The Mai Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1996 and based in New York City. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a private foundation under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.3M
-10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.1M
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
69
+23.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$74K
-8.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mai Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $820K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects a focus on:
- International human rights and transitional justice
- Poverty alleviation
- Social entrepreneurship
- Civic participation and democracy
- Refugee support
- Education
The foundation's philanthropic interests have been shaped by its founder's experience growing up in South Africa during apartheid, leading to a concentration on organizations promoting human rights, reconciliation, and democratic values.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates with a highly selective, invitation-only approach to grantmaking. There is no public application process or formal grant programs. All funding decisions are made at board discretion, and the foundation funds only preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1,000,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national and international focus, with particular concentration in the New York City area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $16,261,138
- Total revenues: $624,161
- Total expenses: $5,215,196
- Total liabilities: $1,600,000
Historical Assets:
- 2017: $19,070,482 in accumulated assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,261,138 | $18,161,033 | $7,054,984 |
| Revenue | $624,161 | $15,300,621 | $5,990,218 |
| Expenses | $5,215,196 | $4,694,807 | $6,744,289 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,104,057 | $4,541,418 | $6,557,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $513,022 | $3,297,232 | $6,386,129 |
| Distributable Amount | $820,226 | $764,830 | $667,488 |
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 Sesame Takalani ($500,000), International Rescue Committee ($250,000), The Tobin Project ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFYA FOUNDATION YONKERS, NY | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION (MIND THE GAP) WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| ARTS IGNITE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| ASPHALT GREEN NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $80,000 |
| BANK STREET SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| BREAKING GROUND NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $150,000 |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF NEW PALTZ NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Mai Family Foundation is run by Vincent A. Mai, a South Africa-born investment banker who serves as founder, chairman, and CEO. His wife Anne serves as president. The foundation's board includes Vincent Mai, Anne Mai, and their three children. The foundation operates with no paid staff.
Vincent Mai is the current chairman and CEO of The Cranemere Group, Limited (formerly Cranemere, LLC). He is a former employee of the leveraged buyout firm AEA Investors and a past managing director of Lehman Brothers.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VINCENT A MAI | VP/DIR | 2 | — |
| ANNE MAI | PRES/DIR | 0.5 | — |
| JAMES MAI | ASST TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| REBECCA MAI | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| CHIARA MAI | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| DAVID MITNICK | ASST SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| TIMOTHY MAI | ASST TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 152 West 57th Street, 42nd Floor New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 845-4322
EIN: 13-3915987
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mai Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects a focus on: • International human rights and transitional justice • Poverty alleviation • Social entrepreneurship • Civic participation and democracy • Refugee support • Education The foundation's philanthropic interests have been shaped by its founder's experience growing up in South Africa during apartheid, leading to a concentration on organizations promoting human rights, reconciliation, …
How do I apply for a grant from The Mai Family Foundation?
**Grant Structure:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $1,000,000 • Typical grants: $50,000 to $100,000 • Smaller grants: $5,000 minimum • Larger strategic grants: $150,000 to $1,000,000 • Annual number of grants: 50-75 grants per year **Application Process:** The foundation operates with a highly selective, invitation-only approach to grantmaking. There is no public application process or formal grant programs. All funding decisions are made at board discretion, and the foundation funds only preselecte…
Where does The Mai Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a national and international focus, with particular concentration in the New York City area.
What size grants does The Mai Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mai Family Foundation awarded 69 grants totaling $5.1M — an average of about $74K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mai Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mai Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $820K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Mai Family Foundation's EIN?
The Mai Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3915987. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mai Family 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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