Blanket Fort Foundation logo

Blanket Fort Foundation

TOWSON, MD EIN: 52-2073256 Website

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

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

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

16states
+8 more states

Cities

AdelphiAgawamAlamonte SpringsAlexandriaAnnapolisAugustaBaltimoreBelfastBethany BeachBeverly HillsBostonBronxBrooklynCamdenCatonsvilleGreenwichHopeHoustonHunt ValleyHyattsville

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

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$4M$8M$12M$17M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$521K$1M$2M$2M55 grants202041 grants202147 grants202268 grants202378 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

THE ASSOCIATED$180KFUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXC…$110KIMPROVING EDUCATION$75KHEARTSMILES$60KTHE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALT…$60KKIPP BALTIMORE INC$60KNEW YORK UNIVERSITY$52KJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY$50KNEW ISRAEL FUND$50KREBUILD METRO INC$50K

Grant Size Distribution

238 grants across all recorded years

209<$50K19$50–100K8$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
TRACI LERNER CO RSF LLCTRUSTEE5
MARK LERNER CO RSF LLCTRUSTEE5
SARA LERNER CO RSF LLCTRUSTEE5

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

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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