Ausherman Family Foundation
Ausherman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Frederick, Maryland. Its mission is to empower the passion for change in Frederick County, and it supports nonprofit organizations serving the county through grants for operations, programs, projects, and capacity building.
Ausherman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ausherman Family Foundation gave $699K across 98 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Maryland. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $698,928
- -10.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 98
- +21.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,132
- -26.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $23,129,939
- +10.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (19 of 98, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ausherman Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a Letter of Inquiry through the foundation’s online grant portal. The foundation aims to respond to inquiries within 45 days; organizations invited to proceed submit a full application. The process typically takes about four months, and requests are considered at one of six yearly board meetings. General Grant applicants must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), be physically located in or actively serve Frederick County, have a defined mission and strong board and executive leadership, provide an operating budget, make 100% board giving, and be current with Maryland charity registration. General Grant requests must serve Frederick County residents, fit an area of interest, and be for at least $2,500. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that 90% of available funds must benefit Frederick County.
- Review Cycle
- General Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis; the website states there is no application deadline.
- Deadline
- General Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis; the website states there is no application deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Lori Perkins Grants Coordinator Aus
Mailing address: 7420 Hayward Road Suite 203, Frederick, MD 21702
Phone: (301) 620-4443
Website: https://aushermanfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Ausherman Family Foundation
Accounting Back-Office Support Grant Program
Ausherman Family Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
AFF General Grant
Ausherman Family Foundation
Amount
More than US $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ausherman Family Foundation Capacity Building Grants
Ausherman Family Foundation
Amount
$3K – $25K
Deadline
Rolling
Who Ausherman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was L'arche Frederick Maryland Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $368K.
Grant Size Distribution
465 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 449 grants of 465 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it funds organizations that serve Frederick County and that requests not serving the county will not be reviewed. Its 2024 filing states that 90% of available funds must benefit Frederick County. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland; smaller shares went to recipients in Pennsylvania, Montana, Nebraska, and Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 98 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ausherman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 98 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 57% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 267% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $445K (2021) to $784K (2023). In 2024 it made 98 grants totaling $699K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| L'arche Frederick Maryland Inc Frederick, MD | Gap funding, dda deferred pymts, gap funding forgivable loan | $75,000 |
| Spectrum Support Inc Owings Mills, MD | Youth Empowerment Program | $55,000 |
| The Frederick Children's Chorus Inc Woodsboro, MD | Capacity Building | $51,000 |
| Centro Hispano De Frederick Frederick, MD | Aff spanish class, back office support, esl coordinator, heritage festival | $45,480 |
| Women Solve New Market, MD | 5th annual seed to roots, strategic blueprint, frederick's seed to roots | $30,000 |
| African American Resources Frederick, MD | General Operations, Living Treasures Projects | $27,000 |
| Maryland Deaf Community Center Frederick, MD | MDCC Bod Training and Fundraising | $25,000 |
| Spanish Speaking Community Frederick, MD | Bingo Gala, Critical Intervention, General Operations | $21,475 |
| Frederick Arts Council Inc Frederick, MD | Public Art Program | $20,000 |
| Downtown Frederick Partnership Frederick, MD | General Operating Costs | $18,112 |
Ready to take the next step with Ausherman Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $23,129,939 | $4,737,842 | $2,036,473 | $698,928 | 98 | $1,715,404 | $1,712,039 | $641,779 |
| 2023 | $20,899,943 | $1,029,667 | $2,110,668 | $784,456 | 81 | $1,800,077 | $849,489 | $634,590 |
| 2022 | $20,892,046 | $444,437 | $2,022,869 | $487,317 | 87 | $1,653,644 | $282,272 | $726,018 |
| 2021 | $25,756,581 | $7,401,418 | $1,194,341 | $444,527 | 94 | $893,156 | $2,303,353 | $605,812 |
| 2020 | $19,967,907 | $2,182,590 | $3,010,794 | $769,511 | 105 | — | $1,808,116 | $503,936 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ausherman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $642K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to “empower the passion for change in Frederick County, Maryland.” Its website lists four areas of interest: children, youth, and families; health and human services; arts and culture; and public/society benefit. It says its support can include general, capacity-building, and multi-year grants. Its stated activities include filling gaps in service, catalyzing major projects, supporting leadership development, and collaborating with nonprofits and other grantmakers.
The foundation supports organizations with varied missions. For example, L’Arche Frederick Maryland says it creates homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together in an environment of shared faith and mutual respect. Centro Hispano de Frederick describes its work as informing and educating county residents to promote full participation in the community, including through English and citizenship classes and enrichment activities. The Frederick Arts Council says it supports existing and developing arts organizations through grants, technical assistance, scholarships, and advocacy. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 98 grants totaling $698,928. Individual grants ranged from $100 to $75,000, with a median grant of $2,500. Its largest reported grants included $75,000 to L’Arche Frederick Maryland for gap funding and a forgivable loan; $55,000 to Spectrum Support for a youth empowerment program; $51,000 to The Frederick Children’s Chorus for capacity building; and $45,480 to Centro Hispano de Frederick for Spanish classes, back-office support, an ESL coordinator, and a heritage festival.
Other 2024 awards included $30,000 to Women Solve, $27,000 to African American Resources, $25,000 to Maryland Deaf Community Center, $21,475 to Spanish Speaking Community, and $20,000 to Frederick Arts Council. The Maryland Deaf Community Center describes its mission as providing a place for members of the Deaf community to gather for education, communication, social, and referral purposes. The Frederick Center, which received $16,700, says it supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ people and their families in the broader Frederick community.
The website describes General Grants as support for operating costs or for developing, implementing, or maintaining a project or program. General Grant requests are accepted on a rolling basis, with no application deadline; an organization may receive one General Grant per 12-month period. The website also describes Capacity Building Grants, Multi-Year Grants, and other initiatives, including capacity-building support for nonprofit systems, leadership, and management.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marvin E. Ausherman as trustee, chairman, and founder; Justin E. Ausherman as trustee, vice chair, and secretary; Renee Ausherman as trustee and treasurer; and Leigh Adams as executive director. It also lists Joseph S. Welty, Dr. Denise Rollins, Tammie Workman, Jeremy Holder, and Ariel Rodriguez as trustees.
Ausherman Family Foundation is led by Leigh Adams, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leigh Adams
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$151K (2020) → $178K (2024)
Marvin E. Ausherman
Trustee, Chairman & Founder
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Rollins
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Holder
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph S. Welty
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin E. Ausherman
Trustee, Vice Chair & Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Ausherman
Trustee & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammie Workman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ariel Rodriguez
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joshua Pederson (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $178K, to Leigh Adams (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Ausherman Family Foundation
How much does Ausherman Family Foundation give each year?
Ausherman Family Foundation gave $699K across 98 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $784K across 81 grants.
What is Ausherman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ausherman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $7,132, across 98 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ausherman Family Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Ausherman Family Foundation give grants?
Ausherman Family Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Frederick, MD (64 grants), Walkersville, MD (2 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does Ausherman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of Ausherman Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (41 of 98) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ausherman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ausherman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include L'arche Frederick Maryland Inc ($75,000), Spectrum Support Inc ($55,000) and The Frederick Children's Chorus Inc ($51,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ausherman Family Foundation?
Ausherman Family Foundation reported $23.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $642K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ausherman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to “empower the passion for change in Frederick County, Maryland.” Its website lists four areas of interest: children, youth, and families; health and human services; arts and culture; and public/society benefit. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ausherman Family Foundation?
Submit a Letter of Inquiry through the foundation’s online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ausherman Family Foundation's EIN?
Ausherman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4937263. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ausherman Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Ausherman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ausherman Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ausherman-family-foundation-morg_bc597d162d6a41d88068e25775db5643
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204937263_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ausherman Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ausherman-family-foundation-morg_bc597d162d6a41d88068e25775db5643},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Ausherman Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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