Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 46-2659091

The Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, operating as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization since November 2013. The foundation focuses on providing support and resources to individuals and organizations in need through various philanthropic initiatives.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$712K

-4.8% YoY

Grant Count

-18.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$32K

+16.9% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary funding areas include:

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Health Care
Historic Preservation and Architectural Restoration
Arts & Culture

Grantmaking

The foundation has supported The Buckminster Fuller Institute in San Francisco, California with grants of $30,000 (2021) and $27,000 (2023) for support programs for architectural restoration and preservation.

Grant Range

for specific programs: $27,000–$30,000

Average Grant

amount for architectural restoration programs: $29,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:

New York
Colorado
Texas
California

Grant Distribution by State

New York $1.1M (37%)

Maryland $500K (17%)

South Carolina $195K (7%)

Arizona $169K (6%)

Texas $169K (6%)

Alabama $155K (5%)

New Jersey $135K (5%)

Colorado $122K (4%)

+8 more states

States

Alabama Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Idaho Massachusetts Maryland Missouri New Jersey New York South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia

Cities

ASPENBALTIMOREBASALTCHARLESTONCHERRY HILLCONCORDHEMPSTEADITHACAKANSAS CITYLEVITTOWNMCCALLMELVILLEMEMPHISMIDLOTHIANMONTGOMERYNEW YORKNORTH CHARLESTONPLANOPRINCETONROSELAND

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (as of most recent filing):

Total assets: $12,617,851
Total annual giving: $712,100

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	—	—	—
Revenue	—	—	—
Expenses	—	—	—
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	—	—	—
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

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

108 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Relief Services ($125,000), Cornell University ($90,000), Legal Momentum ($60,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AMERICARES STAMFORD, CT	SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF POVERTY, WAR AND NATURAL DISASTERS	$25,000
BOTH ENDS BELIEVING PLANO, TX	SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO FOSTER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES	$32,500
CARNEGIE HALL NEW YORK, NY	SUPPORT MUSICAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED AT CARNEGIE HALL	$25,000
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BALTIMORE, MD	SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY INDIVIDUALS	$125,000
CHANCES FOR CHILDREN SCOTTSDALE, AZ	SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPOVERISHED	$32,500
COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE CHARLESTON, SC	SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING NATURAL AREAS PRESERVATION	$25,000
CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY	SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIP AID	$90,000
DRAVET SYNDROME FOUNDATION CHERRY HILL, NJ	SUPPORT MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS	$5,000
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE MONTGOMERY, AL	SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO END MASS INCARCERATION AND CHALLENGE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE	$15,000
HOPE FOR UKRAINE ROSELAND, NJ	SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE	$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
MARY GAIL GEARNS	TRUSTEE	3	—
JOHN W GEARNS	TRUSTEE	2	—
DAVID L RUSSO	TREASURER	4	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Health Care • Historic Preservation and Architectural Restoration • Arts & Culture

How do I apply for a grant from Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation?

**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Total annual giving: $712,100 • Typical award range: $1,000–$125,000 • Average grant amount for architectural restoration programs: $29,000 • Grant range for specific programs: $27,000–$30,000 **Recent Grant Recipients:** The foundation has supported The Buckminster Fuller Institute in San Francisco, California with grants of $30,000 (2021) and $27,000 (2023) for support programs for architectural restoration and preservation.

Where does Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation make grants?

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • New York • Colorado • Texas • California

What size grants does Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation award?

In 2024, Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $712K — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation's EIN?

Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2659091. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.