Maher Charitable Foundation
Maher Charitable Foundation is a private foundation located in Florham Park, New Jersey. It supports efforts to expand educational opportunities for children and families and invests in New Jersey communities, with work that includes early childhood education, education policy, and civic learning.
Maher Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Maher Charitable Foundation gave $2.0M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $145K), mostly in New Jersey. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,031,986
- +20.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $145,142
- +20.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $47,150
- Total assets
- $17,010,222
- -4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Maher Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7 Columbia Tpke Ste 201, Florham Park, NJ 07932-2276
Phone: (908) 988-1090
Website: https://mahercharitablefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Maher Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Clinton Hill Community Action ($975K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 72 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as focused on New Jersey. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New Jersey: 98% were in NJ, 1% in NY, and less than 1% in MA, as reported. Its website describes place-based investments centered largely in Newark, including the Clinton Hill neighborhood.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Maher Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $74K; repeat grants $185K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $83K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2022) to $2.1M (2020). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clinton Hill Community Action Newark, NJ | Program Support | $975,000 |
| Rutgers University Foundation New Brunswick, NJ | Program Support | $320,166 |
| Institute for Citizens and Scholars Princeton, NJ | Program Support | $250,000 |
| Advocates For Children of NJ Newark, NJ | Program Support | $100,000 |
| NJ Chamber of Commerce Foundation Trenton, NJ | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Community Foundation of New Jersey Morristown, NJ | Program Support | $82,772 |
| Newark Alliance Newark, NJ | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Far Brook School Short Hills, NJ | Program Support | $44,300 |
| William Paterson U Found Wayne, NJ | Program Support | $40,000 |
| Teachers College Columbia U New York, NY | Program Support | $29,728 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing type: Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,010,222 | $2,629,745 | $2,922,755 | $2,031,986 | 14 | $2,470,184 | $23,746 |
| 2023 | $17,744,886 | $2,886,260 | $2,897,688 | $1,691,300 | 14 | $2,449,230 | $30,756 |
| 2022 | $17,870,862 | $597,135 | $2,478,676 | $1,143,300 | 13 | $4,055,421 | $54,596 |
| 2021 | $19,941,102 | $12,037,705 | $2,174,850 | $1,449,300 | 15 | $11,026,177 | $129,455 |
| 2020 | $10,423,784 | $10,062,450 | $2,524,220 | $2,068,390 | 16 | — | $147,815 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Maher Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24K for 2024 — 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 mission is to help communities overcome social and economic inequity in New Jersey by expanding access to educational opportunities for children and their families and investing in the communities where they live. It identifies early care and learning, civic learning, and community needs that support children and families as areas of work. Its website describes investments in early learning facilities, advocacy for public investment in early childhood education, caregiver and teacher professional development, and programs that support youth civic engagement.
Its 2024 grants included organizations working in community revitalization, higher education, civic learning, child advocacy, and philanthropy. For example, Clinton Hill Community Action says its mission is to work with residents and stakeholders to revitalize the neighborhood and improve residents’ quality of life. The Institute for Citizens and Scholars says it prepares leaders and engages networks to develop young people as informed, productively engaged, and hopeful citizens. Rutgers University Foundation says its mission is to support Rutgers and help it attain excellence in education, research, and public service.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $2,031,986. Grant amounts ranged from $20 to $975,000, with a median grant of $47,150. The largest listed grants were $975,000 to Clinton Hill Community Action, $320,166 to Rutgers University Foundation, and $250,000 to the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. Other listed grants included $100,000 each to Advocates For Children of NJ and the NJ Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and $82,772 to the Community Foundation of New Jersey. The listed grants were primarily designated for program support.
The foundation also reports direct charitable activity: operating the Clinton Hill Early Learning Center and convening an event to build a New Jersey civic learning coalition.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists M Brian Maher as Chairman, Treasurer, and Director; Sandra Maher as Vice Chairman and Director; Amanda Maher as President and Director; Scott Schley as GC, Secretary, and Director; and Margarethe P Laurenzi as Executive Director. The foundation’s website identifies Brian Maher as founder and chairman and Amanda Maher as its president.
Maher Charitable Foundation is led by Margarethe P Laurenzi, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margarethe P Laurenzi
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$48K (2021) → $260K (2024)
Amanda Maher
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
M Brian Maher
Chairman Treasurer Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Maher
Vice Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Schley
Gc Secretary & Director
Gc Secrretary & Director → Gc Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Barbara Reisan (2020–2021) — Vice President & Program Officer
- Former: Samuel Crane (2020–2021) — Vice President
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 $260K, to Margarethe P Laurenzi (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Maher Charitable Foundation
How much does Maher Charitable Foundation give each year?
Maher Charitable Foundation gave $2.0M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 14 grants.
What is Maher Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Maher Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $47,150, and its average grant was $145,142, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Maher Charitable Foundation that year got $74K on average.
Where does Maher Charitable Foundation give grants?
Maher Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Newark, NJ (3 grants) and Trenton, NJ (2 grants).
Does Maher Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Maher Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (12 grants).
Who are Maher Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Maher Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Clinton Hill Community Action ($975,000), Rutgers University Foundation ($320,166) and Institute for Citizens and Scholars ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Maher Charitable Foundation?
Maher Charitable Foundation reported $17.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $24K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Maher Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to help communities overcome social and economic inequity in New Jersey by expanding access to educational opportunities for children and their families and investing in the communities where they live. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maher Charitable Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Maher Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Maher Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1447747. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Maher Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Maher Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/maher-charitable-foundation-morg_88062100c1ca43fda3ecdecb1d8cf331
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271447747_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Maher Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/maher-charitable-foundation-morg_88062100c1ca43fda3ecdecb1d8cf331},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Maher Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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