Blanket Fort Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1997 and based in Towson, Maryland. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a family foundation. The organization's name reflects the warmth, joy, and positivity the family brings to philanthropy, drawing inspiration from blanket forts created during the founders' childhood. The name also symbolizes the comfort, safety, and security that all children deserve.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.1M
+34.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+46.5% YoY
Grant Count
78
+14.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+27.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Blanket Fort Foundation, informed by the family's Jewish values, supports education, basic needs, and increasing economic opportunities for children and families in Baltimore and beyond.
Core Values:
- Community: The foundation believes that working and being in community matters and that communities should play the leading role in shaping their own change.
- Learning: The foundation believes that learning is essential for every human being to lead a successful life and aspires to continually learn and evolve as a good partner and effective foundation.
- Justice & Equity: The foundation commits to moving toward ever-increasing fairness and justice, working with respect, understanding, and humility to further this vision.
Funding Priorities: The foundation gives primarily for health organizations, as well as for education, human services, and Jewish organizations. Recent grants have supported education initiatives, youth development programs, and organizations addressing basic needs.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 47 grants in 2023, with recent recipients including:
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount and median grant amount available in detailed financial records.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Baltimore and Maryland, with some giving extending beyond the state to Maine and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $23,112,220
- Total Revenue: $7,056,695
- Total Expenses: $2,390,000
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $17,216,799
- Total Revenue: $388,071
- Total Expenses: $1,752,171
Tax-Exempt Status: The foundation has been tax-exempt since March 2000. Donations to the organization are tax-deductible.
EIN: 52-2073256
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,112,220 | $17,216,799 | $20,459,760 |
| Revenue | $7,056,695 | $388,071 | $3,317,877 |
| Expenses | $2,394,584 | $1,752,171 | $1,814,258 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,085,640 | $1,423,620 | $1,350,419 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $966,578 | $869,640 | $1,003,727 |
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Associated ($180,000), Fund for Educational Excellence Inc ($110,000), Improving Education ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAS YOSHURON SYNAGOGUE ROCKLAND, ME | GENERAL NEED | $10,000 |
| AHAVAS YISRAEL CHARITY PIKESVILLE, MD | GENERAL NEED | $2,000 |
| ART WITH A HEART BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL NEED | $180 |
| AZIZA PEACE BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL NEED | $30,000 |
| BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL NEED | $23,500 |
| BETH EL CONGREGATION BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL NEED | $12,480 |
| BETHANY BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY BETHANY BEACH, DE | GENERAL NEED | $100 |
| CAMDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY CAMDEN, ME | GENERAL NEED | $2,500 |
| CENTER FOR MAINE CONTEMPORARY ART ROCKLAND, ME | GENERAL NEED | $1,500 |
| CHIZUK AMUNO CONGREGATION BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL NEED | $180 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRACI LERNER CO RSF LLC | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| MARK LERNER CO RSF LLC | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| SARA LERNER CO RSF LLC | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 405 York Road, Towson, MD 21204-5124
Phone: 410-602-0195
Website: www.blanketfortfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Blanket Fort Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** Blanket Fort Foundation, informed by the family's Jewish values, supports education, basic needs, and increasing economic opportunities for children and families in Baltimore and beyond. **Core Values:** • **Community:** The foundation believes that working and being in community matters and that communities should play the leading role in shaping their own change. • **Learning:** The foundation believes that learning is essential for every human being to lead a successfu…
How do I apply for a grant from Blanket Fort Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 47 grants in 2023, with recent recipients including: • Teach for America (TFA): $125,000 • Fund for Educational Excellence: $106,500 • Homeworthy: $60,000 **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $100 to $344,604, with an average grant amount and median grant amount available in detailed financial records. **Total Giving:** • 2024: $2,085,640 in grants • 2023: $903,080 in grants (from 47 grants) **Foundation Development:** The foundation is currently in…
Where does Blanket Fort Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Baltimore and Maryland, with some giving extending beyond the state to Maine and New York.
What size grants does Blanket Fort Foundation award?
In 2024, Blanket Fort Foundation awarded 78 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Blanket Fort Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Blanket Fort Foundation reported a distributable amount of $967K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blanket Fort Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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