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Zeist Foundation Inc. is a private corporation based in ATLANTA, GA. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1990. It holds total assets of $252.4M. Annual income is reported at N/A. Total assets have grown from $213.5M in 2011 to $268.2M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 8 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2024. The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, Metro Atlanta and City of Atlanta. According to available records, Zeist Foundation Inc. has made 198 grants totaling $22.6M, with a median grant of $50K. The foundation has distributed between $11.2M and $11.3M annually from 2020 to 2022. Individual grants have ranged from $3K to $1.6M, with an average award of $114K. The foundation has supported 122 unique organizations. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Georgia and North Carolina and District of Columbia. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
## Approach & Strategy
The Zeist Foundation is a private family foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia, with approximately $268 million in total assets as of 2024. Founded by the Brumley family, the Foundation combines traditional philanthropic grantmaking with an innovative place-based approach to community development, primarily focused on the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.
Mission and Legacy: The Foundation's tagline — "Family Legacy Focused on Children and Youth" — reveals its core priority. The Zeist Foundation seeks to honor the Brumley family's legacy by partnering with reputable organizations that are effective, collaborative, and adaptive. The Foundation operates through both conventional grantmaking and direct charitable activities via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Mayson Avenue Cooperative, LLC.
Place-Based Philanthropy: The Foundation's most distinctive strategic element is its deep investment in the Edgewood community of Atlanta through Mayson Avenue Cooperative. This entity carries out the Foundation's direct charitable activities, including building community support, soliciting neighborhood input for housing redevelopment, and providing educational opportunities to residents. This approach goes beyond traditional grantmaking by embedding the Foundation directly in community transformation.
Four Pillars of Grantmaking: Based on 990 filing analysis, the Foundation organizes its giving around four clear areas: 1. Health & Human Services (41% of giving) — The largest category by far, with $9.7M across 81 grants 2. Education (29% of giving) — $6.5M across 70 grants, including K-12 and higher education 3. Community Development (16% of giving) — $3.6M across 15 grants, primarily through the Edgewood initiative 4. Arts & Culture (13% of giving) — $2.8M across 32 grants
Invitation-Only Grantmaking: The Foundation operates a semi-annual proposal review cycle. Grant seekers cannot submit unsolicited applications; instead, at the request of a foundation staff or board member, an organization may submit an online letter of inquiry through Foundation Source. This makes relationship-building and alignment with Foundation priorities essential for prospective grantees.
Key Takeaway for Applicants: The Zeist Foundation prioritizes deep, sustained partnerships over transactional grants. Its invitation-only model means that organizations must first build awareness with Foundation staff and board members and demonstrate clear alignment with the Foundation's children/youth focus and Atlanta community mission.
## Funding Patterns
Overall Scale: Between 2020 and 2022, the Zeist Foundation distributed $22.6 million across 198 grants, averaging approximately $11.3 million per year. This makes it one of the most actively grantmaking private foundations in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Grant Size Distribution: - Median grant: $50,000 - Average grant: $98,987 - Range: $7,500 to $1,212,500 - The relatively high median ($50K) compared to many foundations indicates the Zeist Foundation favors substantial, meaningful grants over token contributions.
| Category | Grants | Total | Avg Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Human Services | 81 | $9,672,500 | $119,414 |
| Education | 70 | $6,474,500 | $92,493 |
| Community Development | 15 | $3,604,242 | $240,283 |
| Arts & Culture | 32 | $2,838,250 | $88,695 |
Key Recipients (Top Organizations by Total Funding): 1. Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta — $2.8M (community development) 2. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta — $2.0M (health & human services) 3. Whitefoord Inc. — $1.5M (education) 4. Atlanta Zoo — $800K (arts & culture/education) 5. Emory University — $900K (health & human services) 6. Atlanta Speech School — $600K (education)
| Year | Grants | Total Given | Avg Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 102 | $11,243,686 | $110,232 |
| 2022 | 96 | $11,345,806 | $118,185 |
Giving remained remarkably consistent between 2020 and 2022, demonstrating stability even through the pandemic. Average grant size increased slightly from $110K to $118K.
Geographic Concentration: The Foundation's giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Georgia, with 194 of 198 grants (98%) going to GA-based organizations. The remaining grants went to North Carolina (2 grants, $175K) and Washington, DC (2 grants, $15K).
Financial Health: With $268M in assets, $252M in net worth, and annual revenue of $23.6M in 2024, the Foundation is extremely well-capitalized. The 2023 filing shows $22M in total giving with $15.6M in grants paid, indicating a generous payout rate relative to assets. Net investment income of $3.6M plus capital gains of $2.3M support continued grantmaking.
## Peer Comparison
The Zeist Foundation operates among a competitive field of major Atlanta and Georgia-based philanthropic organizations. Here is how it compares to its regional peers:
| Foundation | Location | Assets | Grant Count | Total Giving | Avg Grant | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeist Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $268M | 198 | $22.6M | $114K | Children/youth, health, education, arts |
| James M. Cox Foundation of GA | Atlanta, GA | $977M | 178 | $85M | $479K | Media, education, conservation |
| The Centurion Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $851M | 4 | $16K | $4K | Very limited giving |
| John Bulow Campbell Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $758M | 203 | $119M | $584K | Multi-purpose philanthropy |
| The Ma-Ran Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $690M | 57 | $55M | $973K | Selective philanthropy |
| A Good Name Foundation | Atlanta, GA | $647M | 4 | $164M | $41.1M | Mega-grants (few recipients) |
Key Differentiators:
1. Accessibility vs. scale: While several peers have larger asset bases, the Zeist Foundation makes more grants (198) than most, making it more accessible to a wider range of organizations. Only the Campbell Foundation (203 grants) exceeds its volume.
2. Balanced portfolio: Unlike peers that concentrate on one sector, Zeist distributes across four distinct areas (health, education, community development, arts), providing opportunities for diverse types of organizations.
3. Place-based innovation: The Mayson Avenue Cooperative model — a wholly-owned LLC for direct community development — is unique among Atlanta foundations. This hybrid approach (grantmaking + direct operations) enables deeper impact in targeted communities.
4. Children and youth focus: As a family foundation with an explicit children/youth mission, Zeist occupies a specific niche that differentiates it from larger, more generalized peers like the Cox or Campbell foundations.
5. Consistent giving: The Zeist Foundation's giving remained stable at approximately $11M/year through 2020-2022, while several peers showed greater volatility. This consistency makes it a reliable potential funding partner.
6. Strong payout rate: The Foundation's $22M in total giving (2023) against $252M in assets represents approximately 8.7% — well above the 5% minimum distribution requirement, indicating genuine commitment to charitable deployment.
## Recent Activity
2024 Financial Position: The Zeist Foundation's most recent filing (2024) reports total assets of $268.2 million, up from $252.4M in 2023, and revenue of $23.6 million — a significant increase from $7.9M in 2023. Net worth grew to $268.2 million, suggesting strong investment returns or additional contributions. The Foundation is positioned for continued robust grantmaking.
2023 Grantmaking in Detail: The 2023 ProPublica filing reveals $22.1 million in total giving, with $15.6 million in grants paid and $17.6 million in exempt purpose expenses. This represents one of the Foundation's most active years on record. Officer compensation of $555,050 indicates professional staff management, and the Foundation's undistributed income of $7.5 million suggests capacity for increased future giving.
Edgewood Community Initiative: The Mayson Avenue Cooperative continues as the Foundation's primary place-based vehicle. Expenses of $1.25M (2022) for the Cooperative demonstrate continued investment in the Edgewood housing redevelopment project and the Edgewood Community Learning Garden (operated in cooperation with the Wylde Center). This direct community engagement model represents a growing trend in progressive philanthropy.
Key Grantee Relationships: Several organizations receive sustained, multi-year support — an important signal for prospective applicants: - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: $1M grants in both 2020 and 2022 - Whitefoord Inc.: $975K (2020), $527K (2022) — consistent education funding - Emory University: $600K (2020), $300K (2022) - Atlanta Speech School: $300K in both 2020 and 2022 This pattern confirms the Foundation's preference for ongoing, deep partnerships over one-time grants.
Sector Shifts: Community development grants show the highest average ($240K) but lowest count (15), indicating the Foundation makes few but large community investments. Arts & Culture grants increased in 2022 with the Atlanta Zoo receiving a major $800K award, suggesting growing interest in experiential education and cultural institutions.
Website Updates: The Foundation updated its website content as recently as June 2024 and its grantmaking page in February 2025, indicating active engagement and evolving priorities.
## Application Tips
1. Understand the Invitation-Only Process The Zeist Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant seekers must be invited to submit a letter of inquiry through Foundation Source (their web-based platform) at the request of a foundation staff or board member. This means relationship-building is the critical first step — not paperwork.
2. Build Awareness Before Applying Before any formal contact: - Ensure your organization's mission aligns clearly with the Foundation's focus on children, youth, health, education, arts, or community development - Attend Atlanta-area philanthropic events where Foundation representatives may be present - Connect through mutual grantees or community partners (e.g., Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Wylde Center) - Review the Foundation's website thoroughly: zeistfoundation.org
3. Demonstrate Atlanta/Georgia Impact With 98% of grants going to Georgia-based organizations, the Foundation's geographic focus is unambiguous. Out-of-state organizations would need to demonstrate direct, substantial impact on Atlanta or Georgia communities.
4. Target the Right Funding Range The Foundation's median grant of $50,000 and average of $99,000 indicate a sweet spot for proposals in the $25,000-$150,000 range. Larger requests ($200K-$500K+) are funded but appear reserved for established, multi-year relationships with anchor institutions like Children's Healthcare or Emory.
5. Emphasize Children and Youth Outcomes The Foundation's explicit mission centers on children and youth. Even if your organization serves multiple populations, frame your proposal around how the funded activity will benefit young people specifically. Include age-specific metrics and outcomes.
6. Show Collaborative Capacity The Foundation website states it seeks organizations that are "effective, collaborative and adaptive." Proposals should highlight: - Existing partnerships with other Atlanta nonprofits - History of successful collaboration - Adaptability in programming (especially post-pandemic) - Measurable outcomes from past work
7. Align with the Four Funding Pillars Clearly categorize your proposal within one of the Foundation's four areas: - Health & Human Services ($119K avg) — Children's health, mental health, family support - Education ($92K avg) — K-12, early childhood, literacy, STEM - Community Development ($240K avg) — Housing, neighborhood transformation, community infrastructure - Arts & Culture ($89K avg) — Museums, performing arts, cultural institutions
8. Plan for Semi-Annual Review The Foundation reviews proposals during semi-annual board meetings. Submit your letter of inquiry well in advance and be prepared for a multi-month process including research, due diligence, possible site visits, and formal application submission before board consideration.
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Smallest Grant
$8K
Median Grant
$50K
Average Grant
$99K
Largest Grant
$1.2M
Based on 103 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
Mayson avenue cooperative, llc is a single member limited liability company, disregarded for tax purposes, wholly-owned by the zeist foundation, inc. Mayson avenue cooperative is the vehicle which carries out the bulk of the foundation's place based philanthropic activities. The company is authorized to engage in activities in furtherance of exclusively charitable, scientific, religious, literary and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the irc. The direct charitable activities engaged in were building community support and soliciting neighborhood input for a housing redevelopment project in the edgewood community of atlanta, georgia, and providing educational opportunities to residents of the project and surrounding neighborhood, including the maintenance of the edgewood community learning garden, in cooperation with the wylde center, a local educational charity.
Expenses: $1.2M
Semi-annual grant cycles (spring and fall) considering 20-30 nonprofit organizations per cycle. Invitation-only process requiring Letter of Inquiry through Foundation Source platform.
Concentrated investment in the Edgewood neighborhood of Atlanta, including the Whitefoord Community Program and Edgewood Community Learning Garden. 10-20 organizations funded per cycle.
Partnership with Emory University School of Medicine supporting health-related programs for underserved communities.
## Funding Patterns Overall Scale: Between 2020 and 2022, the Zeist Foundation distributed $22.6 million across 198 grants, averaging approximately $11.3 million per year. This makes it one of the most actively grantmaking private foundations in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Zeist Foundation Inc. has distributed a total of $22.6M across 198 grants. The median grant size is $50K, with an average of $114K. Individual grants have ranged from $3K to $1.6M.
## Approach & Strategy The Zeist Foundation is a private family foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia, with approximately $268 million in total assets as of 2024. Founded by the Brumley family, the Foundation combines traditional philanthropic grantmaking with an innovative place-based approach to community development, primarily focused on the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.
Zeist Foundation Inc. is headquartered in ATLANTA, GA. While based in GA, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 3 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atiba Mbiwan | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $264K | $36K | $300K |
| Danielle Gray | ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | $165K | $35K | $200K |
| R Brad Foster | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | $35K | $0 | $35K |
| Marie B Foster | CO-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | $35K | $0 | $35K |
| Nancy J Brumley-Robitaille | CO-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | $35K | $0 | $35K |
| M Harrison Hackett | DIRECTOR | $17K | $0 | $17K |
| R Nicholas Foster | DIRECTOR | $4K | $0 | $4K |
| Eileen Higgins | ASSISTANT TREASURER/DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$268.2M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$268.2M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
198
Total Giving
$22.6M
Average Grant
$114K
Median Grant
$50K
Unique Recipients
122
Most Common Grant
$50K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation For Greater AtlantaCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | Atlanta, GA | $1.6M | 2022 |
| Children'S Healthcare Of AtlantaHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $1M | 2022 |
| Atlanta ZooARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $800K | 2022 |
| Whitefoord IncEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $527K | 2022 |
| Fernbank Museum Of Natural History TheEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $350K | 2022 |
| Emory UniversityHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $300K | 2022 |
| Atlanta Speech SchoolEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $300K | 2022 |
| Wylde Center TheCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | Atlanta, GA | $260K | 2022 |
| Children'S Museum Of AtlantaARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $250K | 2022 |
| Our House IncHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $225K | 2022 |
| Park Pride IncARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $200K | 2022 |
| Sheltering ArmsHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $200K | 2022 |
| Agape Community CenterEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $175K | 2022 |
| Georgia Foodbank AssociationHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $175K | 2022 |
| Lost N Found YouthHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $130K | 2022 |
| Boyce L Ansley SchoolEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $130K | 2022 |
| Quality Care For ChildrenEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $125K | 2022 |
| Wholesome Waves GeorgiaHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $110K | 2022 |
| Alliance TheaterARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Georgia Organics IncHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Georgia Leadership InstituteEDUCATION | Duluth, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| GeearsEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Achieve AtlantaEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Mercy Care FoundationHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Chamblee, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Atlanta Ronald Mcdonald HouseHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Atlanta Symphony OrchestraARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Chris 180HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Food Well AllianceHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| High Museum Of ArtARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| 3de National LlcEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Camp Twin LakesHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Atlanta MissionHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Giving Kitchen InitiativeHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Georgia Campaign For Adolescent PowerHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Bloom Our YouthHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Fayetteville, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Resilient Georgia IncHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Urban RecipeCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Voices For Georgia'S ChildrenHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $100K | 2022 |
| Buckhead Christian MinistryHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| St John'S United Methodist Church Child Development CenterHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| Breakthrough AtlantaEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| Reach Out And ReadEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| Boys & Girls Club Of Metro AtlantaHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| Ymca Of Metro AtlantaHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Atlanta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| Must MinistriesHEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | Marietta, GA | $75K | 2022 |
| Nicholas HouseEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $70K | 2022 |
| Atlanta History CenterARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $70K | 2022 |
| Horizons AtlantaEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $60K | 2022 |
| Latin American AssociationEDUCATION | Atlanta, GA | $55K | 2022 |
| Moving In The SpiritARTS & CULTURE | Atlanta, GA | $53K | 2022 |