Gayda Family Foundation

The Gayda Family Foundation operates as a classic family foundation with no public grant program. All giving is directed by trustee Michael Gayda on a fully discretionary basis to organizations selected in advance. Grant seekers cannot approach this foundation through any open channel — there is no application portal, no RFP, no letter of inquiry process, and no contact email listed publicly.

The foundation's website (gayda.org) is a parked "Launching Soon" placeholder with only a contact form and no substantive content. This means the only pathway to funding is through an existing personal relationship with Michael Gayda or a board member.

For organizations in the foundation's established recipient network — particularly Catholic preparatory schools, homeless services organizations, arts centers, and food pantries in NJ, PA, FL, and CA — the most productive strategy is to maintain stewardship relationships and ensure the trustee has current impact data. For organizations outside that network, this foundation should not be prioritized for prospecting.

The Gayda Family Foundation distributed approximately $90,000–$93,000 per year in grants from 2019–2022, with relatively consistent annual giving across this period. The 2022 Form 990-PF (the most recent with detailed grant schedules) shows 16 grants to 16 distinct organizations, suggesting a diverse portfolio of small to mid-size gifts rather than concentration in one or two recipients.

Grant size analysis from 2022 data: - Largest grant: $40,000 to St. Joseph Preparatory High School (Philadelphia, PA) — a Catholic college-prep school. This single grant represented ~43% of total giving, indicating a strong anchor relationship. - Second largest: $30,000 to Homeless Solutions Inc (Cedar Knolls, NJ) — a major homeless shelter and transitional housing provider serving Morris County, NJ. - Remaining 14 grants: $500–$4,000, averaging approximately $1,400 each.

Sector breakdown (2022): - Education (Catholic/private schools, universities): St. Joseph Prep ($40K), University of Pennsylvania ($2K), Boston University School of Law ($2K), California State University Long Beach Foundation ($1K), Ramona Convent Secondary School ($4K) — total ~$49K, ~53% of giving - Social/Human Services (homeless, hunger): Homeless Solutions Inc ($30K), Feed The Hungry Pantry ($2.5K), The Lord's Place ($2K) — total ~$34.5K, ~37% of giving - Arts & Culture: Armory Art Center ($1K), Center for Creative Education ($1K), WLRN public radio ($1K) — total ~$3K, ~3% - Environment/Wildlife: Raptor Trust ($500), Rotary District 5130 Disaster Relief ($3K) — total ~$3.5K, ~4% - Community/Civic: Far Hills Meeting Race ($1.2K), Palm Beach Civic Association ($500), Chandler Hall ($500) — total ~$2.2K, ~2%

Geographic distribution skews heavily toward the trustee's personal geography: NJ (home base), PA (Philadelphia school connections), FL (likely winter residence), and CA (possible alma mater or family ties).

The Gayda Family Foundation ($1.1M assets, ~$90K/year in grants) is typical of small, trustee-directed family foundations established by successful professionals or business owners. Comparable foundations in northern NJ of this profile tend to: - Focus on alma mater institutions and local nonprofits - Maintain the same recipient list for years with incremental adjustments - Have no staff and minimal administrative overhead - Distribute the IRS-required minimum (roughly 5% of assets) annually

The foundation's payout rate of approximately 8–9% of assets annually is above the statutory 5% minimum, suggesting genuine philanthropic intent rather than minimum-compliance asset preservation.

The NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) and foundation code 4 (Private Non-Operating Foundation) confirm it is a standard private family foundation with no operating programs of its own. Total assets of ~$1.1M place it in the small foundation tier (under $5M), where nearly all giving is relationship-driven and discretionary with no open application processes.

Most recent financial data (from foundation_financials table): - 2023: Total revenue $56,630 | Total giving $90,682 | Total assets $799,458 | Distribution $106,081 - 2022: Total revenue $54,939 | Total giving $93,493 | Total assets $1,172,805 | Distribution $105,362 - 2021: Total revenue $44,265 | Total giving $89,064 | Total assets $1,121,018 | Distribution $100,980 - 2020: Total revenue $43,626 | Total giving $92,704 | Total assets $1,126,332 | Distribution $88,504 - 2024 (partial/latest IRS BMF): Assets $1,118,751, revenue $52,162

Notable: Assets declined sharply from $1.17M in 2022 to $799K in 2023, a drop of ~$373K. This may reflect market performance on the investment portfolio, increased distributions, or a one-time withdrawal. Annual revenue (~$44K–$57K) consists primarily of investment income.

The foundation has been operating since at least 2011 (earliest ProPublica filing) and received its IRS ruling date of August 1, 2007. It filed a 990-PF most recently for tax period ending December 2024 (object ID 202512969349100911).

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The following applies only for organizations already in relationship with the Gayda family or seeking background intelligence:

1. Relationship is the only entry point. Michael Gayda (% Michael Gayda, 78 Wisteria Way, Basking Ridge NJ 07920) is the sole trustee. Any approach must come through personal connection — professional networks, alumni associations, or mutual board members.

2. Catholic educational institutions appear to be the highest-priority recipient category, with St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia receiving disproportionate funding ($40K of ~$93K total in 2022). Catholic schools in the greater Philadelphia-NJ-Palm Beach corridor should prioritize this connection if it exists.

3. Human services organizations in Morris County, NJ (particularly homeless services) and Palm Beach County, FL are well-represented. Organizations serving these communities with existing Gayda family connections should maintain active stewardship.

4. Grant amounts outside the anchor relationship are modest ($500–$4,000). Organizations should not invest significant prospect development time unless the anchor relationship (large gift potential) exists.

5. Do not contact via the gayda.org website contact form for grant purposes — the site is a placeholder and there is no evidence the form reaches a grants decision-maker.