At & Mary H Blades Foundation Inc
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
52
+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.
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
Cities
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
| 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?
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.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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