Mattel Children's Foundation
The Mattel Children's Foundation is a private, corporate-sponsored foundation headquartered in El Segundo, California. Established in 1978, it operates as the philanthropic arm of Mattel, Inc., focusing on supporting children's causes across the United States and internationally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$152K
+141.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$202K
-15.1% YoY
Grant Count
10
-37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+35.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mattel Children's Foundation reported a distributable amount of $352 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to enrich the lives of children, with special emphasis directed toward programs that support or enhance opportunities for children to play. The foundation provides funding for:
- General operating support for nonprofit organizations serving children
- Disaster relief grants
- Scholarships for children of Mattel employees
- Employee matching gifts to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations involved with children (up to $5,000 per employee, per year)
- Programs serving children in need up to age 12
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$7,500-$8,000
Average Grant
approximately $13,000-$15,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across various U.S. cities and states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, D.C. The foundation also supports initiatives in Ciudad de Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $63,047
- Total Revenue: $295,009
- Total Expenses: $295,009
- Total Giving: $239,000
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $152,000
- Total Revenue: $365,442
- Total Expenses: $365,442
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $152,129 | $63,047 | $67,185 |
| Revenue | $365,442 | $295,009 | $337,062 |
| Expenses | $365,442 | $295,009 | $337,062 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $241,205 | $263,449 | $305,936 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $352 | $360 | $550 |
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
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Matching Grants ($62,437), American Red Cross ($25,000), Good Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MATCHING GRANTS EL SEGUNDO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $62,437 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS SANTA MONICA, CA | DISASTER RELIEF | $25,000 |
| GOOD FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | DISASTER RELIEF | $25,000 |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC FAIRFIELD, CT | DISASTER RELIEF | $25,000 |
| THE SALVATION AMRY CARSON, CA | DISASTER RELIEF | $25,000 |
| MUSEIQUE PASADENA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| EMERGE CONNECTICUT NEW HAVEN, CT | DISASTER RELIEF | $7,500 |
| QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY HAMDEN, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER SCARSDALE, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team serves without compensation:
- Nancy Molenda – President
- Dave Zbojniewicz – Chief Financial Officer
- Amarilis Whitty – Vice President
- Melissa Hogan – Treasurer
- Lilian Balasanian – Secretary
- Catherine Frymark – Board Member
- PJ Lewis – Board Member
- Tiffani Magri – Board Member
- Amy Thompson – Board Member
- Steve Totzke – Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVE ZBOJNIEWICZ | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 0.5 | — |
| NANCY MOLENDA | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| AMARILIS WHITTY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| MELISSA HOGAN | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL OLIVAS | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| CATHERINE FRYMARK | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| PJ LEWIS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| TIFFANI MAGRI | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| KAREN ANCIRA | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| STEVE TOTZKE | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 333 Continental Blvd, El Segundo, CA 90245-5032
- Phone: 310-252-2536
- Email: Foundation@mattel.com
- Website: corporate.mattel.com/philanthropy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mattel Children's Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to enrich the lives of children, with special emphasis directed toward programs that support or enhance opportunities for children to play. The foundation provides funding for: • General operating support for nonprofit organizations serving children • Disaster relief grants • Scholarships for children of Mattel employees • Employee matching gifts to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations involved with children (up to $5,000 per employee, p…
How do I apply for a grant from Mattel Children's Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Made 16-18 grants in recent fiscal years • Median grant size: $7,500-$8,000 • Grant range: $1,000-$118,000 • Average grant size: approximately $13,000-$15,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • New Alternatives for Children: $15,000 (General Operating Support) • Children's Health Council (CHC): $15,000 (Board Grant) • Save the Children Federation: $13,978 (Disaster Relief) **Application Status:** The foundation accepts applications from nonprofit organizations serving c…
Where does Mattel Children's Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across various U.S. cities and states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, D.C. The foundation also supports initiatives in Ciudad de Mexico.
What size grants does Mattel Children's Foundation award?
In 2024, Mattel Children's Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $202K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mattel Children's Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mattel Children's Foundation reported a distributable amount of $352 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mattel Children's Foundation's EIN?
Mattel Children's Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3263647. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mattel Children's Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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