Robert W Deutsch Foundation
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. It invests in innovative people, projects, and ideas intended to improve quality of life in Baltimore and beyond, with a focus on supporting emerging initiatives and creative work in the Baltimore region.
Robert W Deutsch Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert W Deutsch Foundation gave $3.8M across 76 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in Maryland. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,845,112
- -2.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 76
- +26.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $50,594
- -23.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $135,560,840
- +5.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (35 of 76, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (76% 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 Robert W Deutsch Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and lists written materials, with Jane Brown as the contact. Its website directs prospective applicants to submit an interest form.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists no deadlines. The website says the Grant Interest Form is scheduled to close October 4, 2026, with updates on reopening planned for the new year.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Jane Brown
Mailing address: 2519 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: (443) 275-1144
Website: https://www.rwdfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Robert W Deutsch Foundation
Who Robert W Deutsch Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation ($638K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
311 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 222 grants of 311 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it does not fund projects outside the Baltimore region and describes its scope as hyper-local. In 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 15% to New York, 3% to California, 2% to Massachusetts, and 2% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert W Deutsch Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 35 of 76 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $71K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% of 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 $3.1M (2022) to $3.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 76 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $638,000 |
| Fractured Atlas Hartsdale, NY | General Operating Grant | $541,512 |
| Rebuild Metro Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $403,000 |
| Open Works Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $210,000 |
| Baltimore United in Leadership Development (Build) Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $150,000 |
| The Baltimore Banner Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $150,000 |
| The Central Baltimore Partnership Inc Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $100,000 |
| Maryland Philanthropy Network Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $90,250 |
| City Neighbors Foundation Baltimore, MD | General Operating Grant | $75,000 |
| Jacob's Pillow Becket, MA | General Operating Grant | $75,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $135,560,840 | $13,473,146 | $7,416,330 | $3,845,112 | 76 | $7,148,472 | $13,263,217 | $6,507,979 |
| 2023 | $128,072,866 | $1,637,585 | $7,039,189 | $3,948,050 | 60 | $6,465,450 | $2,880,385 | $5,805,154 |
| 2022 | $97,241,620 | $1,799,054 | $4,920,881 | $3,130,660 | 57 | $4,426,500 | $1,305,927 | $5,285,060 |
| 2021 | $100,203,455 | $8,883,703 | $5,564,717 | $3,733,906 | 44 | $4,969,550 | $8,205,554 | $5,648,255 |
| 2020 | $94,438,336 | $439,619 | $5,404,146 | $3,659,806 | 74 | — | $1,526,408 | $4,730,885 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert W Deutsch Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M 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
The foundation’s mission is to invest in innovative people, projects, and ideas that improve quality of life in Baltimore and beyond. Its stated interests include social justice, the arts, technology, digital equity, youth development, and independent media. It frequently offers seed funding for emerging projects and start-ups, and rarely funds institutions or well-established organizations. It does not fund projects outside the Baltimore region.
The foundation’s 2024 grants include organizations with a range of missions. Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation, which received $638,000, says it acquires, develops, manages, and leases real estate for artists and small arts organizations in Baltimore. Open Works, which received $210,000, says it works on economic and workforce development, skills development, entrepreneurship training, and small-business incubation. Maryland Art Place, which received $59,400, says it provides opportunities for artists to exhibit work and connect with the public. These grantee descriptions illustrate the types of organizations supported; they are not the foundation’s own stated mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 76 grants totaling $3,845,112. Grants ranged from $1,100 to $638,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation ($638,000), Fractured Atlas ($541,512), Rebuild Metro ($403,000), and Open Works ($210,000). The stated purpose for each of these grants was general operating support.
Prospective applicants begin by submitting an interest form. The foundation says to allow up to six to eight weeks for a response; its grants committee reviews submissions and may request more information. First-time grantees or applicants making larger requests may be invited to submit a full proposal. The foundation may offer multi-stage funding and additional technical support, networking, or tailored strategies. Individuals generally must work through a qualified fiscal sponsor; individual artists may apply for a Rubys Project Grant. The foundation lists exclusions including endowments and scholarships, religious purposes, political organizations, individual public schools and K–12 in-school programming, private schools, medical or scientific research, nonprofit hospitals, and projects that do not benefit or serve Baltimore residents.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are Jane Brown, President/Executive Director; Neil Didriksen, Treasurer; and directors David Bramble, David Deutsch, Pete Hamman, and Tanya Terrell.
Robert W Deutsch Foundation is led by Jane Brown, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jane Brown
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$120K (2020) → $120K (2024)
David Deutsch
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Bramble
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pete Hamman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Terrell
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neil Didriksen
Treasurer
Chief Operating Officer & Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $84K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lauren Maclure (2020–2022) — Director
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $120K, to Jane Brown (President/Executive Direct). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robert W Deutsch Foundation
How much does Robert W Deutsch Foundation give each year?
Robert W Deutsch Foundation gave $3.8M across 76 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.9M across 60 grants.
What is Robert W Deutsch Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert W Deutsch Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $50,594, across 76 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert W Deutsch Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Robert W Deutsch Foundation give grants?
Robert W Deutsch Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (57 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Robert W Deutsch Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Robert W Deutsch Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (76 of 76) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert W Deutsch Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert W Deutsch Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation ($638,000), Fractured Atlas ($541,512) and Rebuild Metro ($403,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robert W Deutsch Foundation?
Robert W Deutsch Foundation reported $135.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert W Deutsch Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to invest in innovative people, projects, and ideas that improve quality of life in Baltimore and beyond. Its stated interests include social justice, the arts, technology, digital equity, youth development, and independent media. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert W Deutsch Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and lists written materials, with Jane Brown as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert W Deutsch Foundation's EIN?
Robert W Deutsch Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1758252. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert W Deutsch Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-w-deutsch-foundation-morg_22b7d6c5b9c84d21a42d0621452b7b21
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521758252_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert W Deutsch Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-w-deutsch-foundation-morg_22b7d6c5b9c84d21a42d0621452b7b21},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Robert W Deutsch 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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