The John and Mary Neff Foundation
The John and Mary Neff Foundation is a private foundation based in Decatur, Georgia. In 2024, it reported giving $2,110,000 through 12 grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in science, education, food access, health care, and environmental education.
The John and Mary Neff Foundation at a glance
In short: The John and Mary Neff Foundation gave $2.1M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $176K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,110,000
- +15.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $175,833
- +92.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $2,279,791
- -27.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The John and Mary Neff Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 1184, Decatur, GA 30031
Phone: (404) 378-4870
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John and Mary Neff Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Science in the Public Interest ($750K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 46 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 50% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC; 36% to recipients in Massachusetts; and 14% to recipients in Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How The John and Mary Neff Foundation gives
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1106% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $250 (2020) to $2.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Science in the Public Interest Washington DC, DC | To envision a healthy population with reduced impact and burden of preventable diseases and an equitable food system that makes healthy, sustainable food accessible to all. | $750,000 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists Cambridge, MA | to use rigorous, independent science to solve our planet's most pressing problems | $750,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Enhance the quality of life in Atlanta by providing expert philanthropic services. | $250,000 |
| Society for Science & the Public Washington DC, DC | To promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement: to inform, educate, and inspire. | $200,000 |
| Mathmatical Assoc of America Washington, DC | Public policy efforts to recruit and retain minority and female students into undergraduate mathematics and mathematics-intensive fields. | $100,000 |
| Horizons Atlanta Atlanta, GA | to support a six-week summer learning experience that supports students from underserved communities throughout their K-12 academic careers | $20,000 |
| Good Samaritan Health Center Atlanta, GA | Work to remove the barriers preventing low-income families from obtaining access to quality healthcare in the Atlanta area. | $10,000 |
| National Park Foundation Washington, DC | to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. | $10,000 |
| Food Well Alliance Atlanta, GA | To provide resources and support to local Georgia growers to connect and build healthier communities through an equitable, local food ecosystem in which everyone can participate and benefit. | $5,000 |
| Georgia Organics Atlanta, GA | To invest in Georgia's organic farmers for the health of our communities and the land. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The John and Mary Neff Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,279,791 | $1,291,230 | $2,159,257 | $2,110,000 | 12 | $2,119,304 | $568,354 | $163,996 |
| 2023 | $3,147,818 | $121,810 | $1,889,637 | $1,830,000 | 20 | $1,842,084 | $73,303 | $230,323 |
| 2022 | $4,915,645 | $75,695 | $370,298 | $310,000 | 8 | $312,941 | $119,170 | $248,935 |
| 2021 | $5,250,166 | $5,442,792 | $234,772 | $175,000 | 5 | $194,959 | $36,681 | $117,434 |
| 2020 | $2,228 | $9 | $250 | $250 | 1 | — | $9 | $116 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John and Mary Neff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations with varied purposes. For example, Society for Science describes its mission as expanding scientific literacy, effective STEM education, and scientific research. Horizons Atlanta describes its work as providing a tuition-free, six-week summer academic and enrichment program for students from underserved communities. Georgia Organics says it invests in organic farmers for the health of communities and the land; Wholesome Wave Georgia describes its mission as facilitating access to healthy food choices for Georgians in need; and Wylde Center describes itself as an environmental education organization with community greenspace.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $2,110,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $750,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest awards were $750,000 each to the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Other notable awards included $250,000 to the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, $200,000 to Society for Science & the Public, and $100,000 to the Mathematical Association of America.
Additional 2024 grants included $20,000 to Horizons Atlanta; $10,000 each to Good Samaritan Health Center and the National Park Foundation; and $5,000 each to Food Well Alliance, Georgia Organics, Wholesome Wave Georgia, and Wylde Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Connie L Kertz was listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
The John and Mary Neff Foundation is led by Connie L Kertz, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Connie L Kertz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$40K (2021) → $26K (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 $26K, to Connie L Kertz (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The John and Mary Neff Foundation
How much does The John and Mary Neff Foundation give each year?
The John and Mary Neff Foundation gave $2.1M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 20 grants.
What is The John and Mary Neff Foundation's typical grant size?
The John and Mary Neff Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $175,833, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The John and Mary Neff Foundation give grants?
The John and Mary Neff Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (36%) and Georgia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (6 grants), Washington DC, DC (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The John and Mary Neff Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The John and Mary Neff Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The John and Mary Neff Foundation's largest grantees?
The John and Mary Neff Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center for Science in the Public Interest ($750,000), Union of Concerned Scientists ($750,000) and Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The John and Mary Neff Foundation?
The John and Mary Neff Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $164K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The John and Mary Neff Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations with varied purposes. For example, Society for Science describes its mission as expanding scientific literacy, effective STEM education, and scientific research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John and Mary Neff Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 John and Mary Neff Foundation's EIN?
The John and Mary Neff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6403590. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The John and Mary Neff Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John and Mary Neff Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-and-mary-neff-foundation-morg_f69cf97b8e7746eba93a234934e58f7c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_586403590_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John and Mary Neff Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-and-mary-neff-foundation-morg_f69cf97b8e7746eba93a234934e58f7c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The John and Mary Neff 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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