Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation is a private foundation in New York, New York. In tax year 2025 it gave $785,433 in 23 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $189,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$785,433
- Number of grants23
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$189,000
- Assets$17.4 million
- New grantees11%
Giving in 2025 was up from $712,100 the year before.
11% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, so most of its money goes to organizations it already funds.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $747,620 | 27 | $15.2 million |
| 2024 | $712,100 | 22 | $15.7 million |
| 2025 | $785,433 | 23 | $17.4 million |
How to apply
Mary Jane Wahl Gearns 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.
What Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 11 states, the most to New York.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 9 | $419,000 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $125,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $50,000 |
| Arizona | 1 | $32,500 |
| Texas | 1 | $32,500 |
| Colorado | 3 | $31,433 |
| Connecticut | 1 | $25,000 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $25,000 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $25,000 |
| Alabama | 1 | $15,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | Support educational programs, including scholarship aid | $189,000 |
| Lowcountry Food Bank | Provide food and other aid to people suffering financial hardship | $75,000 |
| Legal Momentum | Support programs to protect the legal rights of women | $60,000 |
| Individual | Support programs to provide humanitarian assistance to needy individuals | $50,000 |
| Individual | Support programs to provide meals to needy individuals | $50,000 |
| Both Ends Believing | Support programs to provide assistance to foster children and their families | $32,500 |
| Chances for Children | Support programs to provide medical and educational assistance to impoverished | $32,500 |
| Americares | Support programs to provide humanitarian assistance to victims of poverty, war and natural disasters | $25,000 |
| Carnegie Hall | Support musical programming offered at carnegie hall | $25,000 |
| Coastal Conservation League | Support environmental protection programs, including natural areas preservation | $25,000 |
| Individual | Support programs to provide medical treatment to needy individuals | $25,000 |
| Individual | $25,000 | |
| The Sharing Foundation | Support programs to aid orphaned and other disadvantaged children in cambodia | $25,000 |
| Water Mission | Support programs to increase access to clean drinking water | $25,000 |
| Rethinknyc | Support programs for architectural restoration and preservation | $25,000 |
| Individual | Provide food and other aid to people suffering financial hardship | $20,000 |
| New Ground Inc | Support programs to provide humanitarian assistance to homeless families | $20,000 |
| The Arts Campus at Willits | Support musical programming offered at tacaw | $16,433 |
| Equal Justice Initiative | Support programs to end mass incarceration and challenge racial and economic injustice | $15,000 |
| Roaring Fork Conservancy | Support environmental protection and education in the roaring fork valley | $10,000 |
| Dravet Syndrome Foundation | Support medical research programs | $5,000 |
| Mountain Rescue Aspen | Support search and rescue operations in the colorado backcountry | $5,000 |
| The National Jazz Museum in Harlem | Support musical programming and education | $5,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Mary Gail Gearns
- John W Gearns
- David L Russo
Questions people ask
Does Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation give?
$785,433 in tax year 2025, across 23 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Mary Gail Gearns (Trustee), John W Gearns (Trustee) and David L Russo (Treasurer).
What does Mary Jane Wahl Gearns Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, human services and food and hunger.