The James and Melanie McNamara Family Foundation makes modest, targeted grants to local Somerset/NJ area nonprofits with an emphasis on direct community impact. Recent giving shows support for basic needs (food security), maternal/child supports and recovery services, and local performing arts — indicating a mix of social services and cultural philanthropy focused on nearby organizations. The foundation prefers a small number of meaningful gifts rather than broad distribution across many groups.
Concentrated giving: three mid-size grants totaling $40K, split between two larger $15K awards and one $10K award. Highly local, impact-driven choices rather than large portfolios; appears to favor direct service providers and community cultural institutions.
The James and Melanie Mcnamara Family Foundation has a clear pattern of backing a small set of community-serving nonprofits with repeated general support grants. Center for Great Expectations and Franklin Township Food Bank each received $15,000 in 2023, and both organizations appear again in later years, showing a continuing relationship rather than one-time gifts. The foundation’s recent giving also reaches beyond those two core partners to education, health, and cultural groups, but the grant amounts stay relatively modest and focused. With annual grants of $231,100 and a total asset base of $1,271,040, it operates at a scale that fits targeted local philanthropy. Its portfolio includes support for maternal and parenting services, food assistance, and performing arts organizations, with several grants directed to Somerset-area groups and others spread across a wider regional footprint. The recurring use of general support suggests flexibility in how recipients use the funds, while the repeated awards to the same organizations point to a relationship-based approach to grantmaking.
Basic needs are a visible part of the foundation’s giving. Franklin Township Food Bank received $10,000 in 2024 and another $10,000 in 2025 for general support, following a $15,000 grant in 2023. The foundation also supported Elijah's Promise with $6,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2025, showing continued attention to food and emergency assistance in New Jersey. Maternal and parenting services are another thread. Center for Great Expectations received $15,000 in 2023, $10,000 in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025, all for general support. Cultural and faith-linked organizations also appear in the portfolio, including a $10,000 grant to Fellowship for Performing Arts in 2025 and smaller general-support awards to Walking With Purpose and Cast of Freedom.
Grant sizes are clustered at the low end: the typical gift is $2,000 at the median, with the 25th percentile at $1,000 and the 75th percentile at $5,000. Even the larger awards remain measured, with repeated $10,000 and $15,000 grants reserved for a few ongoing recipients. The pattern suggests recurring support rather than isolated one-off gifts; several organizations appear in multiple years, often with the same general-support purpose. The foundation is a family foundation, and its grants are flexible rather than project-restricted, based on the general-support language used in the recent awards.
$56K
$1.6M
$376K
$69K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Notable grantees: Franklin Township Food Bank, Center for Great Expectations, Fellowship for Performing Arts
The foundation gives regionally, with most grants landing in the U.S. and 37% going to recipients in New Jersey. Somerset is a frequent recipient location, including Center for Great Expectations, Franklin Township Food Bank, St Matthias School, and Zarephath Health Center. Outside New Jersey, grants reached New York City-area and other regional recipients such as Buffalo, New Brunswick, and Greenwich. The top state by grant count is Texas, although the recent grants list also shows a broad spread across several other states.
The recent grants show support for food security, maternal and parenting services, education, and performing arts. Named recipients include Franklin Township Food Bank, Center for Great Expectations, and Fellowship for Performing Arts, all receiving general support.
Its typical grant size is modest: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. The recent grants list also includes a smaller number of $10,000 and $15,000 awards.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Center for Great Expectations received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Franklin Township Food Bank also appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Elijah's Promise received support in both 2024 and 2025.
The recent grants are all listed as general support, and the foundation is tagged for unrestricted, core operating, and flexible funding. That points to a pattern of giving recipients broad-use support rather than project-only awards.
Its top state by grant count is Texas. New Jersey is also a major destination, with 37% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state, including multiple awards to organizations in Somerset.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP FOOD BANK | SOMERSET, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE AND SOUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA SHAW | LEBANON, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALKING WITH PURPOSE | GREENWICH, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR GREAT EXPECTATIONS | SOMERSET, NJ | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACTS XXIX MOBILIZING FOR THE MISSION | DETROIT, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NJ FAMILY POLICY CENTER | TRENTON, NJ | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY | TONAWANDA, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JESUS FILM PROJECT | ORLANDO, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SMILE TRAIN | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NJ FAMILY POLICY CENTER | TRENTON, NJ | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRISON FELLOWSHIP | LANSDOWNE, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KEY LIFE | MAITLAND, FL | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP FOOD BANK | SOMERSET, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FELLOWSHIP FOR PERFORMING ARTS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR GREAT EXPECTATIONS | SOMERSET, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY | BUFFALO, NY | $9,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MATTHIAS SCHOOL | SOMERSET, NJ | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALKING WITH PURPOSE | GREENWICH, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE AND SOUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELIJAH'S PROMISE | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY | TONAWANDA, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP | DALLAS, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KEY LIFE | MAITLAND, FL | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL | NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRANKLIN ANIMAL SHELTER | FRANKLIN, NH | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAR 991 | ZAREPHATH, NJ | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASYMCA | SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JESUS FILM PROJECT | ORLANDO, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER FOR FAITH JUSTICE | LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRISON FELLOWSHIP | LANSDOWNE, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARKET STREET MISSON | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SMILE TRAIN | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAST OF FREEDOM | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP FOOD BANK | SOMERSET, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR GREAT EXPECTATIONS | SOMERSET, NJ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE AND SOUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $9,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAR 991 | ZAREPHATH, NJ | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELIJAH'S PROMISE | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ZAREPHATH HEALTH CENTER | SOMERSET, NJ | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL | NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MATTHIAS SCHOOL | SOMERSET, NJ | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY | TONAWANDA, NY | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA SHAW
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WALKING WITH PURPOSE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
ACTS XXIX MOBILIZING FOR THE MISSION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NJ FAMILY POLICY CENTER
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JESUS FILM PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NJ FAMILY POLICY CENTER
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PRISON FELLOWSHIP
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KEY LIFE
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
$9,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MATTHIAS SCHOOL
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WALKING WITH PURPOSE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KEY LIFE
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FRANKLIN ANIMAL SHELTER
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STAR 991
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ASYMCA
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JESUS FILM PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE CENTER FOR FAITH JUSTICE
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PRISON FELLOWSHIP
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MARKET STREET MISSON
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TUNNEL TO TOWERS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAST OF FREEDOM
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STAR 991
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ZAREPHATH HEALTH CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MATTHIAS SCHOOL
$3,500GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT