Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr
The Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1946 in memory of Baltimore-born naval pilot Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr., it supports local educational, public health, youth, patriotic, civic, and social welfare programs.
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr at a glance
In short: Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr gave $153K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $152,590
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,954
- +0.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $6,594,492
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr
- How to Apply
-
Submit the written request and supporting materials described above to Bowen Weisheit III.
- Contact
Application contact: Bowen Weisheit Iii
Mailing address: 711 West 40Th Street Ste 357, Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: (410) 366-8810
Website: https://cmkelly.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wellspring of Life Farm Inc ($51K). Together the top 9 received $153K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 56 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its grantmaking as primarily serving the greater Baltimore area. All of its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr gives
- Giving fell 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 70% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $153K (2025) to $352K (2020). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $153K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wellspring of Life Farm Inc Monkton, MD | Program Support | $51,000 |
| Ens C Markland Kelly Jr Timonium Memorial Post # 174 Timonium, MD | Grants made for charitable activities conducted by the post. The foundation monitors the amounts distributed through the post to various youth, athletic, americanism, and flag charities. | $27,090 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Cockeysville, MD | Program Support | $25,000 |
| The Fire Museum of Maryland Lutherville, MD | Program Support | $25,000 |
| The Baltimore National Heritage Area Baltimore, MD | Program Support | $10,000 |
| St Johns College Annapolis, MD | Scholarship | $6,000 |
| Independent College Fund of Maryland Baltimore, MD | Educational | $5,000 |
| Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Baltimore, MD | Program Support | $2,000 |
| Mid-Atlantic GSP Rescue Inc Sykesville, MD | Program Support | $1,500 |
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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 | $6,594,492 | $501,149 | $360,607 | $152,590 | 9 | $216,654 | $401,902 | $311,232 |
| 2024 | $6,189,874 | $635,455 | $347,628 | $168,198 | 10 | $199,940 | $547,948 | $294,003 |
| 2023 | $5,608,284 | $386,381 | $516,823 | $254,227 | 12 | $334,506 | $263,655 | $294,635 |
| 2022 | $6,355,270 | $227,640 | $494,324 | $265,910 | 12 | $337,745 | $118,826 | $321,692 |
| 2021 | $6,375,210 | $418,702 | $494,563 | $292,371 | 13 | $358,933 | $317,625 | $300,848 |
| 2020 | $5,791,429 | $225,656 | $555,387 | $351,500 | 18 | — | $120,018 | $285,250 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr reported a distributable amount of $311K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to carry out C. Markland Kelly, Sr.’s wishes to aid citizens generally and Baltimore’s youth in particular. It reports supporting educational, public health, cultural, patriotic, youth, and community programs, including programs conducted by the Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Post No. 174, American Legion.
Its 2025 grants included program support for Wellspring of Life Farm, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Fire Museum of Maryland, the Baltimore National Heritage Area, the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, and Mid-Atlantic GSP Rescue; educational support for the Independent College Fund of Maryland; and a scholarship to St. John’s College. Wellspring of Life Farm describes its work as offering programs and activities that may be therapeutic in nature for active military members, veterans, first responders, at-risk teens, and their families. St. John’s College describes itself as a liberal arts college focused on collaborative inquiry and the study of original texts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 9 grants totaling $152,590. Individual grants ranged from $1,500 to $51,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants were $51,000 to Wellspring of Life Farm, $27,090 to the Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr. Timonium Memorial Post #174 for charitable activities conducted through the Post, $25,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and $25,000 to the Fire Museum of Maryland. Other recipients included the Baltimore National Heritage Area ($10,000), St. John’s College ($6,000), the Independent College Fund of Maryland ($5,000), the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House ($2,000), and Mid-Atlantic GSP Rescue ($1,500).
The foundation does not provide application forms. Its 2025 filing instructs applicants to contact Bowen Weisheit III with a written request describing the project, intended outcomes, and amount requested. The request should include evidence of the applicant organization’s tax-exempt status; names of its officers and directors; its latest financial statement; supporting exhibits and materials; and details of support from the organization’s members and the broader community. The filing states there are no deadlines and no restrictions on awards. The foundation’s website says it does not make grants to individuals, operating budget support, graduate fellowships, or travel or research grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amanda Shores Davis as president; Bowen P. Weisheit III as vice president and treasurer; Bowen P. Weisheit Jr. as secretary; and Carol W. Hunt and Scott Ensor as directors.
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr is led by Amanda Shores Davis, President on the 2025 filing; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amanda Shores Davis
President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$62K (2025)
Carol W. Hunt
Director
Vice President & Executive Director → President, 2021
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$85K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Scott Ensor
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Bowen P. Weisheit III
Vice President & Treasurer
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $60K (2025)
Bowen P. Weisheit Jr.
Secretary
President & Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $2K (2025)
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $62K, to Amanda Shores Davis (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr
How much does Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr give each year?
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr gave $153K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $168K across 10 grants.
What is Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's typical grant size?
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,954, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr give grants?
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr gives mostly in Maryland: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (3 grants).
Does Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (6 grants).
Who are Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's largest grantees?
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's largest 2025 grantees include Wellspring of Life Farm Inc ($51,000), Ens C Markland Kelly Jr Timonium Memorial Post # 174 ($27,090) and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr?
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr reported $6.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $217K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $311K (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.
What does Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to carry out C. Markland Kelly, Sr.’s wishes to aid citizens generally and Baltimore’s youth in particular. It reports supporting educational, public health, cultural, patriotic, youth, and community programs, including programs conducted by the Ensign C. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr?
Submit the written request and supporting materials described above to Bowen Weisheit III. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's EIN?
Ensign C Markland Kelly Jr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6033330. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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