CJM Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 and based in New York, NY. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a grantmaking foundation. It is also known as the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation, named after Catherine Malatesta, a young woman who passed away from cancer in 2015.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
16
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$157K
+1.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cjm Foundation reported a distributable amount of $367K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established in memory of Catherine J. Malatesta, who embodied values of generosity, faith, and compassion. Catherine was dedicated to her faith and community service, teaching first-grade religious education at St. Agnes Parish in Arlington.
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Support for Christian nonprofits and churches
- Support for Jewish nonprofits
- Church repairs and maintenance
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a "preselected only" basis, meaning it makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- District of Columbia
- California
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $6,377,167
- Total Revenue: $2,439,247
- Total Expenses: $2,512,279
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,320,935
- Total Giving: $2,513,668
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,320,935 | $6,377,167 | $6,450,199 |
| Revenue | $2,480,645 | $2,439,247 | $2,261,226 |
| Expenses | $2,536,877 | $2,512,279 | $2,623,858 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,513,918 | $2,476,166 | $2,560,666 |
| Net Investment Income | $291,947 | $267,457 | $93,971 |
| Distributable Amount | $366,515 | $352,062 | $378,567 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nyu Langone Hospitals ($1,166,668), Congregation Emanu-el of the City of New York ($332,000), French-american Cultural Foundation ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLUE STAR FAMILIES ENCINITAS, CA | PUBLIC CHARITY | $50,000 |
| DOG TAG INC WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $100,000 |
| FRENCH-AMERICAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $150,000 |
| DOG TAG INC WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $50,000 |
| FRENCH-AMERICAN CULTURAL FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $150,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC CHARITY | $100,000 |
| FOUNDATION SWEET SUCCESS INC NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC CHARITY | $60,000 |
| DOG TAG INC WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $50,000 |
| FOUNDATION SWEET SUCCESS INC NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC CHARITY | $80,000 |
| FOUNDATION SWEET SUCCESS INC NEW YORK, NY | PUBLIC CHARITY | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by trustees with limited staffing:
- Abigail Black Elbaum – Trustee
- Joanna Milstein – Trustee
- Constance Milstein – Trustee (also listed as "Milstein Seymour Ttee")
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABIGAIL BLACK ELBAUM | TRUSTEE AS REQUIRED | — | — |
| JOANNA MILSTEIN | TRUSTEE AS REQUIRED | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 545 Madison Avenue, Suite 600 New York, NY 10022-4219
Phone: 212-339-2100
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cjm Foundation fund?
The foundation was established in memory of Catherine J. Malatesta, who embodied values of generosity, faith, and compassion. Catherine was dedicated to her faith and community service, teaching first-grade religious education at St. Agnes Parish in Arlington. The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Support for Christian nonprofits and churches • Support for Jewish nonprofits • Church repairs and maintenance
How do I apply for a grant from Cjm Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 16-22 grants in recent years • Typical grant awards range from $20,000 to $1,166,668 • Median grant amount: $70,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • NYU Langone Hospitals: $1,166,666 • Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York: $334,000 • French-American Cultural Foundation: $150,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a "preselected only" basis, meaning it makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does n…
Where does Cjm Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • District of Columbia • California
What size grants does Cjm Foundation award?
In 2024, Cjm Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $157K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cjm Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cjm Foundation reported a distributable amount of $367K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cjm Foundation's EIN?
Cjm Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7105559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cjm Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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