Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation is a private foundation in Sharon, Massachusetts. In tax year 2025 it gave $1.2 million in 58 grants; the typical grant was $5,000 and the largest $670,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$1.2 million
- Number of grants58
- Typical grant$5,000
- Largest grant$670,000
- Assets$13.4 million
- New grantees17%
Giving in 2025 was up from $665,300 the year before.
17% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $572,400 | 57 | $10.5 million |
| 2024 | $665,300 | 60 | $12.7 million |
| 2025 | $1.2 million | 58 | $13.4 million |
How to apply
Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 16 states, the most to California.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 4 | $693,000 |
| Massachusetts | 20 | $200,100 |
| District of Columbia | 12 | $128,500 |
| New York | 7 | $73,900 |
| Oregon | 2 | $16,000 |
| Maryland | 2 | $15,000 |
| Montana | 1 | $12,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $7,000 |
| Connecticut | 1 | $5,000 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $5,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tides Foudation | General | $670,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | General | $40,000 |
| All Out Adventures | General | $33,000 |
| T'ruah | General | $30,000 |
| Feeding America | General | $25,000 |
| Oxfam America | General | $25,000 |
| Brennan Center for Justice | General | $20,000 |
| Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights | General | $20,000 |
| Pathfinder International | General | $20,000 |
| Tesseract Research Center | General | $20,000 |
| Middle East Children's Alliance | General | $15,000 |
| Transgener Emergency Fund of Ma | General | $15,000 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | General | $15,000 |
| Central Asia Institute | General | $12,000 |
| Amnesty International | General | $11,000 |
| ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts | General | $10,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders | General | $10,000 |
| Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy | General | $10,000 |
| International Rescue Committee | General | $10,000 |
| Parenting Now | General | $10,000 |
| Unitarian Society of Northampton Florence | General | $10,000 |
| Alliance for Justice | General | $8,000 |
| Fos Feminista | General | $8,000 |
| GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders | General | $8,000 |
| Farm Forward | General | $6,000 |
| Heifer International | General | $6,000 |
| Hias | General | $6,000 |
| Partners in Health | General | $6,000 |
| Action Kivu | General | $5,000 |
| Amc | General | $5,000 |
| Cispes Education Fund | General | $5,000 |
| Fairvote | General | $5,000 |
| Foodbank of Western Mass | General | $5,000 |
| Holler Health Justice | General | $5,000 |
| Kentucky Healthy Justice Network | General | $5,000 |
| Nolumbeka Project | General | $5,000 |
| Northhampton Survival Center | General | $5,000 |
| Reconstructing Judaism | General | $5,000 |
| Refugee and Immigrant Center | General | $5,000 |
| Restore National | General | $5,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Ken Olum
- Deborah Barer
- Rebecca O'Murchadha
- Aviva Galaski
Questions people ask
Does Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation give?
$1.2 million in tax year 2025, across 58 grants, with a typical grant of $5,000.
Who runs Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Ken Olum (Trustee), Deborah Barer (Trustee), Rebecca O'Murchadha (Trustee) and Aviva Galaski (Trustee).
What does Vivian & Paul Olum Charitable Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly international, environment and conservation and science and research.