Well Told Grants

Foundations / New Jersey

The James and Sharon Maida Foundation

Preselected recipients only Trenton, New Jersey · EIN 223479321

The James and Sharon Maida Foundation is a private foundation in Trenton, New Jersey. In tax year 2025 it gave $2.6 million in 44 grants; the typical grant was $1,000 and the largest $1.0 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $1.7 million the year before.

19% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$2.0 million35$10.1 million
2024$1.7 million38$14.5 million
2025$2.6 million44$15.6 million

How to apply

The James and Sharon Maida Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What The James and Sharon Maida Foundation funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 10 states, the most to New Jersey.

StateGrantsAmount
New Jersey21$1.4 million
Pennsylvania10$1.1 million
New York4$126,400
California1$16,000
Georgia2$10,300
Florida2$4,850
Rhode Island1$1,000
Tennessee1$750
Texas1$400
Virginia1$200

Grants paid in 2025

The 40 largest of 44 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Lehigh University
Bethlehem PA, PA
Education & Scholarships$1.0 million
RWJ Barnabus Health Care System
West Orange, NJ
Health & Education$509,501
RWJ Barnabus Health Care System
West Orange, NJ
Health & Education$508,453
Rutgers University Foundation
New Brunswick, NJ
Educational$279,571
Individual
NY
Enviromental$120,000
Monmouth Medical Ctr
Long Branch, NJ
HEALTH and Education$45,500
Lehigh University
Bethlehem PA, PA
Scholarship$28,667
We Care Solar
Berkeley, CA
Community$16,000
HABITAT for HUMANITY
Atlanta, GA
Community Resources$10,200
Kutztown Univer of PA
Kutztown PA, PA
Scholarship$10,000
Individual
NJ
Cultural$5,550
Rocking the Boat
Bronx, NY
Advancement$5,000
Ocean Reef Chapel Foundation
Key Largo, FL
Community$4,500
St George Church
Titusville, NJ
Religious$2,500
Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation
Wynnewood, PA
Cancer research$2,500
Individual
NJ
Medical Awareness$2,000
Homefront
Lawerenceville, NJ
Children's Issues$1,800
Mercer Street Friends
Trenton, NJ
Children's Issues$1,500
Individual
NJ
Religious$1,500
Individual
NJ
Cultural$1,000
Preservation Society of Newport Cou
Newport, RI
Cultural$1,000
Memorial Sloan Kettering
New York, NY
Health$1,000
Philabundance
Philadelphia, PA
Hunger$1,000
Island Heights Sailing Foundation
Island Heights, NJ
Community$1,000
Mt CARMEl GUILD
Trenton, NJ
Children's issues$1,000
Individual
PA
HealthCare$1,000
St Jude Childrens Research
Memphis, TN
Childrens Research Cancer$750
Wounded Warrior Project
Pittsburgh, PA
Veteran$700
Independence Seaport Museum
Philadelphia, PA
Museum Maintenance$550
Independent Seaport Museum
Philadelphia, PA
Community$550
WomanspaceYOUNITY
Lawrence Township, NJ
Women & Children$500
Individual
NY
Community$400
Individual
TX
Community$400
Ocean Reef Community Foundation
Key Largo, FL
Community$350
Covenant House
Newark, NJ
Community$300
Pennington Public Library
Pennington, NJ
Community$250
Colonial Williamsburg Fund
Williamsburg, VA
Cultural$200
Upper Makefield Fire Dept
Washington Crossing, PA
Community Support$200
Somerset Children's Center
Bridgewater, NJ
Children's Issues$200
Mantoloking Fire Company
Mantoloking, NJ
Equipment & Gear$175

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does The James and Sharon Maida Foundation accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does The James and Sharon Maida Foundation give?

$2.6 million in tax year 2025, across 44 grants, with a typical grant of $1,000.

Who runs The James and Sharon Maida Foundation?

Its 2025 filing lists James R Maida (Trustee), Sharon O Maida (Trustee) and Elaine L Maida (Trustee).

What does The James and Sharon Maida Foundation fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education, health and arts and culture.

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