUM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DEBORAH BARER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| REBECCA O'MURCHADHA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AVIVA GALASKI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 156 Massapoag Ave, Sharon, MA 02067-2749
Telephone: 617-627-2753
Care of: Levenegouldin & Thompson
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports a broad range of subject areas including: • Education • Health and diseases/conditions • Sports and recreation • International human rights • Human services • International relations • International peace and security
How do I apply for a grant from Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $300 to $120,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation distributed $665,300 in total giving according to its most recent filing. Annual expenses amount to approximately $604,418. **Application Process:** No specific application procedures or requirements are documented in available sources.
Where does Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across numerous states and cities throughout the United States, with particular activity in: • Massachusetts • New York • California • District of Columbia • Florida • Illinois • And additional states including Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia
What size grants does Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $665K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $576K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2559174. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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