Grunin Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 45-3988913 · since 2012gruninfoundation.org·Monmouth County, Ocean County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$5.9M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$1,500 to $200k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$25,000

Typical grant (median)

109 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Grunin Foundation's priority area is the Central Jersey Shore, Ocean and Monmouth counties in New Jersey, and some of its initiatives reach regionally and statewide, so check whether your work fits its outcomes of holistic wellbeing, youth changemakers, economic opportunities, reducing systemic barriers, developing BIPOC leadership, and centring justice and belonging.
Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 273 grants fall between $1,500 and $200,000, half are $20,000 or less, and the median is $20,000, though its largest grant was about $660,000.
Because 91% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier filings, start with the introductory meeting with its Executive Director, which it offers on a rolling basis, before any second meeting on funding alignment.
It aims to provide more general operating support than programme funding, so frame your request that way.
It makes grants to 501c3 nonprofits and groups fiscally sponsored by one, so groups seeking direct grants to individuals, event sponsorships, political or partisan work, medical or scientific research, animal welfare, athletic teams or leagues, or individual classroom requests should not apply.

Overview

Grunin Foundation is a US private foundation based in Toms River, NJ.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Grunin Foundation makes grants to 501c3 nonprofit organisations and those fiscally sponsored by a 501c3, supporting organisations, partnerships, coalitions and other structures whose work aligns with its outcomes and has a strong connection to the community. Its direct place-based focus is the Central Jersey Shore, specifically Ocean and Monmouth Counties, while some initiatives have regional and state-wide reach. Its funding priorities are expressed as outcomes: holistic wellbeing, youth changemakers, economic opportunities, reducing systemic barriers, developing BIPOC leadership, and centring justice and belonging. It values flexible funding and aims to provide more general operating support than programme funding, alongside capacity-building and coalition-building support.

Themes

Holistic wellbeing
Youth changemakers
Economic opportunities
Systemic barriers
BIPOC leadership
Justice and belonging

Geographic Focus

Priority: Central Jersey Shore: Ocean and Monmouth counties in New Jersey.

What They Don't Fund

Direct donations or grants to individuals
Sponsorships for special events or fundraising events
Political campaigns and partisan activity
Medical or scientific research
Historic preservation projects and monuments
Environmental land preservation
Mutual aid groups without a fiscal sponsor
Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes and mission trips
Fraternal groups, unions, bands, volunteer firefighters, community service clubs, or similar groups
Athletic teams, athletic events, or leagues, i.e., little leagues, school teams
Animal welfare causes
Individual classroom-specific requests

How to apply

Organisations can book an introductory meeting with Executive Director Heather Barberi to begin a funding conversation. If their work aligns, the foundation schedules a second meeting to discuss funding alignment questions.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 91% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 273 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Applicants should align their work with the foundation’s prioritized outcomes and have a strong connection to the community.
The foundation values partnerships with organisations whose work positively impacts marginalised communities in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
The foundation prioritises being out in the community and is open to meeting organisations.
The foundation aims to provide more general operating support than programmatic funding, trusting organisations to use funds where they are most needed.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.

Grant dollars by state

New Jersey89%

Florida8%

New York1%

Massachusetts<1%

Pennsylvania<1%

Kentucky<1%

6 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations Grunin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

109 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $25,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 109 grants in tax year 2025 by size

Under $1k6%

$1k–$2.5k2%

$2.5k–$5k1%

$5k–$10k6%

$10k–$25k34%

$25k–$50k28%

$50k–$100k9%

$100k–$250k8%

$250k–$500k2%

$500k–$1M3%

Median $25,000 (tax year 2025)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Ocean County College Foundation · Capital sup(grunin ctr,paa);prog sup
$651,0002025 tax year
Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation · Capital support
$500,0002025 tax year
Hackensack Meridian Health · Pct preceptorship&apprenticeship
$500,0002025 tax year
Community Medical Center Foundation · Capital supp(gme program & fnd fund)
$425,0002025 tax year
Count Basie Theatre · Capital support/employee match
$266,9162025 tax year
Interfaith Neighbors · Capital support
$200,0002025 tax year
Foodbank Of Monmouth Dbafulfill · Pmt 2of5 comprehensive campaign supp
$200,0002025 tax year
Count Basie Theatre · 10 yr endowment campaign pmt 3 of10
$200,0002025 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Emma Grunin — Board Member
Elizabeth Golla — Board Member
Adriana Medina-Gomez — Board Member
Jaclyn Rodemann — Director Of Opera
Edward Johnson — Board Member
Nicole Pulliam — Board Member
Laurie Goganzer — Board Member
Tomas Alvarez — Board Member
Rebecca Grunin — Board Member
Victoria Marie Fernandez — Director Communit
Joshua Grunin — Board Member
Kelly Fliller — Director Communic
Heather Barberi — Executive Directo
Jeremy Grunin — President
Jay Grunin — Chairman

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$9,243,720	$6,230,161	$488,456	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$10,825,937	$6,045,908	$21,036	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$7,247,926	$5,866,332	$24,617	Filing for 2025 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.