The Mai Family Foundation makes a small number of large, discretionary gifts, with the majority of its funding concentrated in repeat support for a single children’s educational media program. Its giving appears programmatic but flexible (grants listed as “CHARITABLE”), and it also makes one-off major grants to public policy or research-oriented organizations. The foundation favors high-impact, targeted investments rather than broad, distributed grantmaking.
Highly concentrated: very few grants (4 total) with large award sizes; multiple repeat grants to a single primary grantee (Sesame Takalani) alongside isolated large gifts to other mission-aligned organizations.
The Mai Family Foundation’s recent grant record is marked by repeated large gifts to Sesame Takalani, including a $1,000,000 grant in 2023 and $500,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025. That recurring support is the clearest pattern in the file and shows a funder willing to stay with a single children’s educational media program across multiple years. Beyond that core relationship, the foundation has also made sizable charitable gifts to organizations working in public policy research, social services, and cultural programs. Its recent activity includes multi-year support for The Tobin Project, International Rescue Committee, Fountain House, and Juilliard School, alongside one-time grants to groups such as Segera Phino Sanctuary and Wilderness Foundation Africa (sophakama). The grant list suggests a small number of discretionary awards rather than broad distribution, with amounts often at the upper end of the foundation’s typical range. Taken together, the record points to targeted support for early learning, mission-driven nonprofits, and policy or evidence-oriented institutions, delivered through flexible charitable grants rather than a narrow, single-issue program structure.
Children’s educational media is the foundation’s most visible area of concentration. In that area, it gave $1,000,000 to Sesame Takalani in 2023, followed by $500,000 in 2024 and $500,000 in 2025. The pattern shows repeat backing for a specific early childhood learning program. Public policy research is another recurring theme: The Tobin Project received $500,000 in 2023 and $250,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The foundation also supports civic and advocacy work, including a $200,000 grant to the Voter Participation Center in 2025 and $150,000 to People for the American Way the same year. Cultural and community institutions appear as well, with $200,000 grants to Juilliard School in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Typical grants cluster in the $25,000 to $100,000 range, with a median of $50,000 and a p75 of $100,000, but the recent grant list shows the foundation also makes much larger discretionary awards. The pattern is concentrated rather than distributed: several organizations appear in multiple years, including repeated support for the same grantees from 2023 through 2025. Grants are listed as charitable, which points to flexible support rather than a tightly formalized program grant structure. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$5.1M
$16.3M
$624K
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Mai Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 199 | $16.2M | 99.5% |
| 2 | South Africa |
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Notable grantees: Sesame Takalani, The Tobin Project
The Mai Family Foundation gives mostly in New York, which accounts for 54% of grants to recipients in the HQ state and is also the top state by grant count. New York City recipients appear repeatedly, including Sesame Takalani, Brennan Center for Justice, Fountain House, Juilliard School, International Rescue Committee, and Breaking Ground. Outside New York, the foundation has made grants to Cambridge, Boston, Washington, New Orleans, Jenkintown, Boulder, and Philadelphia-area recipients. The recipient-country mix is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with one grant recorded to SF.
Its recent grants show concentration in children’s educational media and early childhood learning, especially Sesame Takalani, along with public policy research and evidence-building through The Tobin Project. It also funds mission-driven nonprofits in social services, culture, and civic work, including Fountain House, Juilliard School, and the Voter Participation Center.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger charitable grants, including several in the $200,000 to $500,000 range and one $1,000,000 grant.
Yes. The grant list shows repeated support across multiple years for several organizations, including Sesame Takalani, The Tobin Project, International Rescue Committee, Fountain House, Juilliard School, Tesseract Research Center, Breaking Ground, and Wilderness Foundation Africa (sophakama).
New York is the top state by grant count, and 54% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Many recipients are New York City organizations, including Sesame Takalani, Brennan Center for Justice, Fountain House, Juilliard School, and Breaking Ground.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $50K |
0.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SESAME TAKALANI | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE TOBIN PROJECT | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WILDERNESS FOUNDATION AFRICA (SOPHAKAMA) | BOULDER, CO | $236,807 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FOUNTAIN HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JUILLIARD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TESSERACT RESEARCH CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $160,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BREAKING GROUND | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VOTO LATINO FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TYPE MEDIA CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE | YARMOUTH PORT, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VET VOICE FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THIRD WAY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION (MIND THE GAP) | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INDIVISIBLE CIVICS | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHILDREN'S RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ASPHALT GREEN | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UBUNTU PATHWAYS | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS | BETHESDA, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GIFFORDS LAW CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VOCES DE LA FRONTERA | MILWAUKEE, WI | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMON SENSE MEDIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NETWORK 2020 | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LEAP OF FAITH (UTAH FLIM) | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MEDIA MATTERS | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ARTS IGNITE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GALVANIZE (HOPEWELL FUND) | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| KOLISI FOUNDATION | CAPE TOWN, WE | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GLOBAL ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH INC | PALM SPRINGS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MYRIAD USA | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| STORYCORPS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SAFE PASSAGE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER OF | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BANK STREET SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MOTHERS OUT FRONT | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LITTLE SISTERS FUND | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $33,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FIVER CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $33,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| KINHAVEN MUSIC SCHOOL | WESTON, VT | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INTERNATIONAL GENEROSITY | CLEARWATER, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WILDERNESS FOUNDATION AFRICA (ADVOCACY) | BOULDER, CO | $26,250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE AFRICAN AMERICA INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| OFICINA LEGAL DEL PUEBLO UNIDO INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FUND FOR THE CITY OF NY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
SESAME TAKALANI
$500,000CHARITABLE
THE TOBIN PROJECT
$250,000CHARITABLE
WILDERNESS FOUNDATION AFRICA (SOPHAKAMA)
$236,807CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
$200,000CHARITABLE
BREAKING GROUND
$150,000CHARITABLE
PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY
$150,000CHARITABLE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$75,000CHARITABLE
NETWORK 2020
$50,000CHARITABLE
LEAP OF FAITH (UTAH FLIM)
$50,000CHARITABLE
MEDIA MATTERS
$50,000CHARITABLE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$50,000CHARITABLE
ARTS IGNITE
$50,000CHARITABLE
KOLISI FOUNDATION
$50,000CHARITABLE
GLOBAL ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH INC
$50,000CHARITABLE
BANK STREET SCHOOL
$50,000CHARITABLE
MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM
$50,000CHARITABLE
LITTLE SISTERS FUND
$33,000CHARITABLE
KINHAVEN MUSIC SCHOOL
$30,000CHARITABLE
INTERNATIONAL GENEROSITY
$30,000CHARITABLE
WILDERNESS FOUNDATION AFRICA (ADVOCACY)
$26,250CHARITABLE
THE AFRICAN AMERICA INSTITUTE
$25,000CHARITABLE
OFICINA LEGAL DEL PUEBLO UNIDO INC
$25,000CHARITABLE
FUND FOR THE CITY OF NY
$25,000CHARITABLE