The Marc Sanders Foundation
The Marc Sanders Foundation is a public charity based in Hillsborough, New Jersey, formed in 2008. It supports work that uses philosophy to address personal and societal issues, including public outreach, diversity in academic philosophy, and philosophical excellence.
The Marc Sanders Foundation at a glance
In short: The Marc Sanders Foundation reported $375K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $374,614 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -3.1% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $7,289,327
- -1.4% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $510,348
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $210,006
- Expenses (2025)
- $615,294
- -24.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Marc Sanders Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 601 Route 206 26-510, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Phone: (908) 267-5284
Website: https://marcsandersfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Marc Sanders Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 4 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How The Marc Sanders Foundation gives
- Giving grew 210% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 125% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $121K (2023) to $387K (2024). In 2025 it reported $375K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Various Scholarships Hillsborough, NJ | Education | $386,747 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,289,327 | $510,348 | $615,294 | $374,614 | Total only | — | $210,006 | — |
| 2024 | $7,393,811 | $467,808 | $814,530 | $386,747 | 1 | $487,751 | — | $390,540 |
| 2023 | $7,272,250 | $177,062 | $601,995 | $120,622 | 1 | $231,218 | — | $369,051 |
| 2022 | $7,687,635 | $169,519 | $758,314 | $276,382 | 1 | $383,397 | — | $387,964 |
| 2021 | $8,281,655 | $615,460 | $485,806 | $124,941 | 1 | $217,451 | $51,032 | $424,197 |
| 2020 | $8,239,561 | $498,700 | $651,866 | $143,536 | 1 | — | $37,664 | $307,221 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to use philosophy to help people approach larger personal and societal issues with the thoughtfulness, care, and rigor needed to drive understanding and change.
Its website describes three broad areas of work: public philosophy, philosophical excellence, and philosophy for everyone. Examples include philosophy in media and K–12 outreach; prizes, lectures, and conferences; and initiatives to diversify academic philosophy. The website names programs such as the National High School Ethics Bowl, Just Ideas at Columbia University, and the Center for Public Philosophy at UC Santa Cruz.
Grantmaking
Filing data reports one grant in 2024, totaling $386,747, and one grant in 2023, totaling $120,622. The reported amount per grant was therefore $386,747 in 2024 and $120,622 in 2023. The 2025 filing reports no grants.
The foundation’s website describes funding programs in public philosophy and diversity in philosophy, and lists giving opportunities connected to several initiatives. Its 2026 Philosophy in Media Fellowship application is closed; the posted application materials describe a fellowship program, not an open grant application.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jeffrey Pasek as chair; Holly Isdale, Kathleen McCartney, and Dean Zimmerman as trustees; Richard Dougherty as secretary and treasurer; and David Sosa as executive director. The foundation’s website identifies Kori Hensell as program director and Barry Lam as associate director.
The Marc Sanders Foundation is led by David Sosa, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 3 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Sosa
Executive Director
Vice Chair & Trustee → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$68K (2025)
Jeffrey Pasek
Chair
Trustee → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dean Zimmerman
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
$4K (2025)
Holly Isdale
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Kathleen McCartney
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Richard Dougherty
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
$41K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Eric Sanders (2020–2021) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $68K, to David Sosa (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Marc Sanders Foundation
How much does The Marc Sanders Foundation give each year?
The Marc Sanders Foundation reported $375K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $387K across 1 grant.
How large is The Marc Sanders Foundation?
The Marc Sanders Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $510K.
What does The Marc Sanders Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to use philosophy to help people approach larger personal and societal issues with the thoughtfulness, care, and rigor needed to drive understanding and change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Marc Sanders Foundation?
The Marc Sanders Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check marcsandersfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Marc Sanders Foundation's EIN?
The Marc Sanders Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3840808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Marc Sanders Foundation funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Marc Sanders Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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