The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust is a private foundation based in Brick, New Jersey. Its 2024 filing lists grants to schools, school districts, and individual scholarships, with all grant dollars going to recipients in New Jersey.
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust at a glance
In short: The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust gave $283K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $28K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $282,500
- -37.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $28,250
- -37.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $6,312,878
- +174.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% 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 Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 745 Herbertsville Road, Brick, NJ 08724
Phone: (732) 202-7381
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Toms River Regional School District ($75K). Together the top 7 received $208K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 50 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in filing year 2024 went to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $203K (2020) to $453K (2023). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $283K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Toms River Regional School District Toms River, NJ | Scholarshipcommittee | $75,000 |
| Point Boro High School Point Pleasant, NJ | Scholarshipcommittee | $25,000 |
| Pt Pleasant BD of Ed Point Pleasant Beach, NJ | Scholarshipcommittee | $25,000 |
| Brick Memorial High School Brick, NJ | Scholarshipcommittee | $25,000 |
| Brick High School Brick, NJ | Scholarshipcommittee | $25,000 |
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $75,000 |
| Manasquan High School Manasquan, NJ | Scholarshipcommitte | $25,000 |
| Individual Scholarships Brick, NJ | Scholarship Committee | $7,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,312,878 | $241,135 | $384,591 | $282,500 | 10 | $282,500 | $295,270 | $233,387 |
| 2023 | $2,297,521 | $271,717 | $488,702 | $452,500 | 10 | $452,500 | $250,041 | $122,336 |
| 2022 | $2,499,622 | $315,533 | $395,816 | $375,000 | 11 | $375,116 | $142,305 | $140,514 |
| 2021 | $2,606,751 | $117,833 | $303,757 | $255,000 | 9 | $255,000 | $397,873 | $133,338 |
| 2020 | $2,044,451 | $57,846 | $245,767 | $202,500 | 10 | — | $23,028 | $119,007 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $233K for 2024 — 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 2024, the foundation gave $282,500 through 10 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $75,000, with a median of $25,000.
The largest grant was $75,000 to Toms River Regional School District. The foundation also gave $25,000 each to Point Boro High School, Pt Pleasant Bd of Ed, Brick Memorial High School, Brick High School, two individual recipients, Manasquan High School, and an individual recipient Individual Scholarships received $7,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joann M Gordon, Dr Michael Lepis, and Mari Ann Pepe as trustees.
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joann M. Gordon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Mari Ann Pepe
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Michael Lepis
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$8K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Carl R. Lepis Sr. (2020–2022) — Trustee
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 $8K, to Dr Michael Lepis (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust
How much does The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust give each year?
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust gave $283K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $453K across 10 grants.
What is The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's typical grant size?
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $28,250, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust give grants?
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Brick, NJ (3 grants).
Does The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarshipcommittee" (7 grants).
Who are The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's largest grantees?
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Toms River Regional School District ($75,000), Point Boro High School ($25,000) and Pt Pleasant BD of Ed ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust?
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust reported $6.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $283K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $233K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
How do I apply for a grant from The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's EIN?
The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3696654. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Joseph Mazzarella & Grace Mazzarella Educational Foundation Trust 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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