Abrams Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Abrams Foundation funds work in journalism and narrative, arts and creativity, and access and opportunity, so a good fit lies in these themes rather than in unrelated causes.
- It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so cold applications are not the way in; unsolicited requests should not be sent.
- Around eight in ten of its 69 grants to organisations fall between $25,000 and $625,000, with a median grant of $125,000 and half of all grants at $125,000 or less, so a request pitched in that range is realistic for most applicants, though it does make one much larger grant of $2,500,000 to an organisation it funds every year that regrants to others.
- Eighty per cent of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the prior two years, suggesting its giving is heavily relationship-led and weighted towards continuing commitments rather than new ones.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its grants are seen mainly in District of Columbia, New York and Massachusetts.
Overview
Abrams Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (fordfoundation.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Abrams Foundation describes its mission as nurturing creative, deeply informed communities while promoting equity and fairness. It says its grantmaking is concentrated in journalism and narrative, arts and creativity, and access and opportunity. Its recorded giving includes local reporting networks and investigative journalism, arts and cultural exhibitions, and work connected with an equitable future. Alongside these programme-specific purposes, the grant records also include general operating support. Taken together, its stated fields and grant purposes show a portfolio joining public-interest information, cultural activity and opportunity-oriented work, consistent with its stated commitment to fairness and informed communities.
Themes
- Journalism and narrative
- Arts and creativity
- Access and opportunity
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in District of Columbia, New York and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 80% 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 69 grants to organisations were $125,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to organisations Abrams Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 28% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 18 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $125k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Journalism Project · In support of fund ii$2,500,0002024 tax year
- ProPublica · To support the propublica local reporting network$1,300,0002024 tax year
- Esplanade Association · To provide support for the construction of the charlesbank landing on the esplanade$750,0002024 tax year
- WGBH Educational Foundation · Support of the enterprise journalism initiative/frontline series support and frontline dispatch podcast$505,0002024 tax year
- Smithsonian Institution · To support the center for the study of global slavery at the national museum of african american history and culture$500,0002024 tax year
- Year Up · To support the campaign for an equitable future$250,0002024 tax year
- 19th News · General operating support to advance reproductive rights coverage$200,0002024 tax year
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press · To support the local legal initiative$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Amy Abrams — Director
- David C Abrams — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,904,943 | $5,950,862 | $118,094,818 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,256,365 | $7,656,631 | $132,589,146 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,126,089 | $6,880,000 | $145,961,287 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Abrams Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Abrams Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA