Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation
The Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1996 and based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses its philanthropic efforts on early childhood development and related initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$531K
-24.2% YoY
Grant Count
48
-28.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+5.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on early childhood programming and support. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Based on recent grant activity, the foundation supports initiatives across multiple sectors including:
- Early childhood education and development
- Youth programming
- Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
- Climate-related initiatives
- Community development and opportunity building
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$27,000–$125,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making activities primarily target organizations in:
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $11.4 million
- Total Revenues: $272,897
- Total Expenses: $1,066,061
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 0
| 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
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stronghearts Native Helpline ($100,000), The Trevor Project ($100,000), Day One Rhode Island ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE MINDS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $62,500 |
| ALL ROADS BOULDER, CO | GENERAL | $500 |
| BELOIT COLLEGE BELOIT, WI | ANNUAL FUND | $7,500 |
| BURROW NEURO INSTITUTE PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| CATHDERAL HIGH SCHOOL SAN DIEGO, CA | SEAN DOYLE SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
| CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH INNOVATION PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL | $62,500 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| CHRYSALIS PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| DAY ONE RHODE ISLAND PROVIDENCE, RI | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS DENVER, CO | GENERAL | $2,644 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT T MAYER | DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM E MAYER | DIRECTOR & VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN S MONSON | ASST SECRETARY | 10 | — |
| OSCAR HENRY MAYER | DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DONALD L MAYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TIMOTHY N THOMPSON | ASST TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ALISON SHETTER | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| STEPHANIE MAYER HEYDT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GREGORY K MAYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAH RIDER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| OSCAR HARRISON MAYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on **early childhood** programming and support. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Based on recent grant activity, the foundation supports initiatives across multiple sectors including: • Early childhood education and development • Youth programming • Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency • Climate-related initiatives • Community development and opportunity building
How do I apply for a grant from Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $531,280 • Number of grants made in 2023: 57 grants • Typical grant range: $27,000–$125,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP): $125,000 • Carbon180: $75,000 • Dions Chicago Dream NFP: $50,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Where does Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grant-making activities primarily target organizations in: • California • Colorado • Illinois
What size grants does Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $531K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation's EIN?
Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4035204. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family 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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