Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation
The Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockville, Maryland. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including literacy, humanitarian relief, cultural, food-access, and community-service organizations.
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation gave $48K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in District of Columbia. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $47,610
- -52.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -52.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,968
- -1.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $108,020
- +36.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (2 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (60% 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 Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2000 Tower Oaks Blvd Eighth Floor, Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (301) 284-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Reading Is Fundamental ($20K). Together the top 10 received $47K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 82 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, D.C.; 23% to Maryland; 15% to New York; and 1% each to Georgia and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 12 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $20K (2020) to $100K (2023). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $48K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Is Fundamental Washington, DC | Provide Books and Reading Resources to Children Nationwide | $20,000 |
| Future for Ukraine Foundation Gaithersburg, MD | Contribution to support for displaced children, survivors of war, veterans | $10,000 |
| Capital Jewish Museum Washington, DC | Contribution to the Museum's Capital Campaign | $6,800 |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom New York, NY | Contribution to support israel's national emergency response, blood services, and disaster relief system | $3,600 |
| Seed of Peace New York, NY | Contribution to provide support, programs and resources for young leaders in the middle east | $3,600 |
| Olney Ballet Theater Gaithersburg, MD | Contribution to Help with Friends Child's Tuition | $1,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $500 |
| Habitat for Humanity Americus, GA | Contributions to help families and communities build affordable home | $500 |
| No Kid Hungry by Share Our Strength Washington, DC | Inspired people, sharing strenghs, so all children and families live without hunger | $500 |
| Weta Arlington, VA | Support Programs at Weta Stations | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $108,020 | $78,782 | $49,945 | $47,610 | 12 | $49,945 | $4,610 |
| 2023 | $79,183 | $76,094 | $102,481 | $100,452 | 25 | $102,481 | $4,377 |
| 2022 | $105,570 | $74,519 | $66,274 | $61,290 | 13 | $66,274 | $5,076 |
| 2021 | $97,875 | $59,601 | $45,705 | $44,885 | 18 | $45,705 | $5,193 |
| 2020 | $83,979 | $67,876 | $22,493 | $20,400 | 14 | — | $3,254 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with a range of missions. Reading Is Fundamental describes its work as addressing the U.S. literacy crisis by inspiring children’s joy of reading. American Friends of Magen David Adom says it supports the lifesaving efforts of Magen David Adom in Israel. Capital Area Food Bank describes its mission as expanding equitable access to food and opportunity through community partnerships. Bread for the City says it serves low-income Washington, D.C. residents with food, clothing, medical care, legal and social services, and community organizing and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $47,610. Grants ranged from $250 to $20,000, with a median grant of $750. The largest awards included $20,000 to Reading Is Fundamental for books and reading resources for children nationwide; $10,000 to Future for Ukraine Foundation to support displaced children, survivors of war, and veterans; and $6,800 to Capital Jewish Museum for its capital campaign. Other notable grants were $3,600 each to American Friends of Magen David Adom and Seed of Peace.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark D. Lerner as president, Judy Lenkin Lerner as secretary/treasurer, and Lauren Sarah Lerner as vice president.
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation is led by Mark D. Lerner, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark D. Lerner
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$990 (2022) → $0 (2024)
Judy Lenkin Lerner
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$990 (2022) → $0 (2024)
Lauren Sarah Lerner
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 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 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $990, to Mark D Lerner (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation
How much does Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation give each year?
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation gave $48K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $100K across 25 grants.
What is Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $750, and its average grant was $3,968, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation give grants?
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (23%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Gaithersburg, MD (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Reading Is Fundamental ($20,000), Future for Ukraine Foundation ($10,000) and Capital Jewish Museum ($6,800), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation?
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation reported $108K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with a range of missions. Reading Is Fundamental describes its work as addressing the U.S. literacy crisis by inspiring children’s joy of reading. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's EIN?
Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2256895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Judy and Mark Lerner Family Foundation'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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