The Steven and Laura Mayer Family Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, unrestricted gifts to established national and international institutions. Their recent giving shows a dual interest in elite higher education (repeat support for Princeton University) and global humanitarian medical relief (Doctors Without Borders), favoring flexible general operating support over program-restricted funding.
Concentrated giving with a few large, unrestricted grants; repeat support to at least one preferred institution (Princeton); limited number of grantees focused on high-profile national and international organizations.
The Steven and Laura Mayer Family Foundation’s recent giving is defined by unrestricted support to a small set of established institutions, with Princeton University receiving repeat grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern sits alongside sustained support for humanitarian relief through Doctors Without Borders, showing a portfolio that moves between elite higher education and emergency response. The foundation also uses its grants for memorial and honorary purposes, including a 2025 contribution to Everytown for Gun Safety made in memory of the Lewiston, Maine shooting victims, which adds a community-safety dimension to the giving record. Across the recent grants list, the foundation favors flexible awards rather than project-restricted funding. The largest listed gifts are $50,000 to Princeton University in both 2023 and 2024, followed by $45,000 to Doctors Without Borders in 2023 and $35,000 to the same organization in 2024. Other recurring recipients include Charity Water, Isles, Working Nation, The Brent Shapiro Foundation, Ramona Convent Secondary School, Feeding America, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The foundation also made a Ukraine relief gift through Direct Relief in 2023 and another Ukraine-related grant in 2024.
In higher education, the foundation gave $50,000 in 2024 to Princeton University for unrestricted support, following a $50,000 grant in 2023 and a $35,000 grant in 2025. That repeat pattern shows sustained backing for a single university rather than one-off project funding. Humanitarian relief is another visible thread. In 2024, the foundation gave $35,000 to Doctors Without Borders for unrestricted support, after a $45,000 grant in 2023. It also supported Ukraine-related relief through a $10,000 grant to Direct Relief in 2023 for Ukraine relief and a $10,000 grant in 2024 to Ukraine relief direct relief. The giving record also includes support tied to community safety and remembrance. In 2025, Everytown for Gun Safety received a $20,000 contribution made in memory of the Lewiston, Maine shooting victims. Other recurring nonprofit recipients in the list include Charity Water, Isles, and Feeding America.
Typical grant sizes cluster at the low end of the listed range, with p25 at $1,000, median at $3,000, and p75 at $5,000. The recent-grants table also shows a handful of much larger unrestricted gifts, including multiple awards at $20,000 to $50,000. Recipients recur across years: Princeton University, Doctors Without Borders, Charity Water, Isles, Working Nation, The Brent Shapiro Foundation, Ramona Convent Secondary School, Feeding America, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel all appear more than once. The foundation funds individuals and appears to use straightforward discretionary grantmaking rather than program-related investments.
$337K
$1.6M
$158K
$353K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 23% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Notable grantees: Princeton University, Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières)
The foundation gives nationally, and most recipient organizations in the recent-grants list are in California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. California hosts several recipients in Los Angeles, Alhambra, and Santa Barbara, including Working Nation, The Brent Shapiro Foundation, Ramona Convent Secondary School, and Direct Relief. New York recipients include Doctors Without Borders, Charity Water, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey and Isles in Trenton, New Jersey are also recurring destinations for grants.
The recent record centers on higher education, humanitarian relief, community safety, and general nonprofit capacity. Princeton University, Doctors Without Borders, Charity Water, Everytown for Gun Safety, Isles, Working Nation, Feeding America, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel all appear in the grant list.
Yes. Many listed grants are explicitly described as unrestricted grants to further the organization’s exempt purpose, including awards to Princeton University, Doctors Without Borders, Charity Water, Isles, and Feeding America.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Princeton University in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Doctors Without Borders in 2023 and 2024; Charity Water in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Isles in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The reported size distribution is small: p25 is $1,000, median is $3,000, and p75 is $5,000. At the same time, the recent grants list includes larger discretionary gifts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
The foundation gives nationally, with California as the top state by grant count. New York receives 24% of grants, and the recipient list includes organizations in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Alhambra, New York, Princeton, Trenton, and Chicago.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | $35,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Charity Water | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Working Nation | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Everytown for Gun Safety | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | The contribution is made in memory of the Lewiston, Maine shooting victims |
| The Brent Shapiro Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Isles | Trenton, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Ramona Convent Secondary School | Alhambra, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Ukraine relief direct relief | Santa Barbara, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Los Angeles Mission | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Our Lady of Mount Carmel | Santa Barbara, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FoundationThe New Orleans Jazz & Heritage | New Orleans, LA | $6,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| N American Conf on Ethiopian Jewry | new york, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| The Keswell School | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | In honor of John Henry Earle |
| Catholic Charities Santa Barbara County | Santa Barbara, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Food Bank of Santa Barbara County | Santa Maria, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation | Greenwich, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | In Honor of Jay Alexander |
| Tarzana Treatment Centers | Tarzana, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | In honor of Dr. Stan Galperson |
| IMPACT | Pasadena, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Montecito Firefighters Charitable Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Pacific Oaks College & Children's School | Pasadena, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Santa Barbara Rescue Mission | Santa Barbara, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County | Santa Barbara, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Equal Justice Initiative | Montgomery, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | In honor of Bryan Stevenson |
| Israel Children's Cancer Foundation (ICCF) | Lawrence, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| National Jewish Health | Denver, CO | $3,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Greenway Arts Alliance | Los Angeles, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| California Rangeland Trust | Sacramento, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| City of Hope | Duarte, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| The Jewish Foundation for the Righeous | West Orange, NJ | $2,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation | New York, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| SPCA LA | Los Angeles, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | In honor of Megan S. Meade. |
| Global Investment Foundation for Tomorrow Inc | Wilmington, DE | $2,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| The UCLA Foundation | Pasadena, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Simon Wiesenthal Center | Los Angeles, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Beekeepers Guild of Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Princeton University Class of 1981 | Princeton, NJ | $1,050 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times | MOUNTAIN CENTER, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Foundation for the Compton Community College | Compton, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| The ASL Association - Walk to Defeat ALS | St Louis, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | Walk to Defeat ALS - ATTN: Team Jaybird |
| American Civil Liberties Union | Baltimore, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Trustees of Princeton University - | Princeton, NJ | $1,000 | 2025 | Lewis Center, Allocation CA0022 |
| Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation | Washignton, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | In memory of Robert H. Craft, Jr |
| Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Global Green USA | North Hollywood, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
| Friends of the Arson Watch & Disaster Services Inc | Topanga, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose |
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Charity Water
$25,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Working Nation
$20,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Everytown for Gun Safety
$20,000The contribution is made in memory of the Lewiston, Maine shooting victims
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Ramona Convent Secondary School
$15,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Ukraine relief direct relief
$10,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Los Angeles Mission
$10,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
$10,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FoundationThe New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
$6,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
N American Conf on Ethiopian Jewry
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
The Keswell School
$5,000In honor of John Henry Earle
Catholic Charities Santa Barbara County
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Food Bank of Santa Barbara County
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
IMPACT
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Montecito Firefighters Charitable Foundation
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Pacific Oaks College & Children's School
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County
$5,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Israel Children's Cancer Foundation (ICCF)
$4,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
National Jewish Health
$3,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Greenway Arts Alliance
$3,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Global Investment Foundation for Tomorrow Inc
$2,500Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Simon Wiesenthal Center
$2,500Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Beekeepers Guild of Santa Barbara
$2,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Princeton University Class of 1981
$1,050Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times
$1,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Foundation for the Compton Community College
$1,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
The ASL Association - Walk to Defeat ALS
$1,000Walk to Defeat ALS - ATTN: Team Jaybird
Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Trustees of Princeton University -
$1,000Lewis Center, Allocation CA0022
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
$1,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Global Green USA
$1,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose
Friends of the Arson Watch & Disaster Services Inc
$1,000Unrestricted grant to further the organization's exempt purpose