Messner Foundation Inc
Messner Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Northfield, New Jersey. Its 2024 filing also records grants to organizations working in areas including health, housing, food assistance, and community services.
Messner Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Messner Foundation Inc gave $742K across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), top state Pennsylvania. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $742,471
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +2.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,539
- +24.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,038,453
- -9.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (4 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (35% 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 Messner Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists a letter indicating the charitable purpose as the required material and Harold Messner as the contact for applications. It lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Harold Messner
Mailing address: 1 Meadow Pond Lane, Ocean View, NJ 08230
Phone: (609) 653-1500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Messner Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Jude's Children's Hospital ($200K). Together the top 10 received $602K.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 193 grants of 206 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 35% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 33% to New Jersey, and 27% to Tennessee. North Carolina accounted for 2% and Florida for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Messner Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 38 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 221% of 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 $500K (2020) to $742K (2024). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $742K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Jude's Children's Hospital Memphis, TN | Support cause | $200,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, PA | Support cause | $200,000 |
| Covenant House New Jersey Inc Newark, NJ | Support cause | $45,000 |
| St Christopher Hospital for Children Philadelphia, PA | Support Cause | $32,471 |
| Atlantic City Rescue Mission Atlantic City, NJ | Support cause | $25,000 |
| Friends of Jean Webster Atlantic City, NJ | Support cause | $25,000 |
| Community Food Bank of New Jersey Hillside, NJ | Support cause | $20,000 |
| St Maximillian Kolbe Parish Marmora, NJ | Support cause | $20,000 |
| Sunshine Foundation Feasterville, PA | Support cause | $20,000 |
| Samritans Purse Boone, NC | Support cause | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Messner Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,038,453 | $435,705 | $952,349 | $742,471 | 38 | $868,233 | $360,589 | $393,442 |
| 2023 | $5,555,097 | $481,523 | $778,191 | $580,200 | 37 | $703,994 | $408,338 | $373,862 |
| 2022 | $5,853,675 | $183,005 | $722,377 | $512,450 | 42 | $639,734 | $100,362 | $408,924 |
| 2021 | $6,395,288 | $580,094 | $668,992 | $508,250 | 45 | $609,007 | $520,109 | $460,249 |
| 2020 | $6,497,375 | $254,868 | $656,680 | $500,100 | 44 | — | $199,975 | $415,727 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Messner Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $393K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations serving different needs. For example, Atlantic City Rescue Mission describes its mission as providing food, shelter, and rehabilitation services to people who are hurting or homeless in the Atlantic City area. Community Food Bank of New Jersey says it works to address the root causes of hunger. Sunshine Foundation says it answers the dreams of children with severe or profound challenges or trauma, and Deborah Hospital Foundation says it raises funds to support the humanitarian mission of its affiliated hospital.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $742,471. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $200,000 each to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania; $45,000 to Covenant House New Jersey; $32,471 to St Christopher Hospital for Children; and $25,000 each to Atlantic City Rescue Mission and Friends of Jean Webster.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Harold Messner, Elaine Messner, Leslie Kohler, Brenda Cacossa, and Laura Sampson as trustees.
Messner Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brenda Cacossa
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Laura Sampson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Leslie Kohler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $50K (2024)
Elaine Messner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harold Messner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $50K, to Leslie Kohler (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Messner Foundation Inc
How much does Messner Foundation Inc give each year?
Messner Foundation Inc gave $742K across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $580K across 37 grants.
What is Messner Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Messner Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $19,539, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Messner Foundation Inc that year got $16K on average.
Where does Messner Foundation Inc give grants?
Messner Foundation Inc's top state is Pennsylvania, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Jersey (33%) and Tennessee (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlantic City, NJ (3 grants), Somers Point, NJ (2 grants), Egg Harbor Township, NJ (2 grants) and Tuckahoe, NJ (2 grants).
Does Messner Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on Messner Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support cause" (38 grants).
Who are Messner Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Messner Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include St Jude's Children's Hospital ($200,000), University of Pennsylvania ($200,000) and Covenant House New Jersey Inc ($45,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Messner Foundation Inc?
Messner Foundation Inc reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $868K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $393K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Messner Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations serving different needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Messner Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Messner Foundation Inc's EIN?
Messner Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0581765. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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). Messner Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/messner-foundation-inc-morg_60d30c163c4f48e0a07ec413174321ed
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260581765_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Messner Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/messner-foundation-inc-morg_60d30c163c4f48e0a07ec413174321ed},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Messner Foundation Inc'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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