The Mailman Foundation Inc
The Mailman Foundation Inc is a private family foundation incorporated in Delaware in 1943 and established in 1949. Based in New York City, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Key facts about The Mailman Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 13-6161556
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,205,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- Average grant
- $32,568
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2024)
- Total assets
- $19,024,203
- Primary geography
- New York (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mailman Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Mailman Foundation Inc's 37 itemized 2024 grants were New York (46%), 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). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Mailman Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Mailman Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Mailman Foundation Inc with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.0M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+42.3% YoY
Grant Count
37
+2.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+38.4% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides giving primarily for the arts, education, and human services.
Grantmaking
The Mailman Foundation made 44 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $20,000 and a range from $5,000 to $250,000.
Grant Range
of $20,000 and a range from $5,000 to $250,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Mailman Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 37 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year ending December 2023:
- Total assets: $18,363,073
- Total revenues: $605,525
- Total expenses: $1,202,553
- Investment income and dividends: $369,111
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,024,203 | $18,363,073 | $18,960,101 |
| Revenue | $2,277,800 | $605,525 | $175,297 |
| Expenses | $1,616,670 | $1,202,553 | $1,428,799 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,296,806 | $935,108 | $1,104,315 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,944,991 | $327,016 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $2,643,059 | $2,073,021 | $2,137,805 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include New Civil Liberties Alliance ($250,000), Stone Barns Center ($95,000), Lincoln Center Theater ($85,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEW CIVIL LIBERTIES ALLIANCE Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| STONE BARNS CENTER Tarrytown, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $95,000 |
| LINCOLN CENTER THEATER New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $60,000 |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATES OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE INC New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| CITY HARVEST INC Queens, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| HUDSON INSTITUTE - CENTER FOR AMERICAN CULTURE Washington, WA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| MIAMI NEW DRAMA Miami Beach, FL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOLARS New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITIBLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership includes:
- Joan M Wolfe (President)
- Johanna L Wolfe (Vice President/Assistant Secretary)
- Olivia L Wolfe (Vice President/Assistant Secretary)
- Phyllis Mailman (Vice President/Assistant Treasurer)
- Joseph V Hastings (Secretary/Treasurer)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllis Mailman | VP/Asst. Treasurer | 0.25 | — |
| Joan M Wolfe | President | 20 | $25,000 |
| Johanna L Wolfe | VP/Asst Secretary | 20 | $25,000 |
| Olivia L Wolfe | VP/Asst Secretary | 20 | $25,000 |
| Joseph V Hastings | Secretary/Treasurer | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 126 E 56th St, 3rd Floor, New York City, NY 10022
Telephone: 212-888-8350
EIN: 13-6161556
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mailman Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation provides giving primarily for the arts, education, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Mailman Foundation Inc?
The Mailman Foundation made 44 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $20,000 and a range from $5,000 to $250,000. Recent grants include: • American Associates of the National Theatre (AANT): $50,000 • City Harvest: $50,000 • Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR): $50,000 The foundation indicates it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds.
What size grants does The Mailman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Mailman Foundation Inc awarded 37 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mailman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mailman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.