Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer
The Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 and located in Laguna Beach, California (with administrative offices in Agoura Hills). The foundation was created by Herb and Jeanne Mayer to advance causes aligned with their values as lifelong learners committed to addressing root causes of societal problems.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.1M
-4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-4.5% YoY
Grant Count
33
-5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
+1.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation maintains two primary areas of focus:
Youth in Underserved Communities: Investing in the lives of young people from underserved communities in California through grants to nonprofits providing housing, food and nutrition, physical health services, mental well-being, education and training.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Supporting organizations seeking to make a difference for people living with Multiple Sclerosis through research and support services.
The foundation also provides additional funds to make contributions to other charities and supports ongoing general operations of select organizations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s**: Typical awards range from $2,500 to $666,667.
Invitation Only
**: Grant applications are currently by invitation only. Organizations interested in potential partnership alignment may submit an introduction through the foundation's website.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with additional grantmaking activity in New York and Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $35,114,306
- Total Revenues: $1,026,650
- Total Expenses: $2,600,349
- Total Giving: $1,808,333
- Staff: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,114,306 | $36,677,574 | $39,361,163 |
| Revenue | $1,026,650 | $-152,546 | $1,634,513 |
| Expenses | $2,600,349 | $2,525,337 | $2,974,497 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,155,204 | $2,125,570 | $2,468,595 |
| Net Investment Income | $552,178 | $394,488 | $929,181 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,957,557 | $1,866,714 | $2,159,329 |
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
156 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ucsf Foundation ($383,333), Seed House Project ($125,000), Brigham and Women's Hospital Inc ($115,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 9 DOTS COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER TORRANCE, CA | GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $50,000 |
| ACCESS BOOKS LOS ANGELES, CA | REFURBISH OF TWO SCHOOL LIBRARIES | $100,000 |
| AMERICA ON TECH LOS ANGELES, CA | ONGOING OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | RESEARCH GRANT FOR LEWY BODY DEMENTIA | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF OHIO FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $15,000 |
| ARMORY CENTER FOR THE ARTS PASADENA, CA | ONGOING OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| BRACKEN'S KITCHEN GARDEN GROVE, CA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC BOSTON, MA | ONGOING OPERATIONS | $115,000 |
| COLLEGE ACCESS PLAN PASADENA, CA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOS ANGELES, CA | READY, SET, READ! | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sarah Kalter serves as CEO and Executive Director. As a member of the Mayer family with international experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, she leads the foundation's strategic direction and conducts deep-dive evaluations of potential grantees focusing on vision, operating model, and potential for sustainable change.
Brooke Cutler serves on the foundation board, bringing expertise in global health equity and human rights with special emphasis on girls and women, drawing from her career as an international development consultant.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH J KALTER | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 40 | $305,441 |
| KATELYN M KALTER | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ERIC MARTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NIEL WIDERSCHEIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BROOKE CUTLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported neurology research through its endowed professorship at UCSF, reflecting its commitment to advancing Multiple Sclerosis research and innovation. The foundation continues to actively evaluate new organizations and potential partnerships aligned with its dual focus areas.
Introducing the 2026 Next Generation Research Grant RecipientsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer fund?
The foundation maintains two primary areas of focus: 1. **Youth in Underserved Communities**: Investing in the lives of young people from underserved communities in California through grants to nonprofits providing housing, food and nutrition, physical health services, mental well-being, education and training. 2. **Multiple Sclerosis (MS)**: Supporting organizations seeking to make a difference for people living with Multiple Sclerosis through research and support services. The foundation also…
How do I apply for a grant from Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer?
**Grant Activity**: In the most recent year, the foundation made 28 grants with total giving of $1,808,333. **Grant Sizes**: Typical awards range from $2,500 to $666,667. **Recent Grants**: Notable recent grants include: • $383,333 to UCSF Foundation Investment Company for the Jeanne C Mayer Endowed Professorship in Neurology (2024) • $125,000 to Seed House Project for Ongoing Operations (2024) **Application Process**: Grant applications are currently by invitation only. Organizations intereste…
Where does Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with additional grantmaking activity in New York and Ohio.
What size grants does Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer award?
In 2024, Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer awarded 33 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer's EIN?
Herbert R Mayer and Jeanne C Mayer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4589085. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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