The Marine Society
The Marine Society of New York is a charitable and educational organization based in New York, NY, and is classified as a private foundation. Its regular members are seafarers who are or have been captains or officers of merchant vessels under the U.S. flag. The Society says it was chartered in 1770 to improve maritime knowledge and relieve indigent and distressed shipmasters, their widows, and orphans.
The Marine Society at a glance
In short: The Marine Society gave $111K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in New York. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $111,313
- +21.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +112.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,548
- -42.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $2,118,926
- +6.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (77% 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 Marine Society
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Society states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 260 W Broadway Suite 4, New York, NY 10013
Phone: (212) 425-0448
Website: https://www.marinesocietyny.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Marine Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was SUNY Maritime College ($51K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $99K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 53 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 14% to New Jersey, 4% to Maryland, 4% to Connecticut, and 1% to Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Marine Society open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 139% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $92K (2023) to $155K (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $111K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SUNY Maritime College Bronx, NY | Scholarship Fund | $50,000 |
| Organization of Black Allentown, NJ | General Donation | $10,103 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $10,000 |
| VMS Foundation New York, NY | General Donation | $10,000 |
| Billion Oyster Project New York, NY | Education Grant | $10,000 |
| Sea Dart II Inc Hoboken, NJ | Funding for Sea Dart II | $5,000 |
| SS John Brown Baltimore, MD | General Donation | $5,000 |
| US Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | Monomoy Race | $4,000 |
| Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME | Monomoy Race | $1,500 |
| Usmma Alumni Foundation Kings Point, NY | Monomoy Race | $1,500 |
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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 | $2,118,926 | $294,499 | $330,682 | $111,313 | 17 | $197,094 | $23,674 | $141,512 |
| 2023 | $1,983,923 | $238,855 | $289,020 | $91,750 | 8 | $177,772 | $28,538 | $125,152 |
| 2022 | $2,063,530 | $317,277 | $282,981 | $97,102 | 11 | $175,470 | $28,507 | $124,756 |
| 2021 | $1,986,499 | $412,255 | $288,869 | $154,500 | 6 | $226,232 | $302,903 | $132,279 |
| 2020 | $1,851,198 | $422,794 | $319,540 | $106,300 | 11 | — | $78,917 | $116,761 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Marine Society reported a distributable amount of $142K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Society’s stated mission is to improve maritime knowledge and relieve indigent and distressed shipmasters, their widows, and orphans. It says it has assisted more than 5,000 distressed shipmasters and their widows and orphans, and that some masters’ widows receive monthly allotments.
The 2024 grants show support for maritime education and scholarships, maritime organizations, and related projects. For example, Billion Oyster Project describes its mission as restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education. The Noble Maritime Collection describes itself as a museum and maritime study center focused on the work of maritime artist John A. Noble and New York Harbor’s working waterfront. Rocking the Boat says it teaches young people boatbuilding, rowing, sailing, and Bronx River restoration.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Society gave 17 grants totaling $111,313. Grants ranged from $210 to $50,000, with a median grant of $1,500. The largest awards included $50,000 to SUNY Maritime College for a scholarship fund; $10,103 to Organization of Black for a general donation; and $10,000 each to the an individual recipient Marine Academy for a scholarship, VMS Foundation for a general donation, and Billion Oyster Project for an education grant. Other listed awards included $5,000 to Sea Dart II Inc. and $5,000 to SS John Brown.
The Society’s 2024 filing also lists $4,000 to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for the Monomoy Race, $1,500 each to Maine Maritime Academy and the USMMA Alumni Foundation for the Monomoy Race, $1,000 to Seafarers International House, and $1,000 to the Noble Maritime Collection. The Coast Guard Academy describes its related organization’s work as raising “margin of excellence” support for cadets and preserving the Academy’s traditions. International House, which received $1,000, describes its mission as creating an intellectually challenging residential learning community for graduate students and young professionals from around the world.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Society’s 2024 filing lists Timothy J. Ferrie as president; Steve Bendo and James J. McNamara as vice presidents; Robert A. Fay as treasurer; Cynthia L. Robson as secretary; and Kurt Plankl as attorney.
The Marine Society is led by Timothy J. Ferrie, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy J. Ferrie
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia L. Robson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James J. McNamara
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Bendo
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Plankl
Attorney
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert A. Fay
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Frank Keane (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: James T. Shirley Esq. (2020–2021) — Attorney
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Marine Society
How much does The Marine Society give each year?
The Marine Society gave $111K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $92K across 8 grants.
What is The Marine Society's typical grant size?
The Marine Society's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $6,548, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Marine Society that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Marine Society give grants?
The Marine Society gives mostly in New York: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants) and Bronx, NY (3 grants).
Does The Marine Society give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of The Marine Society's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Monomoy Race" (6 grants).
Who are The Marine Society's largest grantees?
The Marine Society's largest 2024 grantees include SUNY Maritime College ($50,500 across 2 grants), Organization of Black ($10,103) and VMS Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Marine Society?
The Marine Society reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $197K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $142K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Marine Society fund?
The Society’s stated mission is to improve maritime knowledge and relieve indigent and distressed shipmasters, their widows, and orphans. It says it has assisted more than 5,000 distressed shipmasters and their widows and orphans, and that some masters’ widows receive monthly allotments. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Marine Society?
The Society states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Marine Society's EIN?
The Marine Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5643623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Marine Society 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Marine Society funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-marine-society-of-the-morg_348f96254e414ff9a2e148f520e347fd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_135643623_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Marine Society funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-marine-society-of-the-morg_348f96254e414ff9a2e148f520e347fd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Marine Society'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.
The Marine Society down — hundreds of funders to go?