The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation is a family foundation located in Toms River, New Jersey. Co-founded in 2013 by Jay and the late Linda Grunin, with their son Jeremy serving as president, the Foundation provides holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations aligned with its vision for the Central Jersey Shore. The Foundation operates with a staff of five and a board of eleven, which includes five family members and six community members.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$6.0M
-3.0% YoY
Grant Count
86
+10.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$70K
-12.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Grunin Foundation provides holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations who have a shared vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore.
Strategic Priorities (2024-2026):
Funding — Supporting organizations, partnerships, coalitions, and other structures whose work aligns with the Foundation's prioritized outcomes and who have a strong connection to the community.
Capacity Building — Investing in the capacity building of organizations and individuals to enhance their impact, effectiveness, and sustainability through workshops, customized trainings, and one-on-one coaching.
Coalition Building — Engaging in coalition building and advocacy at the regional and state levels to impact systemic issues.
Funding Outcome Areas: The Foundation has transitioned from traditional pillars (arts, education, healthcare) to six specific outcome focus areas that collectively work toward an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore.
Equity Commitment: The Foundation recognizes that marginalized communities—including groups excluded based on race, age, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or immigration status—face specific challenges and are disproportionately impacted in the region. The Foundation values partnerships with organizations whose work positively impacts these communities and has pledged to integrate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging throughout its work.
Funding Approach: The Foundation emphasizes flexible, general operating support over programmatic funding to empower nonprofits to be more adaptable, innovative, and sustainable.
Grantmaking
Since 2013, the Foundation has made over 1,045 grants totaling more than $58 million in investments to the Central Jersey Shore, with an additional $11-12 million committed.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation maintains a place-based funding approach with direct focus on the Central Jersey Shore, specifically Ocean and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey. As a place-based funder, the Foundation aims to create meaningful change by investing in the region, understanding its unique dynamics, and working collaboratively to address its most pressing challenges.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $488,456
- Total Revenues: $7,803,277
- Total Expenses: $9,243,720
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $21,036
- Total Revenues: $7,076,736
- Total Expenses: $10,825,937
Cumulative Impact:
- Total Invested: $58 million (since 2013)
- Additional Committed: $11-12 million
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boca Raton Regional Hospital Fnd ($500,000), Hackensack Meridian Health Inc ($500,000), Monmouth University Inc ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 180 TURNING LIVES AROUND INC HAZLET, NJ | GRANT PMT 1 OF3 FOR GEN OP SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| 21 PLUS FOUNDATION INC MANCHESTER, NJ | CAPACITY SUPPORT | $10,400 |
| AFRICAN LINK INITIATIVE INC PEMBERTON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ART PRIDE NJ FOUNDATION INC BURLINGTON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ARTS ED NJ INC BURLINGTON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| BIG BROS BIG SIS OF COASTAL&NO NJ ASBURY PARK, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BOCA RATON REGIONAL HOSPITAL FND BOCA RATON, FL | CAPITAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| BOYS&GIRLS CLUB OF MONMOUTH COUNTY ASBURY PARK, NJ | GRANT PMT 1OF4 GENERAL OP SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BOYS&GIRLS CLUB OF MONMOUTH COUNTY ASBURY PARK, NJ | PROJECT L.E.A.D./GEN CAPACITY SUP | $108,500 |
| BRIDGING THE GAP FOR VETERANS INC MANASQUAN, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jay Grunin — Co-founder. Graduated from Brooklyn College (with honors) in 1964 and from NYU School of Law in 1967, where he served as an Editor of the Law Review. After early legal practice in New York and a clerkship with the Appellate Division in New Jersey, he and Linda established a law firm in Ocean County in the 1970s. In the 1990s, they dissolved their law practice to focus on business investments and philanthropy.
Jeremy Grunin — President of the Grunin Foundation and only child of Jay and Linda Grunin.
Linda Grunin — Late co-founder. Met Jay at NYU School of Law in 1967 and was his business partner in their law firm and subsequent ventures.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY GRUNIN | CHAIRMAN | 12 | — |
| JEREMY GRUNIN | PRESIDENT | 36 | $240,000 |
| HEATHER BARBERI | EXEC DIRECTO | 40 | $215,815 |
| KELLY FLILLER | DIR COMMUNIC | 40 | $110,674 |
| JOSHUA GRUNIN | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| VICTORIA MARIE FERNANDEZ | DIR COMMUNIT | 40 | $150,255 |
| REBECCA GRUNIN | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| TOMAS ALVAREZ | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| LAURIE GOGANZER | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| NICOLE PULLIAM | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| EDWARD JOHNSON | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| JACLYN RODEMANN | DIR OF OPERA | 40 | $83,635 |
| ADRIANA MEDINA-GOMEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| ELIZABETH GOLLA | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| EMMA GRUNIN | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation continues to expand its capacity building initiatives, including the Pragmatic Activism Fall Cohort 2024, which provides programming and learning opportunities for nonprofit leaders and community members.
The Foundation released its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, outlining its continued commitment to systemic change through funding, capacity building, and coalition building in the Central Jersey Shore region.
Grunin Foundation President Named to New Jersey CoalitionSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Grunin Foundation provides holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations who have a shared vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore. **Strategic Priorities (2024-2026):** 1. **Funding** — Supporting organizations, partnerships, coalitions, and other structures whose work aligns with the Foundation's prioritized outcomes and who have a strong connection to the community. 2. **Capacity Building** — Inv…
How do I apply for a grant from The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** Since 2013, the Foundation has made over 1,045 grants totaling more than $58 million in investments to the Central Jersey Shore, with an additional $11-12 million committed. **Recent Grant Examples (2023-2024):** • Ocean County College Foundation: $650,000-$662,000 • Monmouth University: $500,000-$515,000 • Count Basie Center for Theatre Arts: $274,666 • Monmouth Medical Center Foundation: $607,500 **Total Annual Giving:** • 2023: $6,230,161 in grants made • 2024: Approximat…
Where does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation make grants?
The Foundation maintains a place-based funding approach with direct focus on the **Central Jersey Shore**, specifically **Ocean and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey**. As a place-based funder, the Foundation aims to create meaningful change by investing in the region, understanding its unique dynamics, and working collaboratively to address its most pressing challenges.
What size grants does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation award?
In 2024, The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation awarded 86 grants totaling $6.0M — an average of about $70K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation's EIN?
The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3988913. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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