The Mario Family Foundation
The Mario Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chatham, New Jersey. In 2024, it reported 19 grants totaling $2,099,024 to charitable organizations, including universities, a school, a social-services organization, and a maritime museum.
The Mario Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mario Family Foundation gave $2.1M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $110K), top state North Carolina. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,099,024
- +7.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $110,475
- +13.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $98,000
- Total assets
- $25,973,402
- +2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (42% 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 Mario Family Foundation
- 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: PO Box 445, Chatham, NJ 07928
Phone: (973) 635-6727
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mario Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rutgers University Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 40 grants of 106 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (42%) and New Jersey (29%), followed by Maryland (7%), Illinois (7%), and Pennsylvania (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Mario Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $108K; repeat grants $127K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 130% 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 $1.7M (2020) to $2.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University Foundation New Brunswick, NJ | Pharm/ MD Scholarships | $500,000 |
| Duke University Health Durham, NC | Family Chronic Care Improvement FD & Medical Center | $220,000 |
| North Carolina Submarine Museum Durhan, NC | Establishment of a Museum | $175,000 |
| Naval Institute Foundation Annapolis, MD | Digitizing Our Maritime History | $151,120 |
| Cristo Rey Network Chicago, IL | Capacity Building 2026 Campaign | $150,000 |
| Open Table Ministry Durham, NC | General Support | $150,000 |
| Duke University Athletic Assoc Durham, NC | Basketball Legacy Fund | $100,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Penn Band | $100,000 |
| University of Rhode Island Foundation Kingston, RI | Annual Fund | $100,000 |
| Duke University Pediatrics Durham, NC | Pediatrics Improve & Expand Care Now | $98,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mario Family Foundation?
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 | $25,973,402 | $3,196,242 | $2,515,528 | $2,099,024 | 19 | $2,291,567 | $1,832,028 | $1,759,498 |
| 2023 | $25,292,688 | $2,241,370 | $2,315,173 | $1,946,585 | 20 | $2,083,552 | $1,938,374 | $1,589,214 |
| 2022 | $24,648,464 | $468,683 | $2,961,372 | $2,601,638 | 23 | $2,743,651 | $253,809 | $1,677,627 |
| 2021 | $26,925,440 | $3,345,680 | $2,393,309 | $2,082,784 | 19 | $2,221,752 | $3,133,277 | $1,950,526 |
| 2020 | $26,217,888 | $1,675,726 | $2,038,001 | $1,728,491 | 25 | — | $1,488,370 | $1,661,330 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mario Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Rutgers University Foundation describes its mission as supporting Rutgers in education, research, and public service. Open Table Ministry says it works with people experiencing homelessness and poverty, while Cristo Rey Network describes its work as providing career-focused, college-preparatory education for students with limited economic resources. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $2,099,024. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $98,000. Among the largest were $500,000 to Rutgers University Foundation for pharmacy and medical scholarships; $220,000 to Duke University Health for family chronic-care improvement and its medical center; $175,000 to North Carolina Submarine Museum for establishment of a museum; and $151,120 to Naval Institute Foundation for digitizing maritime history. Open Table Ministry received $150,000 for general support and $85,000 for an executive and assistant director position.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dr. Ernest Mario as a director, with a notation that he died on October 20, 2024. Other listed directors are Christopher B. Mario, Gregory G. Mario, Jeremy K. Mario, Samantha Ventimiglia, and Jeffrey Spritzer. Marylou Rowe is listed as executive director.
The Mario Family Foundation is led by Marylou Rowe, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Marylou Rowe
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Christopher B. Mario
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $10K (2024)
Gregory G. Mario
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Jeffrey Spritzer
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Jeremy K. Mario
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2021) → $10K (2024)
Samantha Ventimiglia
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Ernest Mario
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $25K, to Marylou Rowe (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Mario Family Foundation
How much does The Mario Family Foundation give each year?
The Mario Family Foundation gave $2.1M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 20 grants.
What is The Mario Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mario Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $98,000, and its average grant was $110,475, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mario Family Foundation that year got $108K on average.
Where does The Mario Family Foundation give grants?
The Mario Family Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Jersey (29%) and Maryland (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (6 grants) and Lawrenceville, NJ (2 grants).
Does The Mario Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of The Mario Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Mario Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mario Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Rutgers University Foundation ($500,000), Open Table Ministry ($235,000 across 2 grants) and Duke University Health ($220,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mario Family Foundation?
The Mario Family Foundation reported $26.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mario Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, Rutgers University Foundation describes its mission as supporting Rutgers in education, research, and public service. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mario Family Foundation?
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 Mario Family Foundation's EIN?
The Mario Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1400656. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Mario Family Foundation 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
Live grants for the work The Mario Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mario Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mario Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mario-family-foundation-morg_8d927a85743f40709c333afa4cec47f7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201400656_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mario Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mario-family-foundation-morg_8d927a85743f40709c333afa4cec47f7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Mario Family Foundation'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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