The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In 2024, it made 42 grants totaling $8,925,000 to charitable organizations, including scientific and research institutions and conservation organizations.
Key facts about The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation
In short: The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation gave $8.9M across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $213K), top state Pennsylvania. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-1982695
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,925,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- Average grant
- $212,500
- Median grant
- $87,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (3 of 42, 2024)
- Total assets
- $47,176,066
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (20% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.2M
-11.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.9M
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
42
-8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$213K
+5.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 42 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $167K; repeat grants $216K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 78% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for research and recruitment at oceanographic and environmental institutions, as well as conservation and other charitable work.
Grantees describe their work in their own terms: Monell Chemical Senses Center says its mission is to advance knowledge of taste, smell, and chemosensory irritation. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences says it works to understand ocean ecosystems through research, education, and technology transfer. Wildlife Conservation Society says it works to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. These are the grantees’ missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $8,925,000. Grants ranged from $25,000 to $1,750,000, with a median grant of $87,500.
Review Cycle
None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to Pennsylvania (20%), New York (16%), Massachusetts (16%), Florida (11%), and California (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.7M (2020) to $9.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $8.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Monell Chemical Senses Center ($1.8M). Together the top 10 received $6.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
228 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 85 grants of 228 (37%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monell Chemical Senses Center Philadelphia, PA | Installment with reference to $5,500,000 pledge made with letter on february 7, 2022 by ambrose monell foundation | $1,750,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY | $250,000 for general purposes; $250,000 for its marine program: $250,000 for the wildlife health program; and $250,000 for the New York aquarium | $1,000,000 |
| Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA | For Recruitment and/or Research Purposes | $1,000,000 |
| University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Miami, FL | General Purposes | $500,000 |
| University of Washington College of the Environment Gift Services Seattle, WA | $375,000 to be applied for recruitment and research purposes at the school of oceanography; $25,000 to be applied to dr. Kristin laidre's work in greenland | $400,000 |
| University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Narragansett, RI | For Recruitment and/or Research Purposes | $375,000 |
| Marine Biological Laboratories Woods Hole, MA | For discretion of dr. Sogin and dr. Welch to the josephine bay paul center | $350,000 |
| Uc San Diego Foundation Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA | For application to the recruitment and/or research efforts within the global change program | $300,000 |
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences East Boothbay, ME | For Recruitment and/or Research Purposes | $250,000 |
| Oregon State University College of Earth Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences Corvallis, OR | For Application to Recruitment and/or Research Efforts | $250,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,176,066 | $3,984,307 | $9,964,892 | $8,925,000 |
| 2023 | $53,156,624 | $9,767,382 | $10,204,069 | $9,275,000 |
| 2022 | $53,593,311 | $2,130,696 | $10,768,620 | $9,740,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,176,066 | $53,156,624 | $53,593,311 |
| Revenue | $3,984,307 | $9,767,382 | $2,130,696 |
| Expenses | $9,964,892 | $10,204,069 | $10,768,620 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,087,328 | $9,460,262 | $9,920,372 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,106,743 | $9,099,565 | $1,866,992 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,668,049 | $9,434,179 | $9,270,558 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ambrose K. Monell as president and treasurer; Maurizio J. Morello as executive vice president and assistant treasurer; and Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp and Maia Monell as directors.
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation is led by Ambrose K. Monell, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ambrose K. Monell
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary K. Beauchamp
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maia Monell
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maurizio J. Morello
Executive V.p. & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $159K (2024)
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 $159K, to Maurizio J Morello (Exec V.P. & Asst. Treas.).
Contact
Application contact: Maurizio J Morello
Mailing address: One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 586-0700
Website: https://www.vetlesenfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation
How much does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation give each year?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation gave $8.9M across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.3M across 46 grants.
What is The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's typical grant size?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $87,500, and its average grant was $212,500, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation that year got $167K on average.
Where does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation give grants?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (16%) and Massachusetts (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (2 grants), Woods Hole, MA (2 grants), Miami, FL (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "For Recruitment and/or Research Purposes" (3 grants).
Who are The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's largest grantees?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Monell Chemical Senses Center ($1,750,000), Wildlife Conservation Society ($1,000,000) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation reported $47.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for research and recruitment at oceanographic and environmental institutions, as well as conservation and other charitable work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's EIN?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1982695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation by hand.
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