← Back to US Funders Directory

Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.0M
00

Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,751,800 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $57,806,771
  • Grant Range: $300 - $1,000,000
  • Average Grant Size: $152,878
  • Number of Grants: 18 (2023), 16 (2022), 23 (2021)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and other U.S. cities
  • Founded: 1967

Contact Details

Address: Purchase, NY 10577-2116

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website and does not provide public contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation was established in 1967 by James G. Wallach, who served as chairman and chief executive of Central National-Gottesman Inc. (a pulp, paper and newsprint marketing company), and his wife Mary. James G. Wallach served as CEO of Central National-Gottesman from 1979 until his death in 1998, during which time he launched the company's expansion into the North American paper distribution business. The foundation received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in December 1968 and operates as a private non-operating foundation. In 2023, the foundation distributed $2,751,800 in grants across 18 awards. The foundation is currently led by Mary Wallach and her sons Andrew and Scott, who continue their family's philanthropic legacy. The foundation keeps a low profile and focuses its giving on pre-selected charitable organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health, religion (with emphasis on Judaism), and human services.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including:

  • Arts and Culture: Museums (particularly art museums), performing arts, music, and orchestral music
  • Education: Higher education institutions and educational foundations
  • Health: Medical research institutions and health-related foundations
  • Religion: Organizations focused on Judaism
  • Human Services: Various human services organizations
  • Civic and Environmental: Conservation and civic institutions

Past Grant Recipients

Notable organizations that have received grants from the foundation include:

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • New York Philharmonic
  • Central Park Conservancy
  • Rockefeller University
  • S.L.E. Lupus Foundation
  • Westchester Community College Foundation
  • Trustees of Columbia University
  • Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and only funds pre-selected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation's leadership structure includes family members who serve on a voluntary basis without compensation:

  • Mary Wallach: President
  • Howard Herman: Secretary/Treasurer
  • Andrew Wallach: Vice-President (son of founders, also President and CEO of Central National-Gottesman Inc. as of 2015)
  • Scott Wallach: Vice-President (son of founders)

All officers work on a voluntary basis and do not receive compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated that it only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing relationships with organizations. The foundation maintains a low profile and does not provide application guidelines or accept proposal submissions.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from organizations it does not already support.

Application Success Factors

Given that the Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in receiving funding depends entirely on:

  • Pre-existing relationships: The foundation only funds organizations that have been pre-selected by the trustees
  • Alignment with family interests: Organizations in arts/culture (particularly museums and orchestral music), education, health research, Jewish causes, and environmental conservation appear to be priorities
  • New York connections: While the foundation supports organizations in multiple cities, there is a strong emphasis on New York-based institutions
  • Institutional prestige: Past recipients suggest a preference for established, well-known cultural and educational institutions

Organizations cannot apply directly or take specific actions to increase their chances of receiving funding, as all grants are initiated by the foundation's trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications - all grants are trustee-initiated
  • Pre-selected organizations only: The foundation exclusively supports organizations chosen by family members/trustees
  • Strong arts and culture focus: Significant support for museums, orchestral music, and performing arts, particularly in New York
  • Family-driven philanthropy: Led by Mary Wallach and her sons Andrew and Scott, continuing the legacy of founder James G. Wallach
  • Established institutions preferred: Grant history shows support for prestigious, well-known organizations like The Met, New York Philharmonic, and Columbia University
  • Wide grant range: Grants vary significantly from $300 to $1,000,000, with an average around $152,878
  • Consistent grantmaking: The foundation makes between 16-23 grants annually

References

← Back to US Funders Directory