Commencement Inc
Commencement Inc is a private foundation, based in Baltimore, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $90K. Net investment income was $65K.
Commencement Inc at a glance
In short: Commencement Inc gave $90K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $90,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $45,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $45,000
- Total assets
- $2,067,256
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Commencement Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mentoring Mentors Inc ($45K). Together the top 2 received $90K.
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 9 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Commencement Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2022) to $90K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $90K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mentoring Mentors Inc Baltimore, MD | Education | $45,000 |
| Urban Alliance Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Education | $45,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,067,256 | $70,333 | $108,248 | $90,000 | 2 | $96,083 | $64,639 | $97,097 |
| 2024 | $2,105,071 | $105,053 | $108,522 | $90,000 | 2 | $97,631 | $64,318 | $97,087 |
| 2023 | $2,108,555 | $85,286 | $106,475 | $90,000 | 2 | $97,393 | $44,835 | $92,682 |
| 2022 | $2,129,509 | $64,414 | $108,157 | $90,000 | 3 | $102,832 | $35,891 | $97,822 |
| 2021 | $2,173,189 | $86,697 | $18,592 | — | — | $10,353 | $32,735 | $103,688 |
| 2020 | $2,104,708 | $2,079,938 | — | — | — | — | — | $8,982 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Commencement Inc reported a distributable amount of $97K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Commencement Inc is led by Nicholas Funk, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicholas Funk
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monique Rizer
Assistant Treasurer
Member → Assistant Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Price
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ieesha Johnson
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Debbie Williams (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Erica Myers (2022–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Jody Latimer (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Beverly White (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Cailin McGough (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Nicole Miklewski (2020) — Treasurer
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.
Frequently asked questions about Commencement Inc
How much does Commencement Inc give each year?
Commencement Inc gave $90K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $90K across 2 grants.
How large is Commencement Inc?
Commencement Inc reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $96K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $97K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Commencement Inc operate?
Commencement Inc has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Maryland.
What is Commencement Inc's EIN?
Commencement Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4098965. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Commencement Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Commencement Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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