Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation is a private foundation based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It makes charitable contributions to preselected organizations; its 2024 filing says it provided support to approximately 45 organizations.
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation at a glance
In short: Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation gave $41K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state North Carolina. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $41,395
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,533
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $260,873
- -6.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 800 S Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 967-2596
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Paul's Lutheran Church ($10K). Together the top 10 received $28K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 121 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in North Carolina (47%), New York (34%), Virginia (10%), Massachusetts (5%), and the District of Columbia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $900; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 78% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $23K (2022) to $583K (2020). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Paul's Lutheran Church Durham, NC | Support Lutheran church activities and worship | $10,000 |
| Judea Reform Durham, NC | Reform Jewish synagogue supporting the Chapel Hill/ Raleigh/Durham Jewish community | $2,710 |
| Camera Boston, MA | Monitors and challenges perceived anti-Israeli news | $2,000 |
| Friends of Israeli Defense Fund New York, NY | Supports Israeli defense forces | $2,000 |
| NAMI Arlington, VA | Nations largest grassroots mental health organization. | $2,000 |
| Urban Ministries of Durham Durham, NC | Faith-based agency providing food, clothing, shelter and counseling in Durham, North Carolina. | $2,000 |
| Washington Institute for Near East Washington, DC | seeks to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East and to promote the policies that secure them | $2,000 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | To enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values around the world. Combating anti-SemitismB | $2,000 |
| YMCA of Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY | Promotes positive values through programs that build spirit, mind and body, welcoming all people, with a focus on youth. | $2,000 |
| Prospect Park Alliance Brooklyn, NY | Care and preservation of the natural environment of Prospect Park. | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Reported grantmaking by filing year:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $260,873 | $36,383 | $51,909 | $41,395 | 27 | $41,395 | $36,383 | $51,138 |
| 2024 | $278,235 | $68,073 | $51,139 | $40,426 | 24 | $40,426 | $68,073 | — |
| 2023 | $259,818 | $31,257 | $42,561 | $32,648 | 24 | $32,648 | $31,257 | — |
| 2022 | $275,791 | $26,586 | $39,128 | $23,235 | 23 | $23,235 | $26,586 | — |
| 2021 | $287,603 | $436,145 | $532,191 | $516,490 | 23 | $516,490 | $436,145 | — |
| 2020 | $383,649 | $210,246 | $595,583 | $582,722 | 39 | — | $210,246 | $76,240 |
| 2019 | $769,986 | $56,830 | $80,689 | $70,835 | 42 | — | $47,674 | $73,258 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its grants show support for a range of organizations, including religious institutions, human-services providers, advocacy organizations, a park alliance, and a college. For example, Urban Ministries of Durham describes its work as providing shelter, meals, case management, and other services to people in need. Vassar College describes its mission as making a thorough, liberal education accessible and fostering independent thinking and intellectual curiosity.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $41,395. Grants ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grants included St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Durham, North Carolina ($10,000), and Judea Reform in Durham ($2,710). Other notable grants were $2,000 each to CAMERA, Friends of Israeli Defense Fund, NAMI, Urban Ministries of Durham, Washington Institute for Near East, American Jewish Committee, and YMCA of Brooklyn; and $1,500 to Prospect Park Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Barbara Dahl as President, Bill Dahl as Secretary/Treasurer, and Susan Sharer and Julia Dahl as Vice Presidents.
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation is led by Barbara Dahl, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara Dahl
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Dahl
Sectreasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia Dahl
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Sharer
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation
How much does Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation give each year?
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation gave $41K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 24 grants.
What is Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's typical grant size?
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,533, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation that year got $900 on average.
Where does Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation give grants?
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (34%) and Virginia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (4 grants), Brooklyn, NY (4 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's largest grantees?
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Paul's Lutheran Church ($10,000), Judea Reform ($2,710) and Camera ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation?
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation reported $261K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $51K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its grants show support for a range of organizations, including religious institutions, human-services providers, advocacy organizations, a park alliance, and a college. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's EIN?
Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-0963317. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Gertrude B & Mortimer May Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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