Chesapeake Bay Trust
The Chesapeake Bay Trust is a public charity based in Annapolis, Maryland, created by the Maryland General Assembly in 1985. It makes grants for environmental education, watershed restoration, and community engagement in the Chesapeake Bay region and other areas named in its mission.
Key facts about Chesapeake Bay Trust
In short: Chesapeake Bay Trust gave $21.5M across 267 grants in 2025 (avg $81K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 52-1454182
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,506,725
- Grants made (2025)
- 267
- Average grant
- $80,550
- Median grant
- $34,006
- Total assets
- $52,181,608
- Primary geography
- Maryland (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$52.2M
+21.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$21.5M
+2.1% YoY
Grant Count
267
+26600.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
-99.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s mission is to engage and empower diverse groups to take actions that enrich natural resources and local communities of the Chesapeake Bay region. Its stated grantmaking objectives are environmental education, demonstration-based restoration, and community engagement. The organization also describes work across the watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny River.
Its programs include K–12 environmental education through experiential and outdoor learning; on-the-ground restoration that demonstrates techniques and engages residents; and community stewardship activities that increase public awareness and involvement in restoring Maryland’s natural resources.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work represented in its grants. Baltimore Tree Trust describes its mission as restoring Baltimore’s urban forest through tree planting, community engagement, and advocacy. ShoreRivers says it protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education. Scenic Rivers Land Trust describes its work as preserving natural and scenic areas in Anne Arundel County through landowner education and land-protection agreements.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 267 grants totaling $21,506,725. Grant amounts ranged from $5,317 to $2,274,240, with a median grant of $34,006. The largest listed award was $2,274,240 to Baltimore Tree Trust for community stewardship and restoration. Other large grants included $1,085,000 to Prince George’s County, $928,350 to Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and $769,943 to the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection for watershed restoration. The 2025 grant list also included awards for restoration and community stewardship to local governments, watershed groups, and other organizations.
Review Cycle
for that program. The page also lists a December 9, 2026 deadline for the Watershed Assistance Grant Program.
Open Grants
42 open opportunities from Chesapeake Bay Trust
Aileen Hughes Award Program Grant
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Anne Arundel County Community Tree Planting Mini Grant Program
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Anne Arundel County Forestry and Forested Land Protection Grant Program
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Amount
Up to US $238,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Chesapeake Bay Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust describes its work as focused on the Chesapeake Bay region, Maryland Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny River watershed. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to Maryland recipients (85%); the listed shares for other recipient states were Virginia 5%, District of Columbia 4%, Pennsylvania 3%, and West Virginia 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 267 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
269 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BALTIMORE TREE TRUST Baltimore, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION | $2,274,240 |
| PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MARYLAND Largo, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION | $1,085,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY Annapolis, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP | $928,350 |
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WATERSHED RESTORATION D Wheaton, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP | $769,943 |
| BALTIMORE COUNTY DEPS Towson, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION | $625,000 |
| SHORERIVERS INC Easton, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION | $599,082 |
| ARUNDEL RIVERS FEDERATION Edgewater, MD | RESTORATION | $392,853 |
| CHESAPEAKE RIVERS ASSOCIATION Annapolis, MD | COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION | $364,902 |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION Reston, VA | RESTORATION | $336,472 |
| SCENIC RIVERS LAND TRUST Annapolis, MD | RESTORATION | $330,324 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,181,608 | $36,042,524 | $32,816,762 | $21,506,725 |
| 2024 | $42,961,240 | $28,427,407 | $26,556,750 | $21,071,983 |
| 2023 | $35,658,902 | $22,229,296 | $20,192,027 | $16,296,634 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,181,608 | $42,961,240 | $35,658,902 |
| Revenue | $36,042,524 | $28,427,407 | $22,229,296 |
| Expenses | $32,816,762 | $26,556,750 | $20,192,027 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,771,414 | $932,801 | $631,954 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Joseph E. Farren, chair; Brian M. Hart, treasurer; Josh Kurtz, secretary; and Alexander G. Nunez, vice-chair. Trustees listed are Coretta Bennett, Jason D. Keppler, Jeffrey Hortsman, Henry H. Hopkins, Hon. David Fraser-Hidalgo, and Dr. Astrid Caldas.
Chesapeake Bay Trust is led by Jana L. Davis PhD, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jana L. Davis PhD
President
Executive Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $198K (2025)
Joseph E. Farren
Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Coretta Bennett
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Fraser-Hidalgo
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason D. Keppler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Koch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Senator Pamela Beidle
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomasina Poirot Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher M. Corchiarino
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry H. Hopkins Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Hortsman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Rowe
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Astrid Caldas
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vernice Miller-Travis
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allan House
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Nemazie
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey A. Mason
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne Nelson
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Vice President of Finance & Administration → Vice President of Finance & Administrator, 2023
Vice President of Finance & Administrator → Vice President of Finance & Administration, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$66K (2021) → $142K (2025)
Kacey M. Wetzel
Vice President of Program for Outreach & Education
Vice President of Program for Outreach & Education → Vice President of Program for Outreach & E, 2023
Vice President of Program for Outreach & E → Vice President of Program for Outreach & Education, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$100K (2021) → $136K (2025)
Sadie R. Drescher
Vice President of Programs for Restoration
Vice President of Programs for Restoration → Vice President of Programs for Restora, 2023
Vice President of Programs for Restora → Vice President of Programs for Restoration, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$101K (2021) → $131K (2025)
Suzanne Armstrong
Former Vice President of Development
Vice President of Development → Former Vice President of Development, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$100K (2023) → $115K (2025)
Alexander G. Nunez Esq.
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian M. Hart
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Kurtz
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Anthony Murray Leigh Jr. (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Bryan S. Offutt (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: John R. Valliant (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Erica Anthony PhD (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Gary Jobson (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Secty Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Benjamin Wechsler (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: F. Carter Heim (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: J. Robert Bradshaw (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Lee Currey (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Matthew Fleming (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas J. Miller PhD (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Todd B. Morgan (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Contact
Mailing address: 108 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403
Phone: (410) 974-2941
Website: https://cbtrust.org
Frequently asked questions about Chesapeake Bay Trust
How much does Chesapeake Bay Trust give each year?
Chesapeake Bay Trust gave $21.5M across 267 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $21.1M across 1 grant.
What is Chesapeake Bay Trust's typical grant size?
Chesapeake Bay Trust's median grant in 2025 was $34,006, and its average grant was $80,550, across 267 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Chesapeake Bay Trust give grants?
Chesapeake Bay Trust gives mostly in Maryland: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (49 grants), Washington, DC (23 grants), Annapolis, MD (17 grants) and Silver Spring, MD (7 grants).
Does Chesapeake Bay Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 267 grants with a stated purpose on Chesapeake Bay Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Stewardship and Restoration" (137 grants), "Restoration" (68 grants) and "Community Stewardship" (32 grants).
Who are Chesapeake Bay Trust's largest grantees?
Chesapeake Bay Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Baltimore Tree Trust ($2,274,240), Prince George's County Maryland ($1,085,000) and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay ($928,350), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chesapeake Bay Trust?
Chesapeake Bay Trust reported $52.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $36.0M.
What does Chesapeake Bay Trust fund?
The Trust’s mission is to engage and empower diverse groups to take actions that enrich natural resources and local communities of the Chesapeake Bay region. Its stated grantmaking objectives are environmental education, demonstration-based restoration, and community engagement. The organization also describes work across the watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland Coastal Bays, and Youghiogheny River. Its programs include K–12 environmental education through experiential and outdoor learnin…
How do I apply for a grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust?
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 267 grants totaling $21,506,725. Grant amounts ranged from $5,317 to $2,274,240, with a median grant of $34,006. The largest listed award was $2,274,240 to Baltimore Tree Trust for community stewardship and restoration. Other large grants included $1,085,000 to Prince George’s County, $928,350 to Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and $769,943 to the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection for watershed restoration. The 2025 grant list also…
What is Chesapeake Bay Trust's EIN?
Chesapeake Bay Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1454182. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Chesapeake Bay Trust by hand.
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