Crane Family Foundation Inc
Crane Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. Formed in 1991 by Baltimore County real estate investor Charles Crane, it continues to support THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and Mercy Medical Center, institutions Crane held in high regard.
Crane Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Crane Family Foundation Inc gave $6.4M across 102 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in Maryland. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,449,962
- +61.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 102
- +14.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $63,235
- +41.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $16,170
- Total assets
- $32,459,278
- -2.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (35 of 102, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Crane Family Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit the proposal materials described above. The 2023 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- October 15 for violence prevention requests and February 15 for Jewish education requests. If a deadline falls on a weekend, proposals may be submitted by the following Tuesday. As of October 2, 2026, the October 15, 2026 violence prevention deadline is upcoming; the next February 15 deadline is February 15, 2027.
- Deadline
- October 15 for violence prevention requests and February 15 for Jewish education requests.
- Next open deadline
- February 15, 2027 (Charles Crane Family Foundation — Jewish Education Grants)
- Contact
Application contact: Charles Crane Family Foundation
Mailing address: 101 West Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (443) 961-6680
Website: https://thecranefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Crane Family Foundation Inc
Who Crane Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore ($3.4M). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
438 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 389 grants of 438 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated focus is greater Baltimore, including Jewish education there and violence prevention programs benefiting greater Baltimore youth. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland; smaller reported shares went to New York and Massachusetts, with rounded shares of 0% each for Florida and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 102 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Crane Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 35 of 102 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $87K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 59% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.7M (2020) to $6.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 102 grants totaling $6.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $3,392,933 |
| Mercy Health Foundation Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $550,000 |
| Beth Tfiloh Congregation Pikesville, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $142,051 |
| Bais Yaakov School for Girls Owings Mills, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $109,921 |
| Central Scholarship Bureau Owings Mills, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $100,000 |
| NAMI Metro Baltimore Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $90,000 |
| NER Israel Rabbinical College Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $80,353 |
| Womens Institute of Torah Seminary for Girls Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $80,000 |
| Jewish Teen Advancement Program Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $73,000 |
| ETZ Chaim Center Baltimore, MD | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization. | $65,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,459,278 | $6,189,034 | $7,059,742 | $6,449,962 | 102 | $6,956,577 | $6,023,447 | $4,628,432 |
| 2023 | $33,290,783 | $5,758,742 | $4,388,197 | $3,986,168 | 89 | $4,190,172 | $5,375,242 | $4,621,347 |
| 2022 | $31,816,333 | $5,112,935 | $5,090,915 | $4,504,500 | 86 | $4,786,513 | $4,780,499 | $4,611,935 |
| 2021 | $31,772,838 | $4,910,328 | $4,711,825 | $4,064,980 | 89 | $4,360,231 | $4,304,799 | $4,651,196 |
| 2020 | $31,537,333 | $4,631,540 | $4,436,615 | $3,652,914 | 72 | — | $3,822,205 | $4,499,254 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Crane Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated funding priorities are Jewish education in greater Baltimore and violence prevention programs benefiting greater Baltimore youth. Its 2023 filing says it primarily supports organizations encouraging violence prevention programs benefiting youth in Baltimore City and Maryland, as well as Jewish education in the greater Baltimore area.
Its grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, The Associated describes its work as strengthening Jewish life through community partners in Greater Baltimore, Israel, and around the world. Mercy Health Foundation says it coordinates and strengthens fundraising for Mercy Medical Center and Stella Maris. Jewish Teen Advancement Program describes providing mentorship and educational programming to help teenage girls develop positive lifestyle choices. Living Classrooms Foundation describes offering hands-on education and job training, with a special emphasis on at-risk youth. These are descriptions of the grantees’ work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 102 grants totaling $6,449,962. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $3,392,933, with a median of $16,170. Its largest reported grants included $3,392,933 to The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, $550,000 to Mercy Health Foundation, $142,051 to Beth Tfiloh Congregation, $109,921 to Bais Yaakov School for Girls, and $100,000 to Central Scholarship Bureau. The grants were reported for the recipients’ exempt purposes.
The foundation’s website says it does not use a specific grant request form and encourages first-time applicants to contact it to discuss whether their organization and mission match its priorities. Applicants are asked to submit ten printed, double-sided, assembled and collated copies, each stapled with a signed cover letter, and a one-page summary form. The proposal set should include only the project budget; pictures should be limited to one double-sided page. Applicants should also submit two separate copies of the organization’s most recent audit, IRS Form 990, or comparable financial statement, and an IRS determination letter for the applicant or its fiscal sponsor, as applicable. A scanned PDF of the narrative and budget materials is also requested. Proposals may be mailed or hand-delivered.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lawrence M Ziffer as CEO; Benjamin Greeenwald as president; Shale Stiller, Amy Macht, and Hinda Dubin as vice presidents; David Kinkopf as secretary; Darrell D Friedman as treasurer; and Laurence M Katz as director.
Crane Family Foundation Inc is led by Lawrence M. Ziffer, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 2 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lawrence M. Ziffer
CEO
Executive Director → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
Chief Executive Officer → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$62K (2022) → $150K (2024)
Benjamin Greeenwald
President
Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurence M. Katz
Director
President → Director & Immediate Past President, 2023
Director & Immediate Past President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$181K (2020) → $353K (2024)
Amy Macht
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darrell D. Friedman
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David W. Kinkopf
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hinda Dubin
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shale D. Stiller
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $353K, to Laurence M Katz (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Crane Family Foundation Inc
How much does Crane Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Crane Family Foundation Inc gave $6.4M across 102 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 89 grants.
What is Crane Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Crane Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $16,170, and its average grant was $63,235, across 102 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Crane Family Foundation Inc that year got $18K on average.
Where does Crane Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Crane Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (66 grants), Pikesville, MD (6 grants), Owings Mills, MD (5 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Who are Crane Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Crane Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore ($3,392,933), Mercy Health Foundation ($550,000) and Beth Tfiloh Congregation ($142,051), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Crane Family Foundation Inc?
Crane Family Foundation Inc reported $32.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Crane Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated funding priorities are Jewish education in greater Baltimore and violence prevention programs benefiting greater Baltimore youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Crane Family Foundation Inc?
Submit the proposal materials described above. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Crane Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Crane Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1755504. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Crane Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Crane Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/crane-family-foundation-inc-morg_746308a01b4e4deeb0e134e7d84d7b70
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521755504_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Crane Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/crane-family-foundation-inc-morg_746308a01b4e4deeb0e134e7d84d7b70},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Crane Family Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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