The Abramson Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving in large, unrestricted gifts primarily to higher-education and scientific research institutions, with a strong, repeated commitment to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science and significant support for American University. Grants are typically stock gifts or lump-sum contributions and are not restricted to specific programs, signaling trust in institutional priorities. The pattern suggests an emphasis on advancing scientific research (particularly linked to Israel) and supporting university-level education in the Washington, D.C. area.
Highly concentrated: few, very large grants (many as stock contributions) with repeated multi-year support to the same flagship grantee (Weizmann). Grants are unrestricted and targeted to institutional partners rather than many small or program-specific awards.
The Gary and Pennie Abramson Charitable Foundation’s largest recent grants repeatedly go to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, including a $550,000 unrestricted gift in 2024 and a $508,912 stock contribution in 2025. That pattern sits alongside major support for American University, which received $300,000 in 2023 and a $296,494 stock contribution in 2025. The foundation’s recent record shows a preference for unrestricted funding, with large gifts that are not tied to a single project or program. Its grant history points to two enduring commitments: scientific research linked to the Weizmann Institute and higher education, especially in Washington, DC. It also supports Jewish communal institutions and related organizations, with gifts to groups such as Congregation B’nai Tzedek, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Several awards appear in stock-contribution form, reinforcing the foundation’s use of flexible, large-scale support rather than tightly designated grants. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s giving is steady and institution-centered. The pattern suggests a donor that favors long-term relationships with universities, research organizations, and Jewish nonprofit institutions, using unrestricted grants to back general operations and institutional priorities.
In scientific research, the foundation’s clearest thread is support for the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Recent awards include $550,000 in unrestricted funds in 2024 and a $508,912 stock contribution in 2025, with another $483,873 stock contribution in 2023. Higher education is another major line of giving. American University received $300,000 in 2023 and a $296,494 stock contribution in 2025, both marked unrestricted. The foundation also supported American University Hillel with $60,000 in 2024, indicating attention to campus-based Jewish life as well as the university itself. Its Jewish communal giving extends beyond one institution. Greater Miami Jewish Federation received $125,000 in 2023, $125,000 in 2024, and $110,000 in 2025, while Jewish Federation of Greater Washington received $75,000 in 2023 and $66,667 in 2024 and 2025. These repeated grants show multi-year backing for federation work.
$2.6M
$47M
$2.2M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $3K and $24K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$24K
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Notable grantees: American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, American University
Typical grant size is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $23,742 at the 75th percentile, though the recent-grants list also shows much larger institutional awards. The foundation’s giving pattern is recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear across multiple years, including the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, American University, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, World Jewish Relief Inc, Suburban Hospital Foundation, and American Israel Education Foundation. It is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Recent gifts are consistently unrestricted, and some are reported as stock contributions, indicating flexible support.
Grants are almost entirely U.S.-based, with 323 recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Maryland is the top state by grant count, accounting for 38% of grants, which is separate from the headquarters location in Rockville. Recent recipient cities include Washington, DC; New York, NY; Miami, FL; Bethesda, MD; and Potomac, MD. The geographic pattern is regional rather than national, with a concentration in the Washington area and several grants also reaching Florida and New York.
The foundation gives mainly to universities, Jewish communal organizations, and scientific research institutions. Recent examples include the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, American University, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, American University, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, World Jewish Relief Inc, Suburban Hospital Foundation, and American Israel Education Foundation. That suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $23,742 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger unrestricted gifts and stock contributions to institutional recipients.
The recent record shows three main areas: support for the Weizmann Institute of Science and related scientific research, unrestricted support for American University and other higher-education organizations, and Jewish communal giving through federations, synagogues, and related institutions.
The foundation gives regionally, with 38% of grants going to recipients in Maryland. Recent recipient locations also include Washington, DC, New York, NY, Miami, FL, Bethesda, MD, and Potomac, MD.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STOCK CONTRIBUTION - AM COMM FOR THE WEIZMANN INST OF SCIENCE-SEE STMT 12 | NEW YORK, NY | $508,912 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| STOCK CONTRIBUTION - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY - SEE STMT 12 | WASHINGTON, DC | $296,494 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $116,667 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| GREATER MIAMI JEWISH FEDERATION | MIAMI, FL | $110,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| WORLD JEWISH RELIEF INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $66,667 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| CONGREGATION B'NAI TZEDEK | POTOMAC, MD | $57,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| CENTER FOR ISRAEL STUDIES - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF GALILEE MEDICAL CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| BUONICONTI FOUNDATION TO CURE PARALYSIS | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| CHARLES E SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| FRIENDS OF ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $31,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| HEIFETZ INTERNATIONAL MUSIC INSTITUTE | STAUNTON, VA | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GW | ROCKVILLE, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| SOS INTERNATIONAL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| ISRAEL GUIDE DOG CENTER FOR THE BLIND | WARRINGTON, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY HILLEL | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| SUNDARI FOUNDATION INC | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| DIENER SCHOOL | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| JEWISH LEARNING CENTER OF FISHER ISLAND | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| FRIENDS OF CANCER RESEARCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| OPERATION EMBRACE | POTOMAC, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| MOUNT VERNON VERTUOSI INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| AISH DC | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| TORAH SCHOOL OF GREATER WASHINGTON | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF THE AU COMMUNITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| INTERNATIONAL ARTS & ARTISTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $18,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| SO WHAT ELSE INC | BETHESDA, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| WASHINGTON NATIONALS PHILANTHROPIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| BREM FOUNDATION TO DEFEAT BREAST CANCER | SILVER SPRING, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| THE SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| PROJECT MEDISHARE FOR HAITI | MIAMI, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC | POTOMAC, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| CHARLES E SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES | ROCKVILLE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | CORAL GABLES, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| ISRAAID GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN AS | PALO ALTO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| EZER MIZION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| HASBARA FELLOWSHIPS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| JEWISH COUNCIL FOR THE AGING | ROCKVILLE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | RYE BROOK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$75,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
CONGREGATION B'NAI TZEDEK
$57,500UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
CENTER FOR ISRAEL STUDIES - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
$50,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF GALILEE MEDICAL CENTER
$50,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
HEIFETZ INTERNATIONAL MUSIC INSTITUTE
$30,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
SOS INTERNATIONAL
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY HILLEL
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
SUNDARI FOUNDATION INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
DIENER SCHOOL
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
JEWISH LEARNING CENTER OF FISHER ISLAND
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
FRIENDS OF CANCER RESEARCH
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
OPERATION EMBRACE
$20,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
MOUNT VERNON VERTUOSI INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
AISH DC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF THE AU COMMUNITY
$20,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
INTERNATIONAL ARTS & ARTISTS
$18,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
PROJECT MEDISHARE FOR HAITI
$15,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
CHARLES E SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
ISRAAID GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN AS
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
EZER MIZION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
JEWISH COUNCIL FOR THE AGING
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS