The James and Sharon Maida Foundation
The James R and Sharon Omara Maida Foundation Inc. is a private grantmaking foundation based in Ewing, New Jersey. Established in July 1997, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.9M
-0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-15.1% YoY
Grant Count
38
+8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
-21.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James and Sharon Maida Foundation reported a distributable amount of $505K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science education and STEM initiatives
- Education nonprofits
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant support for educational initiatives, including funding for education abroad programs and law school public interest efforts.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $15,881,582
- Total Annual Giving: $1,672,353
- Revenue (2023): $3.19 million
- Expenses (2023): $2.22 million
- Total Assets (2023): $16 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,881,582 | $16,015,258 | $15,040,013 |
| Revenue | $1,663,598 | $3,191,478 | $3,129,843 |
| Expenses | $1,797,274 | $2,216,233 | $2,125,678 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,682,883 | $1,980,889 | $2,011,389 |
| Net Investment Income | $321,465 | $820,659 | $734,963 |
| Distributable Amount | $505,306 | $496,223 | $536,582 |
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
171 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include RWJ Barnabus Health Care System ($554,754), Lehigh University ($535,300), Rutgers University Foundation ($263,891).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lehigh University Bethlehem PA, PA | Scholarship | $535,300 |
| Kutztown Univer of PA Kutztown PA, PA | Scholarship | $45,000 |
| Mercer Street Friends Trenton, NJ | Children's Issues | $1,500 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Fund Williamsburg, VA | Cultural | $500 |
| Homefront Lawerenceville, NJ | Children's Issues | $1,800 |
| Save Barnegat Bay Lavallette, NJ | Cultural | $5,000 |
| Trenton Area Soup Kitchen Trenton, NJ | Cultural | $1,000 |
| Rutgers University Foundation New Brunswick, NJ | Scholarship | $13,233 |
| Preservation Society of Newport Cou Newport, RI | Cultural | $750 |
| Independence Seaport Museum Philadelphia, PA | Museum Maintenance | $550 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James R Maida | Trustee | — | — |
| Sharon O Maida | Trustee | — | — |
| Elaine L Maida | Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported notable educational initiatives, including:
**Lehigh University:** Established the Maida Education Abroad Grants program to support student international education experiences.
Lehigh University Announces the Maida Education Abroad Grants**Rutgers Law School:** Made a $1 million donation to enhance statewide public interest law efforts across Rutgers' law schools.
$1M Gift to Rutgers Law School Enhances Statewide Public Interest EffortsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James and Sharon Maida Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science education and STEM initiatives • Education nonprofits
How do I apply for a grant from The James and Sharon Maida Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $1,062,500. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $1,672,353 in grants based on the most recent filing. The foundation has demonstrated significant support for educational initiatives, including funding for education abroad programs and law school public interest efforts.
Where does The James and Sharon Maida Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in: • New Jersey • Pennsylvania • New York
What size grants does The James and Sharon Maida Foundation award?
In 2024, The James and Sharon Maida Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James and Sharon Maida Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James and Sharon Maida Foundation reported a distributable amount of $505K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James and Sharon Maida Foundation's EIN?
The James and Sharon Maida Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3479321. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The James and Sharon Maida 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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