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Marisa Martini Private Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,196,452 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: Average ~$26,000 per grant (based on 30 grants/$789,650 in 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Likely New Jersey/New York region

Contact Details

  • Website: None
  • Phone: Not publicly available
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Application Portal: None - private family foundation

Overview

The Marisa Martini Private Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2022 as a 501(c)(3) organization in memory of Marisa Martini, who passed away in 2017 after battling lung cancer. With total assets of approximately $23.6 million and annual charitable disbursements exceeding $1.1 million, the foundation has rapidly expanded its grant-making activities, growing from 7 awards in 2021 to 30 awards in 2023. The foundation operates without a public presence, making grants at the discretion of its trustees, who include family members and close associates. Leadership includes Conor Gelson as President and directors James Damiano MD and Elizabeth Dragalin, with modest compensation levels indicating a focus on charitable distribution rather than administrative overhead.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate specific named grant programs. Grants are awarded at trustee discretion with average amounts around $26,000 based on 2023 data (30 grants totaling $789,650).

Priority Areas

Information on specific funding priorities is not publicly available. Grant recipients would be listed in Form 990-PF filings available through ProPublica and other nonprofit databases.

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are documented, as the foundation operates privately without published guidelines.

Governance and Leadership

Current Officers and Directors:

  • Conor Gelson - President (Compensation: $25,000)
  • James Damiano MD - Director (Compensation: $12,500) - Anesthesia physician
  • Elizabeth Dragalin - Director (Compensation: $12,500)

The foundation appears to be managed by family members and close associates of the Martini family. Marisa Martini was survived by her husband Anthony Martini Sr. (who passed in 2019), sons Anthony Jr. and Carlo, and seven grandchildren. The current leadership includes connections to the Gelson and Dragalin families of New Jersey.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Marisa Martini Private Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the sole discretion of the trustees. There is no website, application portal, or published guidelines for prospective grantees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

As a private family foundation without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations receiving grants from the Marisa Martini Private Foundation would typically:

  • Have existing relationships with the foundation's trustees or directors
  • Be identified through the trustees' personal networks and community involvement
  • Align with causes personally meaningful to the Martini family
  • Be located in the New Jersey/New York region where the family has ties

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a private family foundation with no public application process
  • Substantial assets ($23.6M) and growing annual giving ($1.2M in 2024)
  • Grant-making has expanded significantly (from 7 to 30 grants between 2021-2023)
  • Average grant size appears to be approximately $26,000
  • Leadership includes medical professionals and family members with New Jersey ties
  • Organizations cannot apply directly; relationships with trustees are essential
  • The foundation maintains no public presence - no website, contact information, or guidelines

References

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