Patricia and Mark Joseph Shelter Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, established in March 1990. The organization operates as both a grantmaking foundation and a direct service provider, focusing on housing and community development initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.1M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-43.4% YoY
Grant Count
39
-4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
-40.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide housing, including owning, investing in and operating rental housing projects and all related amenities to benefit homeless persons, the elderly and persons of low or moderate income. The organization also aims to educate the public about housing needs, provide education and training in housing management and related services, and operate programs which aid distressed urban areas.
In recent years, the foundation has expanded its philanthropic focus to include education and the arts, with particular emphasis on Baltimore City school children and supporting innovative, results-oriented efforts to address systemic social, economic, and environmental problems in underserved communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation encourages applications from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that demonstrate promise of substantial impact on community members and stakeholders, as well as organizational stability or growth. The foundation considers applications that provide creative responses to pressing community needs, strengthen operational capacity for more effective service delivery, and demonstrate potential for stimulating new sources of financial support.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's work is concentrated in Maryland, with a primary focus on Baltimore City.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $43,918,473
- Total Giving: $4,550,380
- Revenue: $4.3 million
- Expenses: $6.98 million
- Total Liabilities: $8.91 million
Primary Program:
- Housing program expenses: $6,517,377
- Housing program revenue: $3,144,284
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,118,575 | $43,918,473 | $42,394,224 |
| Revenue | $5,530,967 | $4,298,469 | $4,227,120 |
| Expenses | $5,167,218 | $6,978,945 | $4,881,819 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,557,833 | $1,154,185 | $1,032,199 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mark K. Joseph serves as a principal officer of the foundation and is president of The Shelter Foundation. Mark Joseph helped found the Baltimore School for the Arts and served as president of the Baltimore Board of School Commissioners. Patricia Joseph serves as a trustee of the Baltimore Community Foundation and serves on the Education and Governance committees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA H JOSEPH | CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| JESSICA K JOSEPH | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CARA S WEIMAN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ROBERT C EMBRY JR | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA P BAUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN D EISNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHALE D STILLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TRACEY R TIZARD | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | $43,466 |
| MARK K JOSEPH | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant gifts to educational and cultural institutions, including a $3 million gift to the Baltimore Museum of Art to support a new education center. The foundation has also directed support to organizations including Thread, CollegeBound, and Teach for America, as well as educational efforts at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Shelter Foundation Donates $500k to Baltimore Corps | Maryland PhilanthropySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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