Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation

SILVER SPRING, MD EIN: 52-2006607
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

The Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1996 and based in Silver Spring, Maryland. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and has been tax-exempt since November 1997. It functions as a grantmaking foundation, providing financial support to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$11.5M

+2.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$915K

-37.2% YoY

Grant Count

17

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$54K

-37.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary funding interests include:

  • Education
  • Environmental conservation and environmental education
  • Health care
  • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
  • Community and school gardens
  • Renewable energy

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

Grant Range

$15,000 to $472,000

Average Grant

amount: $10,000–$472,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • New York

Grant Distribution by State

8states

States

AlabamaCaliforniaConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaKentuckyMarylandNew YorkVirginia

Cities

AlexandriaAnnapolisBethesdaCambridgeCharlottesvilleChevy ChaseGaithersburgLexingtonMontereyMontgomeryNew HavenNew YorkOlneySan FranciscoSilver SpringWashingtonWashington DcWheaton

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (2024):

  • Total assets: $11,527,308
  • Total giving: $915,000
  • Revenue: $1,267,319
  • Expenses: $1,024,030

Assets & Giving (2023):

  • Total assets: $11,278,449
  • Total giving: $1,457,000 (17 grants)
  • Total revenues: $1,256,537
  • Total expenses: $1,556,154
  • Investment income and dividends: $383,928
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$11,527,308$11,278,449$11,573,356
Revenue$1,267,319$1,256,537$1,255,535
Expenses$1,024,030$1,556,154$827,367
Qualifying Distributions$915,000$985,000$720,000
Net Investment Income$1,179,133$1,162,175$829,198
Distributable Amount$1,062,711$910,078$990,131

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$364K$729K$1M$1M17 grants202019 grants202116 grants202217 grants202317 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

GREEN FORESTS WORK$100KPOPULATION ACTION INTERN…$100KFRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOC…$95KPOPULATION CONNECTION$95KHOMELESS PRENATAL PROGRAM$90KSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CEN…$90KAMAZON CONSERVATION ASSO…$50KCHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION$50KBEHAVIORAL IDEAS LAB INC$50KDC CENTRAL KITCHEN$40K

Grant Size Distribution

86 grants across all recorded years

42<$50K35$50–100K8$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Green Forests Work ($100,000), Population Action International ($100,000), Frankfurt Zoological Society ($95,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
GREEN FORESTS WORK LEXINGTON, KYENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION$100,000
POPULATION ACTION INTERNATIONAL WASHINGTON, DCMEDICAL AWARNESS$100,000
FRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DCENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION$95,000
POPULATION CONNECTION WASHINGTON, DCMEDICAL AWARNESS$95,000
HOMELESS PRENATAL PROGRAM SAN FRANCISCO, CAOPERATING$90,000
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER MONTGOMERY, ALOPERATING$90,000
AMAZON CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DCENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION$50,000
CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION ANNAPOLIS, MDENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION$50,000
BEHAVIORAL IDEAS LAB INC NEW YORK, NYSUPPORT OF VOTER CAST INITIATIVE$50,000
DC CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DCFEEDING THE HUNGRY$40,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
SHELDON T KATZPRESIDENT5—
MERYL KATZSECRETARY5—
RUSSELL KATZVICE PRESIDENT5—
MERYL KATZVICE PRESIDENT5—

Contact Information

  • Address: PO Box 4337, Silver Spring, MD 20914-4337
  • Phone: 301-622-0900
  • EIN: 52-2006607

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Environmental conservation and environmental education • Health care • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Community and school gardens • Renewable energy

How do I apply for a grant from Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 17 grants in 2023 • Grant range: $15,000 to $472,000 • Median grant size: $70,000 • Average grant amount: $10,000–$472,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • The Potomac Conservancy ($120,000) • Nature Forward ($100,000) • Chesapeake Bay Foundation ($100,000) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

Where does Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • District of Columbia • Maryland • New York

What size grants does Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation award?

In 2024, Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $915K — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation's EIN?

Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2006607. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Sheldon and Audrey Katz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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