The Fraentzel Foundation
The Fraentzel Foundation is a private foundation based in Maplewood, New Jersey. Its 2025 filing reports $55,000 in grants to 17 recipients, all in New Jersey.
The Fraentzel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Fraentzel Foundation gave $55K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in New Jersey. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $55,000
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,235
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $616,876
- -2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Fraentzel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2023 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to submit an application in writing stating their IRS qualification, purpose, name, and address. Awards are restricted to Northern New Jersey organizations qualifying under Section 501(c)(3).
- Review Cycle
- December 1, as stated in the 2023 filing; that deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- December 1, as stated in the 2023 filing; that deadline has passed.
- Contact
Application contact: John James
Mailing address: 11 Inwood Place, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Phone: (973) 378-3118
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Fraentzel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Soorangemaplwdcommunity ($6K). Together the top 10 received $42K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 72 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants were all awarded to recipients in New Jersey. The foundation’s 2023 filing specifies that eligible organizations must be in Northern New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Fraentzel Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $44K (2020) to $56K (2022). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $55K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Soorangemaplwdcommunity Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $6,000 |
| Mend Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $5,750 |
| Maplewood Memorial Library Maplewood, NJ | Operational-Library Capital Campaign | $5,000 |
| Maplewoodsouth Orange Rescue Squad South Orange, NJ | Operational | $4,000 |
| Morrow Memorial United Methodist Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $4,000 |
| South Orange Maplewood Adult School Maplewood, NJ | Operational--ESL Program | $4,000 |
| So Mountain Branch YMCA Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $3,750 |
| Rent Party Pantry Inc Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $3,250 |
| Achieve Foundation-so Orange & Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $3,000 |
| Columbia High School Scholarship Maplewood, NJ | Operational | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $616,876 | $49,969 | $65,198 | $55,000 | 17 | $55,000 | $40,371 | $49,334 |
| 2024 | $632,298 | $40,658 | $59,645 | $50,000 | 14 | $50,000 | $31,427 | $47,052 |
| 2023 | $650,881 | $19,703 | $54,022 | $45,000 | 14 | $45,000 | $13,371 | $42,754 |
| 2022 | $685,066 | $43,816 | $66,070 | $55,775 | 14 | $55,775 | $32,937 | $44,932 |
| 2021 | $707,318 | $89,731 | $58,972 | $49,025 | 13 | — | $80,271 | $48,694 |
| 2020 | $675,555 | $27,325 | $51,870 | $43,525 | 14 | — | $18,983 | $42,636 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fraentzel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $49K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave 17 grants totaling $55,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Among the largest were $6,000 to Soorangemaplewoodcommunity, $5,750 to MEND, $5,000 to Maplewood Memorial Library for a library capital campaign, and $4,000 each to Maplewood-South Orange Rescue Squad, Morrow Memorial United Methodist, and South Orange Maplewood Adult School for its ESL program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Audrey Rowe as president, Anisa Mehdi as secretary, David J Carlson as treasurer, Tricia Tunstall as vice president, and Luis Estrella as trustee.
The Fraentzel Foundation is led by Audrey Rowe, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Audrey Rowe
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luis Estrella
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anisa Mehdi
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Tunstall
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David J. Carlson
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: John James (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Ronald Carter (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Fraentzel Foundation
How much does The Fraentzel Foundation give each year?
The Fraentzel Foundation gave $55K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 14 grants.
What is The Fraentzel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Fraentzel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,235, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Fraentzel Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Fraentzel Foundation give grants?
The Fraentzel Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Maplewood, NJ (15 grants).
Does The Fraentzel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Fraentzel Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Fraentzel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Fraentzel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Soorangemaplwdcommunity ($6,000), Mend ($5,750) and Maplewood Memorial Library ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Fraentzel Foundation?
The Fraentzel Foundation reported $617K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $55K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $49K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
How do I apply for a grant from The Fraentzel Foundation?
The foundation’s 2023 filing says 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 The Fraentzel Foundation's EIN?
The Fraentzel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7052593. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from The Fraentzel Foundation'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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