The Monell Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals, and its grants are initiated internally, so an organisation without an existing relationship with it should not send a request.
- Only current grantees, or organisations funded in the two years before, may ask for renewal, by emailing an annual report and detailed grant proposal to the renewals address by October 31 for grants received in December or April 30 for grants received in June.
- Most grants are modest: half of its 325 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $25,000 and $300,000, a typical band rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was $9,300,000.
- Renewal funding is heavily repeat: 99% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so the relationship matters more than the request.
- No geographic focus is stated, so fit should be judged against its stated focus on early-stage research and social initiatives.
Overview
The Monell Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Monell Foundation says its focus is early-stage research and social initiatives with the opportunity to build a more creative, equitable and innovative society. Its recorded grants go to a broad mix of organisations, including medical and research centres, universities, cultural institutions and social-service organisations; many awards are for general purposes, while others support particular research, health, education or cultural work. The website describes grantmaking as internally initiated and does not set out a general open application route. Renewal requests are described for current grantees and organisations funded in the preceding two years, which are asked to send an annual report and detailed grant proposal.
Themes
- Early stage research
- Social initiatives
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and the United States.
How to apply
Unsolicited letters of inquiry and proposals are not accepted; grants are initiated internally. Current grantees or organisations funded in the preceding two years may request a renewal by emailing an annual report and detailed grant proposal to the renewals address. Renewal requests follow the foundation's two stated cycles: October for December grants and April for June grants.
Deadlines:
- Renewal proposals are due by October 31 each year for grants received in December.
- Renewal proposals are due by April 30 each year for grants received in June.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 325 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 11%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 40% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations The Monell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 102 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Monell Chemical Senses Center · $1,000,000 for general purposes; $2,000,000 remainder of $5,500,000 grant installment referred to in letter dated november 13, 2024; $5,500,000 2025 grant installment, $750,000 2026 grant installment, and $50,0000 grant to the morley kare fund referred to in letter dated december 10, 2024$9,300,0002024 tax year
- Rockefeller University · $500,000 for general purposes and $100,000 for application to dr. jarvis' earth biogenome initiative$600,0002024 tax year
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · First installment of $1,000,000 grant for application to the advanced light microscopy innovation laboratory referred to in letter dated december 10, 2024$500,0002024 tax year
- American Museum of Natural History · $300,000 for general purposes and $200,000 for the institute for comparative genomics$500,0002024 tax year
- Dana-Farber Cancer Center · Second and final installment for application to the presidential initiatives fund$500,0002024 tax year
- Yale University School of Public Health · $75,000 to be applied to research on "new strategies for african trypanosomiasis control; $350,000 for application to the department of epidemiology and microbial diseases$425,0002024 tax year
- Hospital for Special Surgery · First installment of $700,000 grant referred to in letter dated december 10, 2024$350,0002024 tax year
- Institute for Advanced Study · General purposes$350,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Maia Monell — Director
- Maurizio J Morello — Executive Vice President & Assistant Treasurer
- Dr Gary K Beauchamp — Director
- Ambrose K Monell — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $21,171,350 | $18,905,000 | $392,035,201 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $21,058,814 | $19,048,333 | $440,866,920 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $22,566,193 | $19,888,333 | $501,659,979 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Monell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (212) 586-0700
- renewals@monellfoundation.org
- contact@monellfoundation.org
- New York, NY
- monellfoundation.org
Applying to The Monell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (212) 586-0700
- renewals@monellfoundation.org
- contact@monellfoundation.org
- New York, NY
- monellfoundation.org