The Mailman Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 13-6161556

The Mailman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, New York. In 2024, it reported making 37 grants totaling $1,205,000 to charitable organizations.

The Mailman Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The Mailman Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), top state New York. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,205,000
+42.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
37
+2.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$32,568
+38.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$20,000
Total assets
$19,024,203
+3.6% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2024)
Primary geography
New York (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Mailman Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: Co Lubcher - 126 E 56Th St 3Rd F, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 888-8350

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Mailman Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

New Civil Liberties Alliance: $250KNew Civil Liberties Alliance$250KStone Barns Center: $95KStone Barns Center$95KLincoln Center Theater: $85K across 2 grantsLincoln Center Theater$85K · 2 grantsAmerican Associates of the National Theatre Inc: $50KAmerican Associates of theNational Theatre Inc$50KCedars-Sinai Medical Center: $50KCedars-Sinai Medical Center$50KCenter for Reproductive Rights: $50KCenter for Reproductive Rights$50KCity Harvest Inc: $50KCity Harvest Inc$50KHudson Institute - Center for American Culture: $50KHudson Institute - Center forAmerican Culture$50KMiami New Drama: $50KMiami New Drama$50KNational Association of Scholars: $50KNational Association ofScholars$50K

The largest 2024 recipient was New Civil Liberties Alliance ($250K). Together the top 10 received $780K.

Grant Size Distribution

181 grants across all recorded years

151<$50K25$50–100K4$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 151 grants of 181 (83%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, recipients in New York received 46% of grant dollars, those in Washington, DC received 24%, California recipients received 16%, Florida recipients received 10%, and Washington recipients received 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkLos AngelesWashingtonBrooklynMiamiMinneapolisQueensTuxedo ParkBronxCoconut GroveSan ClementeSan FranciscoTarrytownBaltimoreCoral GablesMiami BeachOaklandHoustonNashvillePalmetto Bay

Is The Mailman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

17%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 36 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $37K. How we count

Medians: $13K first-time, $23K repeat.

  • 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 133% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 49% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M30 grants2020 37 grants2021 41 grants2022 36 grants2023 37 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $518K (2021) to $1.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $1.2M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
New Civil Liberties Alliance Washington, DCUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$250,000
Stone Barns Center Tarrytown, NYUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$95,000
Lincoln Center Theater New York, NYUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$60,000
American Associates of the National Theatre Inc New York, NYUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CAUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NYUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
City Harvest Inc Queens, NYUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
Hudson Institute - Center for American Culture Washington, WAUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
Miami New Drama Miami Beach, FLUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
National Association of Scholars New York, NYUnrestricted Charitible Purpose$50,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$19,024,203$2,277,800$1,616,670$1,205,00037$1,296,806$1,944,991$2,643,059
2023$18,363,073$605,525$1,202,553$847,04036$935,108$327,016$2,073,021
2022$18,960,101$175,297$1,428,799$1,034,25041$1,104,315—$2,137,805
2021$20,245,051$1,843,854$850,066$517,61037$589,420$1,582,276$2,619,464
2020$19,253,682$1,079,887$878,458$527,00030—$872,779$1,604,982

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mailman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in healthcare, higher education, reproductive rights, theater, ocean and beach protection, food assistance, and youth music education. For example, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center describes its mission as elevating the health status of the communities it serves, while the Center for Reproductive Rights says it uses law to advance reproductive rights as human rights. Miami New Drama describes its work as developing and producing new theater and using theater-making for social engagement, cultural conversation, and human connection.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $1,205,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000. Its largest reported grant was $250,000 to the New Civil Liberties Alliance. Other grants included $95,000 to Stone Barns Center; $60,000 to Lincoln Center Theater; and $50,000 each to the American Associates of the National Theatre, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Center for Reproductive Rights, City Harvest, Miami New Drama, and the National Association of Scholars.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Phyllis Mailman as vice president/assistant treasurer; Joan M Wolfe as president; Johanna L Wolfe and Olivia L Wolfe as vice presidents/assistant secretaries; and Joseph V Hastings as secretary/treasurer.

The Mailman Foundation Inc is led by Joan M. Wolfe, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Joan M. Wolfe

    President

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $25K (2020) → $25K (2024)

  • Johanna L. Wolfe

    Vice President & Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $25K (2023) → $25K (2024)

  • Olivia L. Wolfe

    Vice President & Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $25K (2020) → $25K (2024)

  • Joseph V. Hastings

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Phyllis Mailman

    Vice President & Assistant Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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

Joan M Wolfe — President: $25KJoan M WolfePresident$25KJohanna L Wolfe — VP/Asst Secretary: $25KJohanna L WolfeVP/Asst Secretary$25KOlivia L Wolfe — VP/Asst Secretary: $25KOlivia L WolfeVP/Asst Secretary$25K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $25K, to Joan M Wolfe (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The Mailman Foundation Inc

How much does The Mailman Foundation Inc give each year?

The Mailman Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $847K across 36 grants.

What is The Mailman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Mailman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $32,568, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mailman Foundation Inc that year got $18K on average.

Where does The Mailman Foundation Inc give grants?

The Mailman Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (24%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (16 grants), Los Angeles, CA (6 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).

Does The Mailman Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Mailman Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (37 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Mailman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Mailman Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include New Civil Liberties Alliance ($250,000), Stone Barns Center ($95,000) and Lincoln Center Theater ($85,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Mailman Foundation Inc?

The Mailman Foundation Inc reported $19.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Mailman Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in healthcare, higher education, reproductive rights, theater, ocean and beach protection, food assistance, and youth music education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Mailman Foundation Inc?

The foundation 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 Mailman Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Mailman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6161556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Mailman Foundation Inc 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 October 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Mailman Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mailman-foundation-inc-morg_8f7fc971a6814de09c2492603deef0e9

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136161556_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Mailman Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mailman-foundation-inc-morg_8f7fc971a6814de09c2492603deef0e9},
  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 Mailman Foundation Inc'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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