Mai Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,557,500 (most recent filing)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: National and international, with concentration in New York City area

Contact Details

Address: 152 West 57th Street, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10019

Phone: (212) 845-4322

Website: None

Email: Not available

Overview

The Mai Family Foundation was established in 1996 by Vincent A. Mai, a South Africa-born investment banker who is currently the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Cranemere Group, Limited. With approximately $7 million in assets, the foundation distributes over $6.5 million annually across 50-75 grants to organizations working in poverty alleviation, social entrepreneurship, civic participation and democracy, refugee support, and education. The foundation is run by Vincent Mai alongside his wife Anne (who serves as president) and their three children, all of whom sit on the board. The foundation operates with no paid staff and maintains a highly selective approach to grantmaking, funding only preselected charitable organizations. Vincent Mai's philanthropic interests have been shaped by his experience growing up in South Africa during apartheid, leading to a focus on organizations promoting human rights, reconciliation, and democratic values.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs or application cycles. All funding decisions are made at board discretion:

• Typical grants: $50,000 - $100,000
• Larger strategic grants: $150,000 - $1,000,000
• Smaller grants: $5,000 minimum

Priority Areas

• Civic Participation and Democracy: Supporting organizations defending civil rights and freedom of speech (Brennan Center for Justice received $1,475,000 from 2008-2017)
• Poverty Alleviation and Social Entrepreneurship: Funding organizations addressing systemic poverty (Echoing Green received $1,148,000 from 2011-2017)
• Refugees: Primarily through the International Rescue Committee
• Education: Emphasis on early childhood education (major support for Sesame Workshop and Takalani Sesame in South Africa)
• International Human Rights and Transitional Justice: Major supporter of International Center for Transitional Justice ($1,460,000 as of 2017)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or requests for funding. They only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Vincent A. Mai - Founder

• Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Cranemere Group, Limited
• Board Chair of The Juilliard School
• Former Chairman of Sesame Workshop Board of Trustees (13 years)
• Founding Chairman of the International Center for Transitional Justice
• Emphasizes "having a culture that emphasizes just doing the right thing at all times"

Anne Mai - President

• Trained social worker
• Board member of Fountain House since the late 1990s

Board Members:

• James Mai - Vice Secretary and Director
• Rebecca Mai - Treasurer
• Timothy Mai - Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Mai Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. All funding decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation doesn't accept applications, understanding their patterns may be helpful:

• Board Member Affiliations: Vincent Mai serves on boards of organizations that have received foundation support (The Juilliard School, Sesame Workshop). Organizations where Mai family members have governance roles appear more likely to receive support.

• Existing Network Connections: The foundation supports established organizations with strong reputations. Organizations in the New York City area receive the majority of grants.

• Long-term Relationships: The foundation demonstrates sustained giving over many years (e.g., Tobin Project received grants from 2008-2017).

• Vincent Mai's Personal Interests: Organizations aligned with Mai's documented interests in early childhood education, transitional justice, South African development, and human rights appear to receive consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Mai Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, these patterns emerge:

• Established Track Record: The foundation overwhelmingly supports larger, well-known organizations with proven impact
• Alignment with Founder's Values: Organizations addressing issues related to Vincent Mai's personal experiences receive sustained support
• Multi-Year Strategic Partnerships: Largest grants ($1-1.75 million cumulatively) were made over 6-10 years to organizations like Brennan Center for Justice and International Center for Transitional Justice
• New York City Connection: Most grantees are located in or around New York City
• Focus on Systemic Change: Support for organizations working on policy, advocacy, and systems-level solutions
• South African Connection: Organizations working in South Africa (like Takalani Sesame) have received some of the foundation's largest grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - foundation only funds preselected organizations
• Preselected organizations only, typically those with existing relationships to the Mai family
• High-value, sustained partnerships over many years rather than one-time grants
• Concentration on established, nationally-recognized organizations
• Geographic focus on New York City area organizations
• Thematic consistency in civic participation, democracy, human rights, and early childhood education
• Family operation with no paid staff and minimal public transparency

References

1. Inside Philanthropy - Mai Family Foundation profile (https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-m/mai-family-foundation) - Accessed January 2026
2. InfluenceWatch - Mai Family Foundation (https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/mai-family-foundation/) - Accessed January 2026
3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Mai Family Foundation IRS filings (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133915987) - Accessed January 2026
4. Grantmakers.io - Mai Family Foundation Profile (https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/133915987-mai-family-foundation/) - Accessed January 2026
5. Blythedale Children's Hospital - "The Mai Family Foundation Grants Funding for Neurotechnology" (https://www.blythedale.org/news-media/mai-family-foundation-grants-funding-neurotechnology) - Accessed January 2026
6. International Center for Transitional Justice - Vincent A. Mai profile (https://www.ictj.org/about/vincent-mai) - Accessed January 2026
7. The Juilliard School - Vincent Mai news (https://www.juilliard.edu/school/news/newsroom/vincent-mai) - Accessed January 2026
8. Inside Philanthropy - Vincent and Anne Mai major donor profile (https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/vincent-and-anne-mai) - Accessed January 2026
9. Synergos - Vincent Mai biography (https://www.cranemere.com/team-of-dedicated-professionals/vincent-mai/) - Accessed January 2026