The foundation concentrates on international poverty alleviation and community-driven development, with repeated support for organizations that equip people with tools to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. It also funds child welfare and education initiatives and occasionally supports specialized humanitarian operations (e.g., aviation-based medical/rescue services) and arts/higher education. Grants tend to be unrestricted and directed to operational needs rather than highly restricted projects.
A recurring thread in The Mary Cooney and Edward Essl Charitable Foundation Inc’s recent giving is support for organizations that help people and communities move out of extreme poverty. That theme appears in repeated grants to Adventure Project Corp in New York, including a $10,000 award in 2024 and follow-on support in 2023 and 2025 for work described as giving people the tools and resources to lift themselves and their communities out of extreme poverty. The foundation also backs direct-service and humanitarian organizations with unrestricted operating support, including Pilots to the Rescue in Brooklyn and Wells Mountain Initiative in Bristol. Alongside poverty alleviation, the foundation has sustained multi-year support for child welfare, mental health, animal rescue, and specialized care for elephants and rhinos. Its grants include ongoing support for Save the Children Federation Inc, The Childrens Aid Society, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City Metro, as well as repeated gifts to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. The pattern suggests a grantmaker that uses modest, often flexible awards to support a mix of human services, rescue work, and community-serving institutions.
International poverty alleviation is the clearest throughline in the foundation’s portfolio. Adventure Project Corp received $6,000 in 2025 for giving people the tools and resources to lift themselves and their communities out of extreme poverty, after grants of $10,000 in 2024 and $7,000 in 2023 for the same purpose. Child-focused grantmaking appears in support for Save the Children Federation Inc, which received $5,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to help needy children. The Childrens Aid Society also received $2,000 in 2025 and $2,000 in 2024 to provide services to underserved children in NYC. Mental health and animal welfare are also recurring areas. The foundation gave $5,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Inc for brain and behavior research projects, and it supported the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with $2,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for animal rescue programs.
$130K
$93K
$27K
$46K
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Modest number of small-to-mid sized grants, often unrestricted; a mix of repeat funding to core grantees (notably Adventure Project) and single gifts to both international NGOs and specialized domestic nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Adventure Project Corp, Save the Children Federation, Inc., Pilots to the Rescue, Wells Mountain Initiative, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Typical grants cluster at the low end of the foundation’s range: p25 is $2,000, the median is $2,000, and p75 is $5,000. Recent awards show a mix of one-off gifts and repeated support over multiple years, including multi-year grants to the same organizations in poverty alleviation, child welfare, mental health research, and animal rescue. The foundation appears to use both unrestricted operating support and purpose-based grants, such as unrestricted support for exempt purpose and designated support for specific services or programs. Its giving is regional, but the recipient list is concentrated in small awards rather than large project commitments.
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the data provided. New York is the most frequent recipient state, with New York City organizations appearing repeatedly, including New York, Brooklyn, and Ithaca. Other recurring locations include Fairfield, Connecticut; Bristol, Vermont; Hohenwald, Tennessee; and Laguna Hills, California. New Jersey recipients appear as well, including Maplewood, but at a much smaller share than New York. The pattern points to a Northeast-heavy portfolio with some national reach through organizations based outside the region.
Its recent grants support organizations working in extreme-poverty alleviation, child welfare, mental health research and services, animal rescue, and specialized wildlife care. Examples in the record include poverty-focused development work, services for underserved children in New York City, brain and behavior research, and rescue or sanctuary care for animals.
Yes. Several grantees appear across multiple years, including Adventure Project Corp, Save the Children Federation Inc, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Inc, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. That pattern suggests recurring support rather than purely one-time awards.
The grant-size distribution is centered on small awards. The p25 and median are both $2,000, and the p75 is $5,000. Recent grants also include a few larger awards, such as $10,000 and $7,000, but most listed awards sit at $2,000 or $5,000.
New York is the top state by grant count. Recipient cities there include New York, Brooklyn, and Ithaca, showing a strong concentration in New York-based organizations even though the foundation is headquartered in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVENTURE PROJECT CORP | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY. |
| PILOTS TO THE RESCUE | BROOKLYN, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| WELLS MOUNTAIN INITIATIVE | BRISTOL, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH PROJECTS. |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | FAIRFIELD, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN. |
| THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA | LAGUNA HILLS, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | THE RESCUE AND HAND-RAISING OF ORPHANED BABY ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS. |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $2,000 | 2025 | THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY. |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF NEW YORK CITY METRO | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS. |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAMS. |
| SINGLE PARENT RESOURCE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | SINGLE PARENTS PROGRAMS. |
| SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH | MAPLEWOOD, NJ | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| THE CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN NYC. |
| THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE | HOHENWALD, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | TO HELP MAINTAIN A NATURAL HABITAT FOR SICK, OLD AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS. |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2025 | TO HELP TREAT AND DEFEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER. |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | TAMPA, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN. |
| ADVENTURE PROJECT CORP | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY. |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH PROJECTS. |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | FAIRFIELD, CT | $5,000 | 2024 | TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN. |
| SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH | MAPLEWOOD, NJ | $4,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| GOLDENS WITHOUT BORDERS RESCUE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| WELLS MOUNTAIN INITIATIVE | BRISTOL, VT | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE | HOHENWALD, TN | $2,000 | 2024 | TO HELP MAINTAIN A NATURAL HABITAT FOR SICK, OLD AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS. |
| THE CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN NYC. |
| THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA | LAGUNA HILLS, CA | $2,000 | 2024 | THE RESCUE AND HAND-RAISING OF ORPHANED BABY ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS. |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $2,000 | 2024 | THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY. |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | ANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAMS. |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF NEW YORK CITY METRO | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS. |
| SINGLE PARENT RESOURCE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | SINGLE PARENTS PROGRAMS. |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | TAMPA, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN. |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2024 | TO HELP TREAT AND DEFEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER. |
| ADVENTURE PROJECT CORP | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2023 | GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY. |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH PROJECTS. |
| COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | TO HELP THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | FAIRFIELD, CT | $5,000 | 2023 | TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN. |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA | LAGUNA HILLS, CA | $2,000 | 2023 | THE RESCUE AND HAND-RAISING OF ORPHANED BABY ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS. |
| NAMI NATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $2,000 | 2023 | HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS. |
| THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE | HOHENWALD, TN | $2,000 | 2023 | TO HELP MAINTAIN A NATURAL HABITAT FOR SICK, OLD AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS. |
| SINGLE PARENT RESOURCE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | SINGLE PARENTS PROGRAMS. |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | ANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAMS. |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $2,000 | 2023 | THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY. |
| THE CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN NYC. |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2023 | TO HELP TREAT AND DEFEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER. |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | TAMPA, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN. |
ADVENTURE PROJECT CORP
$6,000GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY.
PILOTS TO THE RESCUE
$6,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
WELLS MOUNTAIN INITIATIVE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION INC
$5,000BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH PROJECTS.
SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC
$5,000TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN.
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA
$2,000THE RESCUE AND HAND-RAISING OF ORPHANED BABY ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS.
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY
$2,000THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF NEW YORK CITY METRO
$2,000HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
$2,000ANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAMS.
SINGLE PARENT RESOURCE
$2,000SINGLE PARENTS PROGRAMS.
SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
$2,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
THE CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY
$2,000PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN NYC.
THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE
$2,000TO HELP MAINTAIN A NATURAL HABITAT FOR SICK, OLD AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS.
ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC
$1,000TO HELP TREAT AND DEFEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER.
SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN
$1,000HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN.
ADVENTURE PROJECT CORP
$10,000GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION INC
$5,000BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH PROJECTS.
SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC
$5,000TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN.
SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
$4,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
GOLDENS WITHOUT BORDERS RESCUE
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
WELLS MOUNTAIN INITIATIVE
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE
$2,000TO HELP MAINTAIN A NATURAL HABITAT FOR SICK, OLD AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS.
THE CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY
$2,000PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN NYC.
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA
$2,000THE RESCUE AND HAND-RAISING OF ORPHANED BABY ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS.
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY
$2,000THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
$2,000ANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAMS.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF NEW YORK CITY METRO
$2,000HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
SINGLE PARENT RESOURCE
$2,000SINGLE PARENTS PROGRAMS.
SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN
$1,000HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN.
ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC
$1,000TO HELP TREAT AND DEFEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER.
ADVENTURE PROJECT CORP
$7,000GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH ON SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION INC
$5,000BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR RESEARCH PROJECTS.
COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART
$5,000TO HELP THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART.
SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC
$5,000TO HELP NEEDY CHILDREN.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$2,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA
$2,000THE RESCUE AND HAND-RAISING OF ORPHANED BABY ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS.
NAMI NATIONAL
$2,000HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE
$2,000TO HELP MAINTAIN A NATURAL HABITAT FOR SICK, OLD AND NEEDY ELEPHANTS.
SINGLE PARENT RESOURCE
$2,000SINGLE PARENTS PROGRAMS.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
$2,000ANIMAL RESCUE PROGRAMS.
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY
$2,000THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY.
THE CHILDRENS AID SOCIETY
$2,000PROVIDE SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN NYC.
ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC
$1,000TO HELP TREAT AND DEFEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER.
SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN
$1,000HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN.