The Mayday Fund

Historical Funder

New York, New York · EIN 38-4117113 · Private foundation · Website

Grants paid (2024)$820K

Organizations funded9

Typical grant$93,500

Total assets$36.2M

Half of its grants to organizations were between $26,000 and $118,983.

From the return

How to apply

The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):

Contact	CHRISTINA M SPELLMAN
Address	420 LEXINGTON AVENUE SUITE 331, NEW YORK NY 101700399
Phone	2123666970
Email	INQUIRY@MAYDAYFUND.ORG
Form and materials	THE MAYDAY FUND'S CURRENT GRANT MAKING TARGETS ARE: PROJECTS THAT RESULT IN CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE THE TOLL OF PHYSICAL PAIN; PEDIATRIC PAIN; PAIN IN NON-VERBAL POPULATIONS; AND PAIN IN THE CONTEXT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE. MAYDAY WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE IN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE NETWORKING BETWEEN VETERINARY AND HUMAN MEDICINE, ESPECIALLY IN AN EFFORT TO INFORM MEASUREMENTS OF PAIN IN NON-VERBAL POPULATIONS. FINALLY, THE DIRECTORS OF THE MAYDAY FUND WISH TO BE NIMBLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND AS SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES.
Deadlines	THERE ARE NO DEADLINES. APPLICATIONS ARE OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
Restrictions	GRANTS ARE MADE TO PUBLIC CHARITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS SUCH BY THE IRS. THE MAYDAY FUND CONCENTRATES ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. ON OCCASION, GRANTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS WHERE THE PROJECT HAS AN EFFECT WITH INTERNATIONAL IMPACT. GRANTS CANNOT BE MADE TO INDIVIDUALS.

Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.

What it funds

Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.

STEM2
Education1
Health1

Where it gives

62% of grants went outside New York.

Grants paid in tax year 2024

Recipient	Location	Purpose	Amount
Jackson Laboratories	Farmington, CT	Decoding endometriosis: spatial dynamics and symptoms	$220,000
Chapel and York US Foundation - University of South Australia	New York, NY	Identifying social factors that stratify health opportuities and outcomes project	$199,668
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory	Cold Spring Harbor, NY	Research using click chemistry for pain	$118,983
United States Association for the Study of Pain (Usasp)	Annapolis, MD	Clinical translational research awards for young investigators	$110,000
Boston Children's Hospital	Boston, MA	Inovate vr pain program	$93,500
Ucsf Benioff Children's Hospitals Foundation	Oakland, CA	General operating support	$48,054
University of Sherbrooke	Montreal, CA	North american pain school correspondents science communications program	$26,000
Council on Foundations	Washington, DC	General operating support	$3,000
Philanthropy New York	New York, NY	General operating support	$1,150

Grants approved for future payment

Recipient	Location	Purpose	Amount
University of Montreal	Montreal,	Vr tooth project - relieving pediatric dental pain	$132,173
University of British Columbia	Vancouver,	Advancing understanding and care of pain in children with neurodiversity	$132,000
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine	Raleigh, NC	Pain in animals workshop - paw 2025	$91,735
University of Sherbrooke	Montreal,	North american pain school correspondents science communications program	$78,000
Boston Children's Hospital	Boston, MA	Inovate vr pain program	$46,750

Giving by year

Tax year	Grants paid	Grant lines
2024	$820,355	14
2023	$718,902	19

Sources

IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Jun 4, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202511559349100516
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 38-4117113
Profile updated Nov 5, 2026

Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.