At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc

PRESTON, MD EIN: 52-0794020

The AT & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1963 and based in Preston, Maryland. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the foundation operates as an independent grantmaking entity focused on supporting charitable causes primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$28.1M

-0.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.6M

-14.3% YoY

Grant Count

+8.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$30K

-20.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation provides funding across several key areas including:

Education (including tuition assistance and scholarships)
Health and human services
Religious organizations and churches
Disability services (including wheelchair lifts)
Community development and voluntarism

The foundation makes unrestricted gifts and provides targeted support for specific needs such as tuition assistance for undernourished children in Frederick County, Maryland.

Grantmaking

Initial approach to the foundation should be by letter directed to the Preston, Maryland address.

Grant Range

approximately $30,000

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation gives almost exclusively on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, with particular focus on Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties. The foundation also provides some funding in Delaware and has supported organizations in Texas.

Grant Distribution by State

Maryland $5.1M (80%)

Delaware $517K (8%)

Florida $446K (7%)

Texas $215K (3%)

California $48K (1%)

North Carolina $42K (1%)

District of Columbia $15K (0%)

Arkansas $5K (0%)

+1 more states

States

Arkansas California District of Columbia Delaware Florida Maryland North Carolina New York Texas

Cities

BaltimoreBentonvilleBethany BeachBooneCambridgeCentrevilleChestertownDentonEastonGoldsboroHoustonMcdanielMilfordMillsboroNew BraunfelsNew CastleNew YorkOrlandoOwings MillsPreston

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year 2024:

Total Assets: $28,083,094
Total Revenue: $1,969,044
Total Expenses: $1,777,545
Total Giving: $1,564,100
Total Liabilities: $0

Investment Profile:

Investments: $24.3 million
The foundation generates revenue primarily through interest earned on cash accounts, temporary investments, and investment accounts, as well as realized gains from the sale of investment securities

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$28,083,094	$28,263,879	$26,674,604
Revenue	$1,969,044	$696,964	$1,273,310
Expenses	$1,777,545	$2,014,076	$2,047,790
Qualifying Distributions	$1,564,100	$1,826,000	$1,683,000
Net Investment Income	$1,756,359	$502,621	$911,429
Distributable Amount	$1,612,661	$1,564,098	$1,825,777

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

193 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Talbot Bible Church ($250,000), Chesapeake College ($145,000), Cru ($116,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AARONS PLACE DENTON, MD	NEEDY FAMILIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY	$4,000
BAY HUNDRED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS INC MCDANIEL, MD	HOME REPAIRS IN TALBOT COUNTY	$6,000
BOND SERVANTS INC CAMBRIDGE, MD	SCHOOL MINISTRY	$10,000
BOY SCOUTS TROOP 461 PRESTON, MD	LOCAL BUILDING REPAIR	$2,000
CARE & SHARE FUND CAMBRIDGE, MD	HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED	$10,000
CARE FOR ALS INC RIDGELY, MD	NUERONODE: THE TRILOGY	$16,500
CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY DENTON, MD	LINCHESTER MILL	$15,000
CASA OF CAROLINE INC DENTON, MD	CHILD ADVOCATES	$10,000
CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE HOUSTON, TX	PERU MISSIONARIES	$40,000
CHANNEL MARKER INC EASTON, MD	$35,000 PRIMARY PROJECT \ $15,000 RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS	$50,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

David Harper, Sr. – President
Brenda Harper – Treasurer
David Harper, Jr. – Secretary
Christy Harper – Trustee

The foundation was established by donors A.T. Blades and Mary H. Blades.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
DAVID HARPER SR	PRESIDENT	2	—
BRENDA HARPER	TREASURER	2	—
DAVID HARPER JR	SECRETARY	2	—
CHRISTY HARPER	TRUSTEE	2	—

Contact Information

Address: 3400 Poplar Neck Road Preston, MD 21655-1309

Phone: (410) 673-7932

Frequently Asked Questions

What does At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation provides funding across several key areas including: • Education (including tuition assistance and scholarships) • Health and human services • Religious organizations and churches • Disability services (including wheelchair lifts) • Community development and voluntarism The foundation makes unrestricted gifts and provides targeted support for specific needs such as tuition assistance for undernourished children in Frederick County, Maryland.

How do I apply for a grant from At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 67 grants in its most recent fiscal year • Typical grant awards range from $2,000 to $275,000 • Median grant size: approximately $30,000 • Recent grants include $50,000 to Salisbury Christian School for tuition and endowed scholarships, $50,000 to Salisbury University Foundation for Odel Scholarships, and $50,000 to Channel Marker for primary projects and residential programs **Application Process:** Initial approach to the foundation should be by lette…

Where does At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc make grants?

What size grants does At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc awarded 52 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc's EIN?

At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0794020. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.