Mars Snacking Foundation
Mars Snacking Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It supports initiatives intended to nurture wellbeing and improve lives and inspire happiness in communities, with work described by the foundation in areas including oral health, communities in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, and resilient, vibrant community spaces.
Mars Snacking Foundation at a glance
In short: Mars Snacking Foundation gave $5.4M across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $237K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,446,648
- +33.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +21.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $236,811
- +10.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $39,758,377
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Mars Snacking Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://mars.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mars Snacking Foundation
Who Mars Snacking Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Save the Children Federation Inc ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $5.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 20 grants of 76 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as New York, 38%; Connecticut, 32%; Illinois, 18%; California, 9%; and Virginia, 2%. Grant purposes also identify support for programs in India, Australia, the Philippines, and China.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Mars Snacking Foundation gives
- 56% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 166% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.1M (2024) to $6.8M (2020). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $5.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Save the Children Federation Inc Fairfield, CT | Healthy Behaviors, Healthy Learners: Promoting Health and Resilience in Safe and Sustainable School Environments | $1,740,474 |
| Myriad USA Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $1,030,000 |
| Myriad USA Inc New York, NY | Pratham Education Foundation (India) | $413,149 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York, NY | Chicago Neighborhoods Creative Placekeeping Partnership | $400,000 |
| GIVE2ASIA San Francisco, CA | Chinese Stomatological Association for "Smiles of Kids" - the standardization of oral healthcare education and promotion program | $333,000 |
| After School Matters Inc Chicago, IL | Community Connection grant designated for After School Matters Orleans Teen Center | $250,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation Chicago, IL | We Rise Together: For an Equitable and Just Recovery | $250,000 |
| United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc Chicago, IL | General operating support for the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities; Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities | $200,000 |
| GIVE2ASIA San Francisco, CA | General & Unrestricted | $167,000 |
| Myriad USA Inc New York, NY | ADA Dental Health Foundation (Australia) | $112,725 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,758,377 | $4,861,334 | $6,138,063 | $5,446,648 | 23 | $6,056,805 | $3,836,434 | $3,647,282 |
| 2024 | $40,605,106 | $5,985,867 | $4,820,107 | $4,082,362 | 19 | $4,728,657 | $4,960,975 | $3,051,928 |
| 2023 | $39,439,346 | $3,377,876 | $5,442,757 | $4,847,729 | 15 | $5,360,043 | $2,326,662 | $2,867,758 |
| 2022 | $41,504,227 | $3,591,570 | $6,248,840 | $6,049,999 | 18 | $6,202,340 | $2,591,570 | $3,077,085 |
| 2021 | $73,534,067 | $1,461,176 | $5,835,418 | $6,200,000 | 1 | $6,471,641 | $3,600,220 | $3,536,658 |
| 2020 | $70,785,551 | $1,243,763 | $7,046,577 | $6,770,994 | 1 | — | $6,051,370 | $3,095,020 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mars Snacking Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it nurtures wellbeing by strengthening physical wellbeing and social connections. Its stated areas of work include oral health education and care, improving lives in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, and creating resilient and vibrant communities. It describes its oral-health work as education and treatment in underserved communities, and says its community work includes creating spaces that improve quality of life and strengthen connections.
Its 2025 grants included support for oral health, education, community spaces, and safety and resilience initiatives. Among the organizations it supported, Save the Children describes its mission as achieving immediate and lasting change in children’s lives. Myriad USA says it facilitates thoughtful, effective giving across borders. Local Initiatives Support Corporation says it works with residents and partners to forge resilient and inclusive communities. Give2Asia describes its work as providing philanthropic services and facilitating international grantmaking.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $5,446,648. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $1,740,474, with a median of $100,000.
The largest grants included $1,740,474 to Save the Children Federation Inc. for “Healthy Behaviors, Healthy Learners: Promoting Health and Resilience in Safe and Sustainable School Environments”; $1,030,000 to Myriad USA Inc. for general and unrestricted support; and $413,149 to Myriad USA Inc. for the Pratham Education Foundation in India. Other grants included $400,000 to Local Initiatives Support Corporation for the Chicago Neighborhoods Creative Placekeeping Partnership, $333,000 to Give2Asia for an oral healthcare education and promotion program in China, and $250,000 to After School Matters for its Orleans Teen Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jessica Adelman as director, vice president, and president; Alastair Child and Bernadette Russell as directors; Anna Marciano as secretary; Mayela Stuparitz as treasurer; and Anne Vela-Wagner as executive director.
Mars Snacking Foundation is led by Anne Vela-Wagner, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne Vela-Wagner
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Adelman
Director, Vice President & President
Vice President → Director & Vice President, 2022
Director & Vice President → Director, Vice President & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alastair Child
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bernadette Russell
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mayela Stuparitz
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Anna Marciano
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Fabiano Lima (2021–2024) — Director & President
- Former: Dave Jones (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Allyson Park (2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Mars Snacking Foundation
How much does Mars Snacking Foundation give each year?
Mars Snacking Foundation gave $5.4M across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.1M across 19 grants.
What is Mars Snacking Foundation's typical grant size?
Mars Snacking Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $236,811, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mars Snacking Foundation give grants?
Mars Snacking Foundation's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (32%) and Illinois (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (8 grants), New York, NY (7 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Mars Snacking Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of Mars Snacking Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Mars Snacking Foundation's largest grantees?
Mars Snacking Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Save the Children Federation Inc ($1,740,474), Myriad USA Inc ($1,646,174 across 4 grants) and GIVE2ASIA ($500,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mars Snacking Foundation?
Mars Snacking Foundation reported $39.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mars Snacking Foundation fund?
The foundation says it nurtures wellbeing by strengthening physical wellbeing and social connections. Its stated areas of work include oral health education and care, improving lives in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, and creating resilient and vibrant communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mars Snacking Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Mars Snacking Foundation's EIN?
Mars Snacking Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3486958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Mars Snacking 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mars Snacking Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mars-snacking-foundation-morg_b7eced80762d4c04bf96d62d42ee3712
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363486958_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mars Snacking Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mars-snacking-foundation-morg_b7eced80762d4c04bf96d62d42ee3712},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Mars Snacking 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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