Cornerstone Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2004 and based in Washington, DC. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a closed grantmaking model, distributing funds only to preselected charitable organizations without accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation is entirely volunteer-run and governed by five trustees from the Vogt family.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$52.4M
+14.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+16.4% YoY
Grant Count
12
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$181K
+6.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornerstone Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Environmental conservation
- Reproductive rights
- Social justice
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$155,000
Invitation Only
; invitation-only funding model
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
National scope, with recent grantmaking activity in:
- District of Columbia
- New York
- California
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $52.4 million to $53 million (2023-2024)
- Total liabilities: $0
- Annual revenue: $1.86 million (2023)
- Annual expenses: $1.99 million (2023)
- All funding derives from investment returns; the foundation accepts zero outside contributions
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,426,075 | $45,873,952 | $46,004,828 |
| Revenue | $8,972,306 | $1,863,862 | $8,592,794 |
| Expenses | $2,420,295 | $1,994,738 | $1,814,662 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,316,528 | $1,966,984 | $1,793,679 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,898,557 | $1,863,767 | $1,592,699 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,468,628 | $2,432,057 | $2,343,795 |
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
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Environmental Defense Fund ($350,000), Island Institute ($340,000), Teach for America ($240,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $350,000 |
| ISLAND INSTITUTE ROCKLAND, MD | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $340,000 |
| THE BASIC FUND OAKLAND, CA | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $60,000 |
| THE POSSE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $150,000 |
| CHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $150,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $240,000 |
| HOUSE OF RUTH WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $240,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $200,000 |
| THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $80,000 |
| WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by five trustees from the Vogt family. All operations are conducted by volunteers with no paid staff.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE VOGT | MANAGING TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARTIN ROMO | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| EMILY VOGT | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH VOGT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LUCY VOGT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1828 L Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036-5104
Phone: 202-595-1070
EIN: 11-3737220
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cornerstone Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Environmental conservation • Reproductive rights • Social justice • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Cornerstone Foundation Inc?
**Grant Structure:** • Single discretionary grant program • Typical award range: $60,000 to $350,000 • Median grant size: $155,000 • No public application process; invitation-only funding model • The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funding **Recent Activity:** • Annual distributions: approximately $2.3 million (2024) • Total giving: $2,170,000 (2023) • Grantmaking has remained consistent, focusing on established national organizations aligned with foundation …
Where does Cornerstone Foundation Inc make grants?
National scope, with recent grantmaking activity in: • District of Columbia • New York • California
What size grants does Cornerstone Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Cornerstone Foundation Inc awarded 12 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $181K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cornerstone Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cornerstone Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cornerstone Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cornerstone Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3737220. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Cornerstone Foundation Inc'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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