Foundations & Grantmakers in Maryland
3,189 grantmakers in Maryland reported grants on their latest 990s. The 1,369 that made at least 5 grants gave $2.9B. The largest by giving are Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Clark Charitable Foundation Inc and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Maryland grants
Foundation giving in Maryland at a glance
Active grantmakers
3,189
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$2.9B
from the 1,369 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$18K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$84K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Maryland by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Bethesda | $189.6M | 624 |
| 2 | Clark Charitable Foundation Inc | Chevy Chase | $187.0M | 137 |
| 3 | The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg | Owings Mills | $127.8M | 872 |
| 4 | Annie E Casey Foundation Inc | Baltimore | $93.1M | 1,462 |
| 5 | Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service Inc DBA Global Refuge | Baltimore | $93.0M | 55 |
| 6 | Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc | Bethesda | $79.9M | 138 |
| 7 | The Davis Family Foundation Inc | Hanover | $72.0M | 48 |
| 8 | Enterprise Community Partners Inc | Columbia | $61.8M | 347 |
| 9 | The J Willard and Alice S Marriott | Bethesda | $58.7M | 101 |
| 10 | Maryland Legal Services Corporation | Baltimore | $58.2M | 49 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 2 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 124 · 18%
- Human Services 84 · 12%
- Health 78 · 11%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 48 · 7%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 45 · 7%
- Environment & Animals 40 · 6%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (43% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Maryland
- Baltimore Community Foundation Inc $29.3M · 604 grants
- Mid Shore Community Foundation Inc $8.9M · 158 grants
- Community Foundation of the Eastern Shor $8.0M · 238 grants
- Community Foundation of Anne Arundel CO $7.9M · 151 grants
- The Community Foundation of Frederick County Maryland Inc $6.4M · 135 grants
- The Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland Inc $3.0M · 77 grants
- National Catholic Community Foundation $1.6M · 28 grants
- The Community Foundation of Howard County Inc $1.4M · 65 grants
Showing the largest 8 of 9 with at least 10 grants.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Maryland
Foundations based in Maryland whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First United Community Dreams Foundation | 77% (17) | 22 in 2024 | $3K |
| 2 | Alliance for Green Heat | 69% (29) | 42 in 2025 | $25K |
| 3 | The Strasbourg Foundation | 66% (37) | 56 in 2024 | $24K |
| 4 | Under Armour Foundation Inc | 65% (17) | 26 in 2025 | $41K |
| 5 | Mid Atlantic Arts Inc | 64% (83) | 129 in 2025 | $31K |
| 6 | Homefree USA Inc | 64% (27) | 42 in 2024 | $65K |
| 7 | DEA Code Family Foundation Inc | 63% (15) | 24 in 2025 | $45K |
| 8 | The John J Pohanka Family Foundation | 62% (56) | 90 in 2024 | $9K |
| 9 | United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe | 61% (54) | 88 in 2025 | $222K |
| 10 | The Baltimore Orioles Foundation Inc | 61% (31) | 51 in 2024 | $45K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 1,369 grantmakers in Maryland with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Bethesda, MD
Assets
$5.0B
Grants
624
Total Given
$189.6M
Clark Charitable Foundation Inc
Chevy Chase, MD
Assets
$447.1M
Grants
137
Total Given
$187.0M
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Owings Mills, MD
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
872
Total Given
$127.8M
Annie E Casey Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
1,462
Total Given
$93.1M
Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service Inc DBA Global Refuge
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$97.1M
Grants
55
Total Given
$93.0M
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc
Bethesda, MD
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
138
Total Given
$79.9M
The Davis Family Foundation Inc
Hanover, MD
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
48
Total Given
$72.0M
Enterprise Community Partners Inc
Columbia, MD
Assets
$941.1M
Grants
347
Total Given
$61.8M
The J Willard and Alice S Marriott
Bethesda, MD
Assets
$442.5M
Grants
101
Total Given
$58.7M
Maryland Legal Services Corporation
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$55.0M
Grants
49
Total Given
$58.2M
Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$446.7M
Grants
515
Total Given
$53.0M
Hias Inc
Silver Spring, MD
Assets
$72.7M
Grants
33
Total Given
$50.5M
Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc
Chevy Chase, MD
Assets
$689.6M
Grants
88
Total Given
$48.3M
Fisher House Foundation Inc
Rockville, MD
Assets
$107.7M
Grants
70
Total Given
$44.1M
The Stephen & Renee Bisciotti Foundation
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$474.4M
Grants
79
Total Given
$42.1M
United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe
Annapolis, MD
Assets
$532.9M
Grants
88
Total Given
$38.9M
CWI Works Inc
Silver Spring, MD
Assets
$27.0M
Grants
52
Total Given
$35.3M
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Inc
North Bethesda, MD
Assets
$388.5M
Grants
360
Total Given
$34.1M
The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore Inc
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$42.9M
Grants
46
Total Given
$29.8M
Players Philanthropy Fund Inc
Towson, MD
Assets
$38.6M
Grants
268
Total Given
$29.5M
Baltimore Community Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$314.3M
Grants
604
Total Given
$29.3M
The Keith Campbell Foundation
Bethesda, MD
Assets
$420.2M
Grants
688
Total Given
$27.9M
The Kahlert Foundation Inc
Sykesville, MD
Assets
$84.3M
Grants
229
Total Given
$26.4M
Maryland Family Network Inc
Baltimore, MD
Assets
$17.1M
Grants
38
Total Given
$26.4M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Maryland
What are the largest foundations in Maryland?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ($189.6M across 624 grants), Clark Charitable Foundation Inc ($187.0M) and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg ($127.8M). Together the top 10 account for 35% of the $2.9B given by the 1,369 grantmakers in Maryland that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Maryland?
The typical grant is about $18K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $84K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Maryland?
Yes. We found 9 community foundations in Maryland with grant activity. The largest by giving are Baltimore Community Foundation Inc, Mid Shore Community Foundation Inc and Community Foundation of the Eastern Shor. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Maryland foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Maryland from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.