Blanket Fort Foundation
Blanket Fort Foundation is a private foundation based in Towson, Maryland. Informed by its family’s Jewish values, it supports education, basic needs, and increased economic opportunities for children and families in Baltimore and beyond.
Blanket Fort Foundation at a glance
In short: Blanket Fort Foundation gave $2.1M across 78 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Maryland. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,085,640
- +46.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 78
- +14.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,739
- +27.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $23,112,220
- +34.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (31 of 78, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (73% 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 Blanket Fort Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) organizations or work with a fiscal sponsor. It describes a process beginning with an email to request a meeting; organizations that have not previously received funding may be asked to submit a letter of inquiry, and larger requests may proceed to a grant application. The foundation may also request a meeting or site visit. The website says returning grantees typically do not need to submit a letter of inquiry unless there has been a major organizational change.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists typical 2026 deadlines: T1 letters of inquiry due January 22 and applications due February 12; T2 letters of inquiry due April 1 and applications due April 15; T3 letters of inquiry due October 1 and applications due October 14. It says dates and requirements may change and are confirmed during the initial meeting. Emergency requests are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Deadline
- The website lists typical 2026 deadlines: T1 letters of inquiry due January 22 and applications due February 12; T2…
- Contact
Mailing address: 405 York Road, Towson, MD 21204
Phone: (410) 602-0195
Website: https://blanketfortfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Blanket Fort Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Thread Inc ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
289 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 253 grants of 289 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its giving is primarily focused in Baltimore, with additional giving in areas important to the family, including Maine and New York. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to Maryland recipients (73%), followed by New York (8%), Maine (6%), California (5%), and Washington, DC (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Blanket Fort Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 78 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 100% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 216% 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 $527K (2020) to $2.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 78 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Thread Inc Baltimore, MD | General Need | $300,000 |
| The Associated Baltimore, MD | General Need | $180,000 |
| Fund for Educational Excellence Inc Baltimore, MD | General Need | $110,000 |
| Improving Education Baltimore, MD | General Need | $75,000 |
| Heartsmiles Baltimore, MD | General Need | $60,000 |
| The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Baltimore, MD | General Need | $60,000 |
| Kipp Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | General Need | $60,000 |
| Homeworthy Rockland, ME | General Need | $60,000 |
| New York University New York, NY | General Need | $51,800 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | General Need | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Blanket Fort 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 | $23,112,220 | $7,056,695 | $2,394,584 | $2,085,640 | 78 | $2,085,640 | — | $966,578 |
| 2023 | $17,216,799 | $388,071 | $1,752,171 | $1,423,620 | 68 | $1,423,620 | — | $869,640 |
| 2022 | $20,459,760 | $3,317,877 | $1,814,258 | $1,350,419 | 47 | $1,350,419 | — | $1,003,727 |
| 2021 | $22,610,999 | $15,125,085 | $1,403,854 | $1,041,236 | 41 | — | $5,893,759 | $960,893 |
| 2020 | $12,724,755 | $1,002,528 | $729,330 | $527,288 | 55 | — | $811,671 | $605,452 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Blanket Fort Foundation reported a distributable amount of $967K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support education, basic needs, and increased economic opportunities for children and families in Baltimore and beyond. Its stated priority giving area is the Jewish community, while it also describes flexibility to address emerging issues, opportunities, and family passions.
Its 2024 grants included education and youth-serving organizations. For example, THREAD says it builds relationships with young people facing opportunity and achievement gaps; the Fund for Educational Excellence says it works to improve education for children in Baltimore City Public Schools; and KIPP Baltimore says it operates public schools intended to help students attend and succeed in four-year colleges. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 78 grants totaling $2,085,640. Grants ranged from $100 to $300,000, with a median of $17,500. Notable awards included $300,000 to THREAD, $180,000 to The Associated, $110,000 to the Fund for Educational Excellence, $75,000 to Improving Education, and $60,000 each to HeartSmiles, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, KIPP Baltimore, and Homeworthy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists TRACI LERNER CO RSF LLC, MARK LERNER CO RSF LLC, and SARA LERNER CO RSF LLC as trustees.
Blanket Fort Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Lerner CO RSF LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Traci Lerner CO RSF LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara Lerner CO RSF LLC
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Blanket Fort Foundation
How much does Blanket Fort Foundation give each year?
Blanket Fort Foundation gave $2.1M across 78 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 68 grants.
What is Blanket Fort Foundation's typical grant size?
Blanket Fort Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $26,739, across 78 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Blanket Fort Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Blanket Fort Foundation give grants?
Blanket Fort Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (8%) and Maine (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (39 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), Rockland, ME (5 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does Blanket Fort Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Blanket Fort Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (78 of 78) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Blanket Fort Foundation's largest grantees?
Blanket Fort Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Thread Inc ($300,000), The Associated ($180,000) and Fund for Educational Excellence Inc ($110,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Blanket Fort Foundation?
Blanket Fort Foundation reported $23.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $967K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Blanket Fort Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support education, basic needs, and increased economic opportunities for children and families in Baltimore and beyond. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Blanket Fort Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Blanket Fort Foundation's EIN?
Blanket Fort Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2073256. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Blanket Fort Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Blanket Fort Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/blanket-fort-foundation-morg_2e01d916bd8b4c858feb7fc25f529294
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522073256_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Blanket Fort Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/blanket-fort-foundation-morg_2e01d916bd8b4c858feb7fc25f529294},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Blanket Fort 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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