The Kramer Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on high-impact humanitarian and community-outreach causes, with a strong emphasis on medical relief and assistance to conflict-affected populations in the Middle East alongside selective domestic civic and education support. Grants are large and targeted, favoring established international medical NGOs and region-specific relief organizations while also funding a U.S.-based democracy initiative and a local school.
Milton a & Charlotte R Kramer Charitable Foundation’s largest recent grant was a $625,000 award to Doctors Without Borders USA for aid to communities, setting the tone for a portfolio that favors sizeable, targeted support rather than broad dispersal. The foundation has also made six-figure gifts to Tides Healthy Democracy Fund and Palestine Childrens Relief Fund, showing a mix of humanitarian relief and civic engagement within the same grantmaking approach. Across its recent grants, the foundation supports medical relief, aid for conflict-affected civilians, legal and democracy work, arts organizations, food and shelter services, and a few local community institutions. Grants often go to established intermediaries and relief groups, including organizations working with Syrian and Palestinian civilians and domestic partners addressing education and community needs. The foundation’s giving pattern suggests a preference for practical, program-specific support to organizations already operating in the areas it funds. Recent awards also include smaller grants to homeless-services groups, environmental advocates, animal rescue organizations, and cultural nonprofits, which broadens the picture without changing the foundation’s overall emphasis on direct service and emergency response.
International humanitarian aid is central to the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $125,000 to Syrian American Medical Society Foundation for community outreach and $25,000 each to United Help Ukraine and Care Ukraine Crisis Fund for aid to Ukraine. The foundation also backed Palestinian civilian relief with $150,000 to Palestine Childrens Relief Fund for community outreach. Domestic public-interest work appears through a $300,000 grant to Tides Healthy Democracy Fund for community outreach and a $25,000 grant to Media Matters for community outreach. In local education, it gave $100,000 to Shoemaker School for educational support. The portfolio also includes a $50,000 grant to Fractured Atlas for supporting artists, showing that arts funding sits alongside relief and civic work rather than apart from it.
The foundation’s recent grants cluster around a modest-to-mid-sized range, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $6,100, and a p75 of $15,000. That middle range sits alongside a few much larger awards, indicating a dual pattern of targeted major gifts and smaller program grants. The latest 990 year on file is 2025, and recent gifts appear across 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing activity over multiple years rather than a single cycle. It funds individuals and makes no program-related investments. The grant list points to operating support through community outreach, aid, and similar purpose-specific awards rather than a formal public application process.
$582K
$6.2M
$459K
$707K
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 11% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated giving: few, relatively large grants that prioritize established international relief and medical organizations and a small number of targeted domestic/community recipients.
Notable grantees: Doctors Without Borders USA, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Syrian American Medical Society Foundation, Tides Healthy Democracy Fund, Shoemaker School
Grantmaking is national, but the highest concentration of recipient organizations is in Ohio, with 13% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Ohio recipients include Westlake, Cleveland, and the foundation’s own state appears alongside strong activity in California and New York. Los Angeles and San Francisco show up repeatedly among recipient cities, while New York, Washington, DC, and Oakland also recur in the recent-grants list. Every listed recipient is in the United States, so the recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on humanitarian aid, especially medical relief and support for conflict-affected communities. The foundation also funds democracy and civic work, legal aid, homelessness services, food assistance, arts support, environmental advocacy, animal rescue, and a small amount of local educational support.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the low thousands. The p25 is $5,000, the median is $6,100, and the p75 is $15,000. A smaller number of larger grants sit above that range, including six-figure awards in the recent list.
No. Its giving is national, and the recent grants list includes organizations in New York, California, Washington, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Ohio receives the largest share of grants by count, but the portfolio is spread across multiple states.
Yes. Some recipients appear in multiple years, which suggests recurring relationships. Tides Healthy Democracy Fund, Doctors Without Borders USA, Tgi Justice Project, Poor Magazine, and Coalition on Homelessness each appear more than once in the recent-grants list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIDES HEALTHY DEMOCRACY FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| PALESTINE CHILDRENS RELIEF FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| MEDIA MATTERS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| PUBLIC COUNSEL IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS PROJECT | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| STRAY CAT ALLIANCE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESUCE |
| WAGMOR PETS | STUDIO CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND REHOME DOGS IN NEED |
| TGI JUSTICE PROJECT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| POOR MAGAZINE | OAKLAND, CA | $6,200 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,250 | 2025 | EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN |
| UNITED INDIANS OF ALL TRIBES FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| INDIGENOUS ENVIROMENTAL NETWORK | BEMIDJI, MN | $3,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| UUCTNO MORE DEATHS | WILMINGTON, DE | $2,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| IFCOJERICHO | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| PRESS ON | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| WESPAC | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | NEW YORK, NY | $625,000 | 2024 | AID TO COMMUNITIES |
| SYRIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION | WESTLAKE, OH | $125,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| SHOEMAKER SCHOOL | LYNN, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FRACTURED ATLAS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTING ARTISTS |
| TIDES HEALTHY DEMOCRACY FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| BABY2BABY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | AID TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN |
| THE LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN |
| ANGELES ART FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTING ARTISTS |
| LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | FOOD FOR NEEDY |
| PUBLIC COUNSEL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | LEGAL AID TO NEEDY |
| CARE UKRAINE CRISIS FUND | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2023 | AID TO UKRAINE |
| UNITED HELP UKRAINE | GAITHERSBURG, MD | $25,000 | 2023 | AID TO UKRAINE |
| NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY |
| TGI JUSTICE PROJECT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $14,000 | 2023 | HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM FOR TGI PEOPLE IN PRISONS/JAIL |
| UNITED UKRANIAN AMERICAN RELIEF COMMITTEE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $12,500 | 2023 | AID TO UKRAINE |
| UN REFUGEE AGENCY | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,500 | 2023 | AID TO UKRAINE |
| COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS | CLEVELAND, OH | $12,000 | 2023 | COMBAT HOMELESSNESS |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | AID TO COMMUNITIES |
| LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | FOOD FOR NEEDY |
| TREES FOR THE FUTURE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT |
| POOR MAGAZINE | OAKLAND, CA | $6,200 | 2023 | COMBAT HOMELESSNESS |
| GLOBAL IMPACT INVESTING NETWORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT |
| BROWN RECLUSE ZINE DISTRO | OAKLAND, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| UNITED INDIANS OF ALL TRIBES FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO NATIVE AMERICANS |
| PEACE DEVELOPMENT FUND | AMHERST, MA | $5,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2023 | SANCTUARY FOR HOMELESS WOMEN |
| CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN |
| INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK | BEMIDJI, MN | $3,000 | 2023 | ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM |
| WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000 | 2023 | COMBAT HOMELESSNESS |
TIDES HEALTHY DEMOCRACY FUND
$300,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
MEDIA MATTERS
$25,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
WAGMOR PETS
RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND REHOME DOGS IN NEED
TGI JUSTICE PROJECT
$7,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
POOR MAGAZINE
$6,200COMMUNITY OUTREACH
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB
$5,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT
$3,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
INDIGENOUS ENVIROMENTAL NETWORK
$3,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
UUCTNO MORE DEATHS
$2,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
IFCOJERICHO
$1,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
PRESS ON
$1,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
SYRIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION
$125,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
SHOEMAKER SCHOOL
$100,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
TIDES HEALTHY DEMOCRACY FUND
$50,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
ANGELES ART FUND
$5,000SUPPORTING ARTISTS
CARE UKRAINE CRISIS FUND
$25,000AID TO UKRAINE
UN REFUGEE AGENCY
$12,500AID TO UKRAINE
COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS
$12,000COMBAT HOMELESSNESS
POOR MAGAZINE
$6,200COMBAT HOMELESSNESS
BROWN RECLUSE ZINE DISTRO
$5,000COMMUNITY OUTREACH
SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO NATIVE AMERICANS
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB
$5,000SUPPORT OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT
$3,000COMBAT HOMELESSNESS