irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $441KTHE TOY FOUNDATION CREATED THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PLAY GRANTS PROGRAM TO BRING THE HEALING POWER OF PLAY TO CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.UNDERGOING COMPLICATED MEDICAL PROCEDURES, FACING LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES AND INJURIES, AND FEELING ISOLATED AND HELPLESS ARE COMMON EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS. ACCESS TO PLAY CAN HELP RELIEVE THIS STRESS, CREATE EASE, AND HAVE AN OVERALL POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN'S RELATIONSHIPS AND WELL-BEING.THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PLAY GRANTS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES GRANTS TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO ENABLE THEM TO CREATE STIMULATING AND CALMING SENSORY EXPERIENCES; OFFER IN-ROOM TECHNOLOGY TO BROADCAST PLAY ACTIVITIES; UPGRADE WAITING AREAS; ASSEMBLE THERAPEUTIC PLAY KITS; AND MORE.
- #2 $45KTHE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH A NETWORK OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ATTRACT DIVERSE, YOUNG TALENT TO CAREER PATHWAYS IN THE TOY INDUSTRY. THE FOUNDATION ENGAGES TOY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ACROSS BUSINESS SECTORS, CAREER LEVELS, AND PERSONAL BACKGROUNDS TO ILLUSTRATE THE VARIETY OF EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND PLACE STUDENTS IN INTERNSHIPS AND FIRST HIRE POSITIONS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Emergency Grants Program
Provides funding and toy donations to children and families affected by natural disasters, domestic upheaval, and humanitarian crises
Play Fund
Distributes grants to children's hospitals and disaster zones to support play-based projects such as sensory experiences, playroom enhancements, and therapeutic activities
Toy Chest
Facilitates in-kind toy donations from industry partners to vetted nonprofits, NGOs, and children's hospitals for distribution to children in need
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Building industry-wide philanthropy and career pathways in the toy sectorLeads efforts to mobilize collective philanthropy from the toy industry and partners with colleges and universities to connect diverse students with internships and entry-level opportunities in the toy industry.
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Distributing donated toys to children in need globallyCollects toy donations from toy industry companies year-round and distributes them to millions of children in need worldwide, delivering the benefits of play to over 38 million children globally since inception. Specific efforts include the Toy Fair® Community Toy Collection, which gathers donations from exhibitors for distribution.
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Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Funding play-based interventions in pediatric and crisis settingsAwards grants to support play-based projects for children in medical care, disaster zones, and conflict areas. Since 2021, awarded 117 grants totaling $2.2 million, including over $600,000 to 37 children’s hospitals to integrate play into pediatric care for more than 220,000 patients. Also funds sensory play, playroom upgrades, and therapeutic kits, and provides emergency grants during humanitarian crises.
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Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser 1 activity
- Hosting fundraising events to support toy distribution and play programsOrganizes major fundraising events including the Toy of the Year® Awards and the Golf & Give LA Fundraiser at Topgolf El Segundo, generating charitable funds through ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. Raised over $1 million in 2026 through the Toy of the Year Awards and over $100,000 via cause marketing partnerships.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Conducting cause marketing campaigns to raise funds for children's play initiativesPartners with brands such as Build-A-Bear Foundation and Chuck E. Cheese on cause marketing campaigns, raising over $100,000 to support delivering play to children in need.
- Producing public service announcements to promote the value of playCollaborates with The Genius of Play to produce public service announcements that reached over 353 million people, achieving $17.7 million in donated media value through more than 62,000 airings in major U.S. markets.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$35.93M
Contributions & grants$36.17M101%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$124K0%
Other revenue$-360K
expenses
Total expenses$36.37M
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$659K
Grants paid out$35.61M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.97M
Cash$448K
Investments$3.05M
Liabilities$1.56M
Net assets$2.42M
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +418.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMELA MASTROTA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 38 | $376K |
| JOHN FISTOLERA | DIR, DEVELOPMENT | 38 | $199K |
board members · 17
- AARON MUDERICK — TRUSTEE
- ANDREW QUARTIN — CHAIR
- ANDREW WEINER — TRUSTEE
- ANTHONY TRANI — TRUSTEE
- ASHLEY MADY — TRUSTEE
- GEOFFREY GREENBERG — TRUSTEE
- GLENN ABELL — TRUSTEE
- JAMIE CYGIELMAN — TRUSTEE
- KATHLEEN CAMPISANO — TRUSTEE
- MANNY GRACE — TRUSTEE
- MICHAEL KEATON — TRUSTEE
- MICHAEL RINZLER — TRUSTEE
- NIK NAYAR — TRUSTEE
- SARA ROSALES MONTALVO — TRUSTEE
- STEPHANIE BAILEY — TRUSTEE
- SUNNY LAURIDSEN — TRUSTEE
- VOIN TODOROVIC — TREASURER
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Akron Children's Foundation Partner — 2025 and 2026 Play Fund grant recipient using funding to expand dedicated play spaces for patients, siblings, and caregivers.
- Build-A-Bear Foundation Partner — Partnered on a cause marketing campaign to raise funds for children in need.
- Chuck E. Cheese Partner — Partnered on a cause marketing campaign to raise funds for children in need.
- Corporate and Foundation Partners Partner — Collaborates with corporate and foundation partners to advance CSR goals and expand capacity to comfort children in need.
- Grady Health System Partner — 2026 Play Fund grant recipient using funding to support play projects for pediatric patients.
- MGA Entertainment Partner — Founder and CEO Isaac Larian was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, reflecting a recognized leadership role in the toy industry in connection with The Toy Foundation's events.
- Mattel Partner — Corporate partner supporting the delivery of play to children in need.
- Mattel, Inc. Funder — Committed year-round financial supporter of the Play Fund program.
- Melissa & Doug Partner — Founders Melissa and Doug Bernstein were inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, recognizing their contributions to the toy industry and association with The Toy Foundation's events.
- Play Fund Partner — Corporate and foundation partners support Play Fund, which advances the impact of the organization's work.
- The Genius of Play Partner — Collaborates on public service announcement campaigns to promote the value of play.
- The Toy Association Government — Shares leadership and operational infrastructure, with the CFO overseeing finance and operations for both organizations.
- The Toy Association Network — Shares an online profile system with The Toy Association and is connected through ToyAssociation.org.
- The Toy Association Partner — Collaborates with The Toy Foundation by aligning the Golf & Give fundraiser with its LA Fall Preview Market Weeks.
- The Toy Association Partner — Philanthropic arm of The Toy Association
- The Toy Chest Partner — The official CSR partner that receives toy donations from exhibitors at Toy Fair® to support children in need.
- Topgolf El Segundo Partner — Venue partner hosting The Toy Foundation's annual Golf & Give fundraising event.
- Toy Chest Partner — Corporate and foundation partners support Toy Chest, which advances the impact of the organization's work.
- Toy Chest Partner — Program that partners with corporations to distribute toy donations to children in need.
- logistics partner Partner — Operates distribution facilities in Greater New York, Pittsburgh, Appalachia, Greater Chicago, North Texas, and Pacific Northwest for toy storage and pickup.
- toy industry Partner — Strategic partner in delivering toys and support to children in need
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Industry-United Collective Philanthropy Modelmethodology: collective-impactBy uniting toy industry stakeholders through coordinated giving, the organization amplifies impact and delivers play at scale to children in need, because collective action leverages shared resources, logistics, and funding more effectively than isolated efforts.
- Play as Therapeutic Interventionmethodology: play-as-therapyBy delivering toys and play experiences in medical settings, the organization reduces stress and improves emotional well-being for children undergoing treatment, because play serves as a therapeutic tool that supports psychological resilience during illness.
- Play-Based Emotional Recovery in Crisismethodology: crisis-response-through-playBy providing access to play during humanitarian disasters and emergencies, the organization supports emotional recovery and builds resilience in children and families, because play restores a sense of normalcy and safety during traumatic disruption.