The Murthynayak Foundation Inc
The MurthyNAYAK Foundation is a private, independent nonprofit organization established in 2001 by Sheela Murthy and Vasant Nayak. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the foundation identifies and supports projects aligned with its mission to help disadvantaged communities, with a particular focus on the United States and India.
Key facts about The Murthynayak Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 80-0016494
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $255,946
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $14,219
- Median grant
- $8,939
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (7 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,027,630
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Murthynayak Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Murthynayak Foundation Inc's 18 itemized 2024 grants were New York (38%), District of Columbia (20%) and New Mexico (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Baltimore, MD (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Murthynayak Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 18 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% 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 Murthynayak Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Murthynayak Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.0M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$256K
-26.6% YoY
Grant Count
18
-37.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+18.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Murthynayak Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $291K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is captured in its motto: "Every Life Matters."
The foundation focuses on four primary areas:
Children — Supporting programs that address children's health and educational needs, recognizing children as hope for the future and ensuring all children have access to opportunities.
Women — Funding initiatives that support women's health, education, and economic stability, particularly for women struggling to feed and educate their children and themselves.
Arts — Supporting artists and creative expression, recognizing that through their work, artists hold both a magnifying glass and a mirror to society.
Others — Supporting individuals and families facing urgent challenges, with a focus on community well-being.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants across multiple focus areas. In 2024, the foundation made 46 grants. Recent grants include:
Grant Types
Ready to take the next step with The Murthynayak Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in the United States and India. Within the United States, recent activity indicates a focus on the Baltimore region. In India, the foundation supports adult education and literacy, orphanages, old-age homes, and education scholarships.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 18 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,027,630
- Total Revenues: $226,322
- Total Expenses: $268,001
- Investment Income and Dividends: $226,322
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,000,000 (approximately)
- Total Revenues: $232,000
- Total Expenses: $352,000
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,027,630 | $7,000,209 | $7,136,325 |
| Revenue | $226,322 | $232,142 | $700,990 |
| Expenses | $268,001 | $351,919 | $382,173 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $259,366 | $350,065 | $377,233 |
| Net Investment Income | $198,817 | $205,252 | $172,910 |
| Distributable Amount | $290,742 | $288,847 | $317,184 |
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
176 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include American Immigration Council ($50,000), Aperture Foundation ($50,000), Radius Books ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| APERTURE FOUNDATION New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| RADIUS BOOKS Sante Fe, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $27,500 |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND Baltimore, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| LA LUZ WORKSHOPS LLC Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,100 |
| UNITED WAY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA Jacksonville, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| PRINTED MATTER INC New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| MLE CECILE POIMBOEUF-KOIZUMI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,877 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sheela Murthy — Founder and primary decision-maker. A graduate of Harvard Law School with a master's in law (LL.M), Murthy established the foundation in 2001 following the September 11 attacks as a way to give back to her adopted country and help others achieve the American dream.
Vasant Nayak — Co-founder and active in foundation operations and communications.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheela Murthy | President | 1 | — |
| Vasant Nayak | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Shay Taylor | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Vijay Nayak | Treasurer | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2026 Strategic Focus** — The foundation is concentrating efforts on supporting agencies and organizations working to eliminate homelessness, combat food insecurity, and expand basic health care access in the United States.
**Cold Weather Response (February 2026)** — Sheela Murthy and the foundation contributed to emergency cold-weather efforts through St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore, supporting three 24/7 shelters serving the Baltimore region during an exceptionally cold winter.
The Murthynayak Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica**Veterans Support (January 2026)** — The foundation donated to The Baltimore Station, a therapeutic residential and outpatient treatment program serving veterans, recognizing the challenges veterans face in transitioning to civilian life.
Supporting Baltimore\u2019s Most Vulnerable in the Coldest Winter - Murthy\**25th Anniversary (2026)** — The foundation is marking approximately 25 years of operation, having provided support since 2001 to U.S. nonprofits focused on education, empowerment, shelter, food security, legal services, and leadership training for youth and veterans.
**Educational Support** — The foundation has supported the Community College of Baltimore County.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Murthynayak Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is captured in its motto: "Every Life Matters." The foundation focuses on four primary areas: **Children** — Supporting programs that address children's health and educational needs, recognizing children as hope for the future and ensuring all children have access to opportunities. **Women** — Funding initiatives that support women's health, education, and economic stability, particularly for women struggling to feed and educate their children and themselves. **Arts** —…
How do I apply for a grant from The Murthynayak Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes grants across multiple focus areas. In 2024, the foundation made 46 grants. Recent grants include: • American Immigration Council: $50,000 (General Support, 2024) • Aperture Foundation: $50,000 (General Support, 2024) • Radius Books: $45,000 (General Support, 2024) Grant types include general support, social change support grants, publishing for education, photography education, educational projects, and scholarship grants. As of 2026, the foundation is prioritizing support…
Where does The Murthynayak Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in the United States and India. Within the United States, recent activity indicates a focus on the Baltimore region. In India, the foundation supports adult education and literacy, orphanages, old-age homes, and education scholarships.
What size grants does The Murthynayak Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Murthynayak Foundation Inc awarded 18 grants totaling $256K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Murthynayak Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Murthynayak Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $291K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Murthynayak Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Murthynayak Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0016494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.