The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc
The Carl M. Freeman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Selbyville, Delaware, established in 1960. As a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic, voluntary, and grantmaking purposes, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations across multiple states and communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$114.1M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
-34.3% YoY
Grant Count
43
-72.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
+138.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to facilitate, support, and promote innovative community-based leadership and giving while honoring its founders' legacies and passions by endorsing excellence and leveraging resources.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Athletics
- Cultural heritage
- Education
- Environmental efforts
- Healthcare
- Human services
- Social justice
- Disaster relief
The foundation generally limits donations to communities where Carl M. Freeman Companies' customers, employees, and vendors work, live, and play.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates the FACES (Freeman Foundation Assists Communities with Extra Support) grant program, designed to find and fund smaller, overlooked projects in Sussex County, Delaware, and Montgomery County, Maryland. In 2024, the foundation awarded $105,000 through the FACES Sussex County grant program.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in:
- Sussex County, Delaware
- Montgomery County, Maryland
- District of Columbia
The foundation also supports organizations in other U.S. cities and states where Carl M. Freeman Companies operate.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $114,137,601
- Total revenue: $6,517,448
- Total expenses: $5,517,673
- Net income: $999,775
- Total liabilities: $144
Staff: 2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $114,137,601 | $110,783,277 | $107,719,665 |
| Revenue | $6,517,448 | $3,824,587 | $3,923,022 |
| Expenses | $5,517,673 | $6,461,686 | $3,921,502 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,111,543 | $6,082,466 | $3,572,064 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,217,244 | $3,226,717 | $3,728,133 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,208,875 | $5,160,697 | $4,849,259 |
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
243 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Joshua M Freeman Foundation ($3,000,000), Beebe Medical Foundation ($125,000), Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (bender Jcc) ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GLEN ALLEN, VA | HEALTH | $1,500 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | SOCIAL SERVICES | $25,000 |
| ATHLETES FOR HOPE BETHESDA, MD | SOCIAL SERVICES | $35,000 |
| BARBARA K BROOKS TRANSITION HOUSE INC GEORGETOWN, DE | SOCIAL SERVICES | $5,000 |
| BEEBE MEDICAL FOUNDATION LEWES, DE | HEALTH | $125,000 |
| BENDER JCC OF GREATER WASHINGTON ROCKVILLE, MD | EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF DELAWARE WILMINGTON, DE | SOCIAL SERVICES | $6,000 |
| BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER WASHINGTON, DC | ARTS | $10,000 |
| BZ MEDIA NEW YORK, NY | ARTS | $25,000 |
| CAL RIPKEN SR FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michelle L. Freeman – President and Chair
- Patti Grimes – Executive Director
- Rhonda Tully – Finance Director
- Lindsay Richard – Community Engagement Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE L FREEMAN | CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT | 14 | $142,491 |
| PATTI GRIMES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $136,853 |
| CHRISTINE A SHREVE | TREASURER/VICE CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| NICHOLAS FREEMAN | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Historical Impact:**
Since its founding in 1960, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation has awarded more than $60,454,821 in total grants and commitments to 1,150 organizations.
Carl M. Freeman Foundation awards over $60 million to Sussex County nonprofits**2024 Highlights:**
Completed a $250,000 multi-year grant to Beebe Healthcare's Mobile Health Unit to improve healthcare access for underserved populations
Continued support of the Senior Softball World Series in Roxana, a tradition backed since 2004
Awarded $105,000 to small nonprofits through the FACES Sussex County grant program
Carl M. Freeman Foundation awards over $60 million to Sussex County nonprofits**Active Grant Opportunities:**
CMFF: FACES Grants – Sussex County
Carl M. Freeman Foundation awards over $60 million to Sussex County nonprofitsFACES Grants – Montgomery County
Carl M. Freeman Foundation Awards 15 FACES Grants - Carl M. Freeman FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to facilitate, support, and promote innovative community-based leadership and giving while honoring its founders' legacies and passions by endorsing excellence and leveraging resources. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Athletics • Cultural heritage • Education • Environmental efforts • Healthcare • Human services • Social justice • Disaster relief The foundation generally limits donations to communities where Carl M. Freeman Companies' custom…
How do I apply for a grant from The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $4,494,842–$4,500,842 • Number of grants: 144 grants awarded • Typical award range: $120–$3,500,000 **2024 Funding by Category:** • Arts: $3,129,500 to 16 organizations • Athletics: $139,000 to 13 organizations • Cultural heritage: $63,000 to 3 organizations • Education: $293,000 to 31 organizations • Environmental efforts: $33,000 to 4 organizations • Healthcare: $237,500 to 20 organizations • Disaster relief: $25,000 to 1 organization • Human service…
Where does The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in: • Sussex County, Delaware • Montgomery County, Maryland • District of Columbia The foundation also supports organizations in other U.S. cities and states where Carl M. Freeman Companies operate.
What size grants does The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc awarded 43 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6047536. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Carl M Freeman Foundation Inc'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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