Zain Jaffer Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 84-3236384

Zain Jaffer Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $793K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $31K. Net investment income was $61K.

Zain Jaffer Foundation at a glance

In short: Zain Jaffer Foundation gave $31K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$31,000
+0.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
4
+33.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$7,750
-25.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$6,000
Total assets
$792,737
+2.4% vs 2023
Primary geography
California (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Zain Jaffer Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Waves for Water Inc: $17KWaves for Water Inc$17KSeeing for Ourselves Inc: $7KSeeing for Ourselves Inc$7KWorking Films Inc: $5KWorking Films Inc$5KNorthwest Film Forum: $2KNorthwest Film Forum$2K

The largest 2024 recipient was Waves for Water Inc ($17K). Together the top 4 received $31K.

Grant Size Distribution

11 grants across all recorded years

11<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 11 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

BurlingameLos AngelesMacungieSeattleBay ShoreNew YorkWilmington

How Zain Jaffer Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 1140% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 93% 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

$0$10K$20K$30K$40K1 grant2020 1 grant2021 2 grants2022 3 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2021) to $31K (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $31K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Waves for Water Inc Los Angeles, CAGeneral & Unrestricted$17,000
Seeing for Ourselves Inc Bay Shore, NYGeneral & Unrestricted$7,000
Working Films Inc Wilmington, NCGeneral & Unrestricted$5,000
Northwest Film Forum Seattle, WAEmergence Films Co$2,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$792,737$66,944$48,052$31,0004$41,421$60,813$44,472
2023$773,845$980$46,504$31,0003$41,015$13,936$41,141
2022$819,369$1,903$50,151$10,5002$44,046$11,096$41,101
2021$867,617$-73,133$39,643$2,5001$33,818$10,933$47,230
2020$980,393$4,050$23,932$7,5001—$8,185$49,571

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zain Jaffer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Zain Jaffer Foundation is led by Zainali Jaffer, Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Zainali Jaffer

    Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/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 Zain Jaffer Foundation

How much does Zain Jaffer Foundation give each year?

Zain Jaffer Foundation gave $31K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $31K across 3 grants.

What is Zain Jaffer Foundation's typical grant size?

Zain Jaffer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,000, and its average grant was $7,750, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Zain Jaffer Foundation give grants?

Zain Jaffer Foundation gives mostly in California: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (23%) and North Carolina (16%).

Does Zain Jaffer Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 75% of Zain Jaffer Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

How large is Zain Jaffer Foundation?

Zain Jaffer Foundation reported $793K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (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 is Zain Jaffer Foundation's EIN?

Zain Jaffer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3236384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Zain Jaffer 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.

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