Ruderman Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or funding inquiries, so a small charity should not send a cold request; it invites organisations to apply only after its own analysis points to shared vision, innovation, organisational strength and willingness to collaborate.
- Work that fits its stated themes (youth mental health, especially young adults and partnerships with higher-education institutions in Massachusetts; American Jewish-Israeli relations; disability inclusion; and strategic philanthropy) is the best match, and its stated priority is the United States and Israel.
- Requests should be modest: about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $250,000, which is a typical band rather than a ceiling, and half of its grants to organisations are about $35,000 or less.
- Relationships matter, since 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, and it says staff help develop programmes and stay involved in multi-year ones, so expect a relationship-led route rather than an open competition.
- The filing gives no deadlines, so do not assume there is a regular cycle to aim for.
Overview
Ruderman Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Newton Center, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Guided by Jewish values, the Ruderman Family Foundation works to end stigma surrounding mental health and promote emotional well-being, while fostering a more nuanced understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders and modelling strategic philanthropy worldwide. Its mental-health work focuses on young adults and partnerships with leading higher-education institutions, innovative organisations and field experts advocating for youth mental health in Massachusetts. In Israel-American Jewish relations, it seeks to engage a broad spectrum of Israeli society, especially policymakers, and build understanding of American Jews. The Foundation also invests in enterprises seeking maximum social benefit and promotes multi-sector ventures, innovative practices and effective methods. It describes disability inclusion as a social-justice commitment and regards disability rights as civil rights.
Themes
- Mental health
- American Jewish-Israeli relations
- Strategic philanthropy
- Disability inclusion
- Israeli societal resilience
Geographic Focus
Priority: United States; Israel.
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or funding inquiries. It invites organisations to apply only after analysis indicates shared vision, innovation, organisational strength and willingness to collaborate.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 142 grants to organisations were about $35,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Staff help develop programmes and remain involved in major multi-year programmes; single-year and pilot programmes are monitored for future funding potential.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 32%
- The largest single recipient received 31% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations Ruderman Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Israel, Italy).
- 44% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 43 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $40,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ruderman Family Foundation Israel (Amutah) · General purpose$3,000,0002024 tax year
- American Society of the University of Haifa · General purpose$400,0002024 tax year
- William James College · General purpose$250,0002024 tax year
- Academy Foundation · General purpose$205,0002024 tax year
- Giving Back Fund · General purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- New Meta Entertainment · General purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- Bamidbar · General purpose$185,0002024 tax year
- American Friends of Tel Aviv University · General purpose$155,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Hanna Shaul Bar Nissim — Deputy Director
- Shira Ruderman — Executive Director
- Lawrence Jacobs — Trustee
- Marcia Ruderman — Trustee
- Todd Adam Ruderman — Trustee
- Sharon Ellen Shapiro — Community Liaison & Trustee
- Jay Seth Ruderman — President & Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $13,804,227 | $10,594,191 | $165,277,358 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,030,545 | $5,323,705 | $171,636,303 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,603,371 | $5,951,500 | $176,690,515 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Ruderman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (617) 599-9919
- Newton Center, MA
- rudermanfoundation.org
Applying to Ruderman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (617) 599-9919
- Newton Center, MA
- rudermanfoundation.org