Lockhart Vaughan Foundation
The Lockhart Vaughan Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland, established in 1990. It directs grants to Section 501(c)(3) organizations in Baltimore and focuses on education, the environment, and community development.
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation at a glance
In short: Lockhart Vaughan Foundation gave $2.7M across 78 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Maryland. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,711,200
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 78
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,759
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $38,626,311
- +3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (16 of 74, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lockhart Vaughan Foundation
- How to Apply
-
New applicants begin with a Letter of Intent; prior grantees submit a contact-information form before a proposal. The foundation’s website provides the applicable forms and submission instructions.
- Review Cycle
- February 20, June 20, and October 20 each year. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m.; if a deadline falls on a weekend, it moves to the following Monday, and if it falls on a national holiday, it moves to the next day. Summer-learning applicants are asked to apply ahead of the February 20 deadline.
- Deadline
- February 20, June 20, and October 20 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Kate Rawson Powell
Mailing address: 1600 West 41St Street Suite 700, Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: (410) 837-9400
Website: https://lockhartv.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 Lockhart Vaughan Foundation
Who Lockhart Vaughan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Park School of Baltimore Inc ($177K). Together the top 10 received $757K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($120,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
385 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 313 grants of 385 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it directs grants to Section 501(c)(3) organizations in Baltimore, Maryland. Its 2025 grant dollars were reported as 75% to Maryland recipients, 8% to Washington, D.C., 5% to Massachusetts, 4% to Virginia, and 3% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lockhart Vaughan Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 74 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2023) to $2.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 78 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Park School of Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | Environment: Solar Array | $176,522 |
| Earthjustice San Francisco, CA | Environment | $75,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | Environment: Orphaned Oil Wells | $75,000 |
| Thread Inc Baltimore, MD | Education: Support Cost-Effective, School-Based After-School Programs | $75,000 |
| Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA | Environment: glider trips to gather data about acidity of gulf stream | $75,000 |
| Archdiocese of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Education: promote school choice for baltimore students and parents | $60,000 |
| Teach for America - Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Education: support the recruitment, training of able instructional leaders for public schools | $60,000 |
| Audubon Mid-Atlantic Baltimore, MD | Environment: community-centered forest restoration in two baltimore city parks | $50,000 |
| Blue Water Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Environment: support efforts to improve the chesapeake bay and its watersheds in baltimore | $50,000 |
| Center for Climate Change Communication Fairfax, VA | Environment | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lockhart Vaughan Foundation?
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 | $38,626,311 | $4,294,278 | $3,122,202 | $2,711,200 | 78 | $2,980,868 | $3,670,909 | $2,273,945 |
| 2024 | $37,451,594 | $3,064,536 | $3,095,364 | $2,770,689 | 86 | $3,019,213 | $2,715,095 | $2,104,650 |
| 2023 | $37,562,249 | $822,440 | $1,927,919 | $1,653,798 | 66 | $1,864,252 | $750,895 | $1,829,208 |
| 2022 | $38,681,612 | $542,062 | $2,311,671 | $1,897,000 | 74 | $2,071,363 | $597,921 | $1,881,088 |
| 2021 | $40,442,659 | $13,323,427 | $2,188,991 | $2,052,462 | 81 | $2,136,631 | $13,271,067 | $1,954,650 |
| 2020 | $29,308,223 | $624,128 | $1,937,538 | $1,827,229 | 85 | — | $764,884 | $1,778,454 |
| 2019 | $30,621,633 | $1,527,508 | $1,878,654 | $1,744,951 | 69 | — | $1,476,745 | $1,719,055 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lockhart Vaughan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M 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 website describes its goals and strategies rather than stating a separate mission. In education, it supports early literacy and school readiness, reading readiness through third grade, programs that challenge motivated public-school students, school choice, teacher and administrator recruitment and development, cost-effective after-school programs, and summer learning.
Environmental strategies include visible greening in Baltimore and efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay and its watersheds. The foundation says approximately 15% of its grants budget is allocated to preselected organizations addressing climate change and that it does not accept unsolicited grant applications regarding climate change. In community development, it supports organizations with a record of attracting investment for neighborhood revitalization and organizations that provide technical assistance or build the capacity of community-development groups.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Thread, which received $75,000 in 2025, describes its work as using relationships to engage young people facing opportunity and achievement gaps. An individual recipient, also a $50,000 recipient, says it works to restore the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams, and harbor. ReBuild Metro, which received $50,000, describes its work as real-estate investment intended to reinforce community assets and create long-term change.
The foundation’s “What We Fund” page also lists higher education, individuals (including cash or scholarships), publications, research, direct mail and membership campaigns, and fundraising or special events among areas it does not fund.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 78 grants totaling $2,711,200 in 2025. Individual grants ranged from $4,000 to $176,522, with a median of $27,500. Among the largest reported awards were $176,522 to Park School of Baltimore for a solar array; $75,000 each to Earthjustice for the environment, Environmental Defense Fund for orphaned oil wells, Thread for school-based after-school programs, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for Gulf Stream acidity data-gathering trips. Other reported awards included $60,000 each to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for school choice and Teach for America–Baltimore for public-school instructional-leader recruitment and training.
For new applicants, the foundation requires a Letter of Intent identifying the goal and strategy the organization seeks to advance; it then notifies the applicant whether to submit a proposal. Prior grantees must submit a contact-information form before applying. Proposal materials include organization and contact information, the requested amount, and financial documents such as the most recent Form 990, an audited financial statement if available, and a current-year budget. The foundation asks applicants to focus proposals on reach and impact. Prior grantees should describe results, challenges, and plans for renewed funding. Proposals must be submitted as one combined PDF. The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David B. Powell as president and trustee, and Kate Rawson Powell as secretary, treasurer, and executive director. It also lists Susan Baker Powell, Julia B. Schnupp, Benjamin M. Baker III, Julia P. O’Brien, Brentnall M. Powell, and Kevin A. Schnupp as trustees.
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation is led by Kate Rawson Powell, Secretary, Treasurer & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kate Rawson Powell
Secretary, Treasurer & Executive Director
Trustee → Secretary, Treasurer & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
24 hrs/week
$17K (2021) → $92K (2025)
David B. Powell
President & Trustee
Trustee → President & Trustee, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin M. Baker III
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brentnall M. Powell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia B. Schnupp
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia P. O'Brien
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin A. Schnupp
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Baker Powell
Trustee
President & Trustee → Trustee, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John B. Powell Jr. (2019–2020) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $92K, to Kate Rawson Powell (Secretary/Treasurer/Ed).
Frequently asked questions about Lockhart Vaughan Foundation
How much does Lockhart Vaughan Foundation give each year?
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation gave $2.7M across 78 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 86 grants.
What is Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's typical grant size?
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $27,500, and its average grant was $34,759, across 78 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lockhart Vaughan Foundation that year got $44K on average.
Where does Lockhart Vaughan Foundation give grants?
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (54 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and Annapolis, MD (2 grants).
Does Lockhart Vaughan Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 78) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Environment" (7 grants), "Education: Support Cost-Effective After School Programs" (5 grants) and "Other" (3 grants).
Who are Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's largest grantees?
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Park School of Baltimore Inc ($176,522), Earthjustice ($75,000) and Environmental Defense Fund ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($120,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lockhart Vaughan Foundation?
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation reported $38.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lockhart Vaughan Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its goals and strategies rather than stating a separate mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lockhart Vaughan Foundation?
New applicants begin with a Letter of Intent; prior grantees submit a contact-information form before a proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's EIN?
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1693184. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lockhart Vaughan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lockhart Vaughan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lockhart-vaughan-foundation-morg_4850321ab61b42aea146154a89b40af2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521693184_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lockhart Vaughan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lockhart-vaughan-foundation-morg_4850321ab61b42aea146154a89b40af2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Lockhart Vaughan 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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