The Lester G Abeloff Foundation
Stroudsburg, PA · EIN 26-3528330. Reported 233 grants totalling $6,478,700 to 92 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Lester G Abeloff Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $600,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania | Scranton, PA | $2,246,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos | Stroudsburg, PA | $768,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Temple Israel of the Poconos | Stroudsburg, PA | $616,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Corps | East Stroudsburg, PA | $512,800 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Developmental Education Services of Monroe County Inc | Stroudsburg, PA | $456,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Elan Skilled Nursing | Scranton, PA | $170,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Pa Corps | East Stroudsburg, PA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pocono Mountains United Way | Stroudsburg, PA | $112,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Yeshiva Beth Moshe | Scranton, PA | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania | Scranton, PA | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Monroe County Historical Association | Stroudsburg, PA | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Monroe County Meals on Wheels | Stroudsburg, PA | $65,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms | Lords Valley, PA | $61,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chabad Lubavich of the Poconos | Stroudsburg, PA | $52,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The YMCA Pocono | Stroudsburg, PA | $51,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Congregation B'nai Harim | Pocono Pines, PA | $50,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Beth Shalom Academy | Scranton, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Lehigh Valley Health Network | Allentown, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation | New York, NY | $45,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pocono Services for Families and Children | East Stroudsburg, PA | $44,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Yeshiva Bais Moshe | Scranton, PA | $38,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Family Promise of the Poconos Inc | Stroudsburg, PA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Pocono Foundation | East Stroudsburg, PA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pven Food Pantry and Clothing Closet | Saylorsburg, PA | $25,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Chabad Lauderdale-By-the-Sea | Lauderdale By the Sea, FL | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Lehigh Valley Health Network (pocono Foundation) | East Stroudsburg, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Special Recreation Services Inc | Bangor, PA | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sights for Hope | Stroudsburg, PA | $22,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| B'nai B'rith International | Washington, DC | $22,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pocono Area Transitional Housing Inc (path) | Stroudsburg, PA | $22,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania | Scranton, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm | Stroudsburg, PA | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Yeshivath Beth Moshe | Scranton, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| East Stroudsburg University Foundation | East Stroudsburg, PA | $17,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University | New York, NY | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jewish Community Center of Allentown | Allentown, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Community Center of Lehigh Valley | Allentown, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jewish Community Center of Scranton | Scranton, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network | Saylorsburg, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church | Stroudsburg, PA | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Clymer Library | Pocono Pines, PA | $13,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Jewish Family Services of the Lehigh Valley | Allentown, PA | $11,250 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Kiwanis Club of Stroudsburg - Scholarship Foundation | East Stroudsburg, PA | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Agudath Isreal of America | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Friends of Elem | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Chai Mitzbah Inc | West Hartford, CT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cheder Menachem | Wilkesbarre, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Devarim Institute | Jeannette, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jewish Day School of Lehigh Valley | Allentown, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Monroe County Aging Through Support Services for Seniors | Stroudsburg, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Scranton Hebrew Day School | Scranton, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Yeshiva University | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Eastern Monroe Public Library | Stroudsburg, PA | $9,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Matthew's Chruch Food Pantry | East Stroudsburg, PA | $9,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Stroudsburg Rotary Foundation | Stroudsburg, PA | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Support Services for Seniors | Stroudsburg, PA | $7,050 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Elemyouth in Distress in Israel | New York, NY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Pocono Irish-American Club | East Stroudsburg, PA | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Northampton Community College Foundation | Bethlehem, PA | $5,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Church of Saint Matthew | East Stroudsburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Community Foundation of Monroe County | Stroudsburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Congregation Beth Israel | Honesdale, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Double Taph Inc | Port Jervis, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Feeding Families Food Pantry | Tobyhanna, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Church | Stroudsburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pocono Bible Church | Mountainhome, PA | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel | Elkins Park, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Safe Monroe | Delaware Water Gap, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Safe Monroe (womens Resources of Monroe County) | Delaware Water Gap, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| William J Barger J Simpson Africa Masonic Association | Stroudsburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County (awsom) | Stroudsburg, PA | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Stroudsburg Area Music Supporters (sams) | Stroudsburg, PA | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Northeastern Pennsylvania | Forty Fort, PA | $3,600 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Sherman Theatre | Stroudsburg, PA | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Brodhead Watershed Association | Henryville, PA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Kiwanis of the Poconos-Daybreak | Stroudsburg, PA | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Pocono Arts Council | Stroudsburg, PA | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pocono Cinema & Cultural Center | East Stroudsburg, PA | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Camp Papillion Animal Shelter | Stroudsburg, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Northampton Community College | Bethlehem, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Feeding Families Ministries | Tobyhanna, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Monroe County Habitat for Humanity | Marshall Creek, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pocono Center for the Arts | Stroudsburg, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pocono Heritage Land Trust | East Stroudsburg, PA | $2,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Kiwanis Club of the Poconos - Daybreak | Stroudsburg, PA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Associated Beth Rivkah Schools | Brooklyn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Metamorphosis Women's Empowerment Initiative | Stroudsburg, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pocono Mountain Regional Police Officers Assoc | Pocono Summit, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Stroudsburg United Methodist Church | Stroudsburg, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Friendly Community Center | Mountainhome, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stroud Area Regional Police Commission Foundation | East Stroudsburg, PA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
53 of 92 (58%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 79%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania
SUPPORT OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICES PROVIDED - Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos
SUPPORT OF JEWISH RESOURCES - Temple Israel of the Poconos
TO REPLENISH THE RESERVE ACCOUNT - The Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Corps
SUPPORT OF THE HOMETOWN ENDOWMENT FUND FOR LOCAL OPERATIONS - Developmental Education Services of Monroe County Inc
SUPPORT OF SERVICES FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS - Elan Skilled Nursing
SUPPORT FOR JEWISH MEDICAL SERVICES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 116 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36 | $849,200 | $2,000 |
| 2022 | 43 | $1,399,000 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 44 | $1,424,750 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 55 | $1,313,250 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 55 | $1,492,500 | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
98% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Lester G Abeloff Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Co Charles Cahn Po Box 488, Stroudsburg, PA, 18360. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 26-3528330 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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