Maestro Cares Foundation
Maestro Cares Foundation improves the quality of life of disadvantaged children and communities in latin America and the united states. We do so by providing housing, educational programming and the essential resources to support their growth and development. Through our efforts, we are strengthening communities and helping children become tomorrow's leaders.
Maestro Cares Foundation at a glance
In short: Maestro Cares Foundation gave $400K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $200K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $400,000
- -38.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $200,000
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $16,301,212
- +36.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Maestro Cares Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Small Steps Nuturing Center in Houston TX ($300K). Together the top 2 received $400K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 5 grants of 12 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Maestro Cares Foundation gives
- Giving grew 60% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $101K (2020) to $650K (2023). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $400K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Small Steps Nuturing Center in Houston TX Houston, TX | Contribution | $300,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities-Lurie Kitchen Chicago | Contribution | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,301,212 | $10,087,332 | $5,601,170 | $400,000 | 2 | $170,990 |
| 2023 | $11,982,389 | $5,983,163 | $5,252,951 | $650,000 | 3 | $175,584 |
| 2022 | $10,258,565 | $7,139,999 | $4,405,967 | $250,000 | 2 | $-111,475 |
| 2021 | $6,243,515 | $3,094,225 | $2,524,814 | $250,000 | 2 | $91,931 |
| 2020 | $5,588,206 | $1,481,025 | $1,577,896 | $101,000 | 3 | $154,948 |
About Maestro Cares Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Maestro Cares Foundation is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $400K. Net investment income was $171K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Maestro Cares Foundation is led by Zayda Cardenas, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Zayda Cardenas
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$136K (2022) → $158K (2024)
Henry Cardenas
Chairman
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amalia Gomez-Micone
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bigram Zayas
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Felipe Pimento
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elena Sotomayor
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marco Antonio Muniz
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Amaro
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Robert Unanue (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Bob Unanue (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $158K, to Zayda Cardenas (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Maestro Cares Foundation
How much does Maestro Cares Foundation give each year?
Maestro Cares Foundation gave $400K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $650K across 3 grants.
How large is Maestro Cares Foundation?
Maestro Cares Foundation reported $16.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.1M.
What is Maestro Cares Foundation?
Maestro Cares Foundation is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $16.3M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Maestro Cares Foundation operate?
Maestro Cares Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, New York, Texas.
What is Maestro Cares Foundation's EIN?
Maestro Cares Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3706112. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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