The Jackson & Irene Golden 1989 Charitable Trust concentrates grants in the Boston/Plymouth County area, favoring a small set of repeat recipients with large, general-purpose awards. Their giving shows a clear interest in Jewish-affiliated institutions and advocacy, higher education, and local community human-service delivery. Most grants are unrestricted, indicating a preference to support operating capacity rather than specific programs.
Jackson & Irene Golden 1989 Charitable Trust shows a strong pattern of large, unrestricted grants to a small set of repeat recipients, especially Jewish institutions and Greater Boston human-service organizations. Among the most visible awards are $105,000 to Anti Defamation League in Boston and $100,000 to Brandeis University in Plymouth, both marked general and unrestricted. The trust also repeatedly supports United Way of Greater Plymouth County, One Family Inc, and Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, suggesting a preference for sustained operating support rather than one-time project funding. The trust’s recent grants also point to an interest in Jewish-affiliated advocacy and services, including American Jewish Join Distribution Committe (jdc), Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, American Friends of Magen David Adom, Jewish Family and Children Services, and Jdc. Alongside those awards, it backs local community institutions such as Bowdoin Street Health Center, Cathedral High School, The Children’s Room, Greater Boston Legal Services, and Massachusetts Children’s Alliance. Most grants in the recent file are general or unrestricted, and the recurring recipients indicate an ongoing relationship-based approach to giving.
Jewish advocacy and communal support are central to the trust’s giving. It awarded $105,000 to Anti Defamation League in Boston in 2023 and $100,000 in 2024, both as general and unrestricted support. In the same area, it gave $30,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and $30,000 to American Friends of Magen David Adom in 2024. Higher education is another recurring theme. Brandeis University received $100,000 in 2024 and $95,000 and $50,000 in 2023, all general and unrestricted. The Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation also appears multiple times, including awards of $45,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2023. Local human services round out the portfolio. United Way of Greater Plymouth County received $70,000 in 2023 and 2024, plus $65,000 in 2023, while One Family Inc received $50,000 in 2024, $30,000 in 2023, and $15,000 in 2023.
Typical awards sit in a relatively tight band: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent grants list also shows repeated support for the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including Anti Defamation League, Brandeis University, United Way of Greater Plymouth County, One Family Inc, Bowdoin Street Health Center, and The Children’s Room. The trust gives unrestricted or general support in most listed grants, pointing to flexible operating funding. It funds individuals as well as organizations, and it does not make program-related investments.
$745K
$7.2M
$1.2M
$990K
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, relatively large grants to a few repeat grantees; emphasis on general/unrestricted support rather than project-specific funding. Funding is regionally focused (Boston/Plymouth area) and relationship-driven.
Notable grantees: Anti-Defamation League, United Way of Greater Plymouth County, Brandeis University
The trust gives locally, with 90% of grants going to recipients in Massachusetts. Boston appears often in the recent grants list, including Anti Defamation League, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Bowdoin Street Health Center, Greater Boston Legal Services, Cathedral High School, and Massachusetts Children’s Alliance. Other Massachusetts recipients include Brockton’s United Way of Greater Plymouth County, Waltham’s One Family Inc and Jewish Family and Children Services, and Arlington’s The Children’s Room. Outside the state, named recipients are in New York, including Jdc, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and American Friends of Magen David Adom.
The recent grants list shows support for Jewish advocacy and service organizations, higher education, and local human services. Examples include Anti Defamation League, Brandeis University, United Way of Greater Plymouth County, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Bowdoin Street Health Center, and The Children’s Room.
Most listed awards are marked general and unrestricted. That includes gifts to Anti Defamation League, Brandeis University, United Way of Greater Plymouth County, One Family Inc, and Bowdoin Street Health Center, indicating a strong preference for flexible operating support.
The grant-size distribution is centered on modest awards: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent grants list also includes larger repeat gifts such as $100,000 and $105,000 to major institutional recipients.
Yes. Ninety percent of grants go to recipients in Massachusetts, and the trust gives locally. Boston, Brockton, Waltham, Arlington, and Plymouth appear among the recipient locations in the recent grants list.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Anti Defamation League, Brandeis University, United Way of Greater Plymouth County, One Family Inc, Bowdoin Street Health Center, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and The Children’s Room.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER PLYMOUTH COUNTY | BROCKTON, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | PLYMOUTH, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| JDC | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES | WALTHAM, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| BOWDOIN STREET HEALTH CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $22,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| THE CHILDREN'S ROOM | ARLINGTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| THE VILNA SHUL | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| TEMPLE BETH ELOHIM | WELLESLEY, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BROTHERS FOR LIFE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| PLYMOUTH AREA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS | KINGSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| WOMEN'S LUNCH PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| THE LENNY ZAKIM FUND | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS | MARLBOROUGH, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| IMPACT ISREAL | NEEDHAM, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | NATUCKET, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BOSTON | NEWTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PLYMOUTH INC | PLYMOUTH, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| NFFRA | NANTUCKET, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| BOSTON BALLET | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED |
| CAMP YJ | WESTWOOD, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| HILLEL AT UD | NEWARK, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | INNER CITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| LAND'S SAKE INC | WESTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| 2LIFE COMMUNITIES | BRIGHTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| THE KENNETH B SCHWARTZ CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| NEWTON FOOD PANTRY | NEWTON, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC | BOSTON, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| INNERCITY WEIGHTLIFTING | BOSTON, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| HALEY HOUSE INC (KITCHEN SOUP) | BOSTON, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| URBANITY DANCE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| THE ELLIE FUND | NEEDHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| HILLEL COUNCIL OF NEW ENGLAND | BROOKLINE, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| NANTUCKET ISLAND SAFE HARBOR FOR ANIMALS | NANTUCKET, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BLACKSTONE FRANKLIN SQ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| OLD COLONY YMCA | BROCKTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BEAVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| HADASSAH NORTHEAST | NEWTON CENTER, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTICTED |
| NANTUCKET DREAMLAND | NATUCKET, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF GREATER BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
UNITED WAY OF GREATER PLYMOUTH COUNTY
$75,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
ANTI DEFAMATION LEAGUE
$50,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
BOWDOIN STREET HEALTH CENTER
$22,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
BOSTON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
THE VILNA SHUL
$20,000SCHOLARSHIP FUND
TEMPLE BETH ELOHIM
$15,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE
$15,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
BROTHERS FOR LIFE
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
PLYMOUTH AREA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
IMPACT ISREAL
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BOSTON
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
NFFRA
$10,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED
CAMP YJ
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
HILLEL AT UD
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
LAND'S SAKE INC
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
2LIFE COMMUNITIES
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
THE KENNETH B SCHWARTZ CENTER
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
NEWTON FOOD PANTRY
$7,500GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
$7,500GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
HALEY HOUSE INC (KITCHEN SOUP)
$7,500GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
URBANITY DANCE
$5,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
HILLEL COUNCIL OF NEW ENGLAND
$5,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
NANTUCKET ISLAND SAFE HARBOR FOR ANIMALS
$5,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
BLACKSTONE FRANKLIN SQ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
HADASSAH NORTHEAST
$5,000GENERAL & UNRESTICTED
NANTUCKET DREAMLAND
$5,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED