The Materium Foundation
The Materium Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including land and wilderness conservation, food assistance, youth education, and the arts.
The Materium Foundation at a glance
In short: The Materium Foundation gave $50K across 41 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $49,750
- +1143.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- +4000.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,213
- -69.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $576,021
- -7.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Materium 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: 2423 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 668-8685
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Materium Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Eastern Sierra Land Trust ($3K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $24K.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 57% of grant dollars, Nevada recipients 18%, Vermont recipients 6%, recipients in Washington, DC 5%, and Virginia recipients 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Materium Foundation gives
- In 2024 it paid out 157% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2023) to $50K (2024). In 2024 it made 41 grants totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Sierra Land Trust Bishop, CA | For General Operating Support | $2,500 |
| Reno Food Systems Reno, NV | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| Friends of Nevada Wilderness Reno, NV | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| Sierra Nevada Journeys Reno, NV | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| The Craft Emergency Relief Fund Brattleboro, VT | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| Campbell Scholars Program Valley Village, CA | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| Breakthrough Summerbridge of SF San Francisco, CA | For General Operting Support | $2,500 |
| San Francisco-Marin Food Bank San Francisco, CA | For General Operting Support | $1,500 |
| Help Save the Bees Foundation Reno, NV | For General Operting Support | $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 | $576,021 | $8,645 | $53,603 | $49,750 | 41 | $49,750 | $14,924 | $31,696 |
| 2023 | $622,719 | $6,363 | $6,838 | $4,000 | 1 | $4,000 | $6,363 | $29,905 |
| 2022 | $620,579 | $520,708 | $2,443 | — | — | — | $9,683 | $5,846 |
| 2021 | $100,979 | $1,810 | $1,825 | — | — | — | $10 | $4,973 |
| 2020 | $100,969 | $3,121 | $3,100 | — | — | — | $21 | $4,973 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Materium Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K 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 is provided. The 2024 grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported: World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises; Friends of Nevada Wilderness says it works to protect Nevada’s wilderness and wildlife; and Sierra Nevada Journeys says it delivers outdoor, science-based education programs for youth.
Other grantees describe work in land conservation, environmental protection, youth leadership, and public radio. For example, Eastern Sierra Land Trust says it works with willing landowners to preserve lands in the Eastern Sierra, and the Black Youth Leadership Project says it supports Black youth through leadership development, education, and community engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 41 grants totaling $49,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $2,500, with a median of $1,000. The listed grants were for general operating support.
Notable 2024 grants included $2,500 each to Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Reno Food Systems, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Journeys, The Craft Emergency Relief Fund, World Central Kitchen, Campbell Scholars Program, and Breakthrough Summerbridge of SF. Other grants included $1,500 each to San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and Help Save the Bees Foundation, and $1,000 each to Wild Salmon Center and San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ulrich Schmid Maybach as director, Robert Krantz as treasurer, and William P Fuller as secretary.
The Materium Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ulrich Schmid Maybach
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Krantz
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William P. Fuller
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Irmgard Schmid Maybach (2020–2021) — Director
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 Materium Foundation
How much does The Materium Foundation give each year?
The Materium Foundation gave $50K across 41 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4K across 1 grant.
What is The Materium Foundation's typical grant size?
The Materium Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,213, across 41 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Materium Foundation give grants?
The Materium Foundation gives mostly in California: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Nevada (18%) and Vermont (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (7 grants), Reno, NV (4 grants), Bishop, CA (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Materium Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Materium Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (41 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Materium Foundation's largest grantees?
The Materium Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Eastern Sierra Land Trust ($2,750 across 2 grants), Reno Food Systems ($2,500) and Friends of Nevada Wilderness ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Materium Foundation?
The Materium Foundation reported $576K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Materium Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Materium 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 Materium Foundation's EIN?
The Materium Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1547956. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Materium 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
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