The Citta Foundation Inc
The Citta Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 in Florida and currently based in Toms River, New Jersey. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to uplifting and supporting the local community through annual donations to charitable and educational organizations. The foundation was founded by Joseph and Regina Citta and continues to honor their legacy through strategic philanthropic efforts.
Key facts about The Citta Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 59-2635738
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $516,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 59
- Average grant
- $8,754
- Median grant
- $4,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (6 of 58, 2024)
- Total assets
- $9,769,865
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Citta Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Citta Foundation Inc's 59 itemized 2024 grants were New Jersey (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Toms River, NJ (33 grants) and Manahawkin, NJ (4 grants). 95% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Citta Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 58 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Citta Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.8M
+15.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$517K
+33.6% YoY
Grant Count
59
+1.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+31.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Citta Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $468K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to uplift and support the local community through annual donations to charitable and educational organizations, with a particular emphasis on the needs of Ocean County, New Jersey.
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable and educational causes, including:
- Youth development organizations (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore)
- Food security and hunger relief (Fulfill, Hunger Foundation of Southern Ocean, Meals on Wheels of Ocean County)
- Housing and community development (Habitat for Humanity, home repair initiatives)
- Healthcare and wellness (Community Medical Center, Hope Sheds Light)
- Social services (Salvation Army, Family Promise of Southern Ocean, Ocean's Harbor House)
- Education (Ocean County College Foundation)
- Youth mentorship (Just Believe, Inc.)
- Community wellness (YMCA)
Grantmaking
The foundation made 47 grants in 2023, with total giving of $386,550. Recent notable grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Ocean County, New Jersey, where it concentrates its philanthropic efforts to support local organizations and community needs.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 59 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $8,496,669
- Total Revenue: $471,426
- Total Expenses: $474,107
- Total Grants Made: $386,550
- Net Income: -$2
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants, contributions, etc.: $182,152
- Investment income and dividends: $142,438
- Net rental income: $18,794
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $95,265
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 vs. 2022):
- Total grants and contributions decreased 24.3%
- Investment income and dividends increased 20%
- Net rental income increased 32.6%
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets increased 185.5%
The foundation has zero liabilities and operates with no employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,769,865 | $8,496,669 | $7,278,977 |
| Revenue | $454,900 | $471,426 | $439,987 |
| Expenses | $1,022,582 | $474,107 | $562,242 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $516,500 | $386,550 | $474,713 |
| Net Investment Income | $150,825 | $201,717 | $109,685 |
| Distributable Amount | $468,289 | $346,673 | $377,807 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
275 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Oc College Foundation ($110,000 across 2 grants), Ocean's Harbor House ($40,000), Fulfill ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OC COLLEGE FOUNDATION Toms River, NJ | 5 YEAR PLEDGE - PAYMENT 1 OF 5 | $100,000 |
| OCEAN'S HARBOR HOUSE Toms River, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $40,000 |
| FULFILL Neptune, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $35,000 |
| COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION Toms River, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $32,500 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NJ Manahawkin, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| NORTHERN OCEAN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Toms River, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY Toms River, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| JUST BELIEVE INC Toms River, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF SOUTHERN OCEAN West Creek, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| YMCA Toms River, NJ | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by family members of the founders:
- Kristin Farfalla – President (granddaughter of founders)
- Loriann Erbe – Vice President (granddaughter of founders)
- Heather Moffitt – Treasurer (granddaughter of founders)
- Marie Roselli – Secretary
- Cheryl Zahn – Administrator
- Joseph A. Citta, Jr. – Trustee (son of founders)
- Justin Citta – Trustee (grandson of founders)
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristin Farfalla | President | — | — |
| Joseph a Citta Jr | Trustee | — | — |
| Marie Roselli | Secretary-Tr | — | — |
| Loriann Erbe | Vice Preside | — | — |
| Heather Moffitt | Vice Preside | — | — |
| Cheryl Zahn | Administrato | — | — |
| Justin Citta | Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Citta Foundation has demonstrated significant philanthropic activity in recent years:
Citta Foundation Donates $500K To OCCDonated $500,000 to the Ocean County College Foundation
Ocean County College Foundation Receives $500K Donation from Citta FoundationAwarded $600,000 to the Shore Area Boy Scouts Organization
Citta Foundation Awards $600K to Shore Area Boy Scouts OrganizationPledged $75,000 in collaboration with Causeway CARes, Habitat for Humanity, and Starve Poverty for home repairs across Ocean County
Ocean County College Foundation Receives $500K Donation from Citta FoundationHosts annual coat drives for children in need in partnership with local organizations including Causeway CARes and OceanFirst Bank
Contact Information
Address: 201 Hooper Avenue, Suite 5A, Toms River, NJ 08753
Telephone: 732-349-0200
EIN: 59-2635738
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Citta Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to uplift and support the local community through annual donations to charitable and educational organizations, with a particular emphasis on the needs of Ocean County, New Jersey. The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable and educational causes, including: • Youth development organizations (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore) • Food security and hunger relief (Fulfill, Hunger Foundation of Southern Ocean, Meals on Wheels of Ocean Coun…
How do I apply for a grant from The Citta Foundation Inc?
The foundation made 47 grants in 2023, with total giving of $386,550. Recent notable grants include: • Ocean's Harbor House: $20,000 (2023) • Ocean County College Foundation: $13,000 (2023) • Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore: $10,500 (2023) The foundation has also made significant major gifts, including a $500,000 donation to Ocean County College Foundation and a $600,000 award to the Shore Area Boy Scouts Organization. Additionally, the foundation pledged $75,000 to fund home repairs across Oce…
Where does The Citta Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Ocean County, New Jersey, where it concentrates its philanthropic efforts to support local organizations and community needs.
What size grants does The Citta Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Citta Foundation Inc awarded 59 grants totaling $517K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Citta Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Citta Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $468K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Citta Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Citta Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2635738. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.