The Deck Foundation
The Deck Foundation is a private foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. Its 2025 filing reports 58 grants totaling $1,130,000 to charitable organizations.
The Deck Foundation at a glance
In short: The Deck Foundation gave $1.1M across 58 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), top state District of Columbia. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,130,000
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 58
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,483
- -5.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $23,919,209
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (11 of 58, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (29% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Deck Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Box 314 4938 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 648-1963
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Deck Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Doctors Without Borders ($100K). Together the top 10 received $515K.
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 205 grants of 231 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in the District of Columbia (29%), Maryland (27%), New York (11%), Georgia (9%), and Virginia (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Deck Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 58 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 78% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $973K (2024) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 58 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Charitable | $100,000 |
| The Carter Center Atlanta, GA | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Jills House Vienna, VA | Charitable | $75,000 |
| Yiddish Book Center Amherst, MA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Red Wiggler Farm Clarksburg, MD | Charitable | $40,000 |
| Just Tryan It Inc Bethesda, MD | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Cambridge Camping Association Cambridge, MA | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Comfort Cases Rockville, MD | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Bread for the City Washington, DC | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Manna Food Center Silver Springs, MD | Charitable | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Deck 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 | $23,919,209 | $2,951,181 | $1,414,449 | $1,130,000 | 58 | $1,130,000 | $2,839,195 | $1,137,134 |
| 2024 | $23,868,515 | $1,639,570 | $1,224,462 | $972,500 | 47 | $972,500 | $1,761,881 | $1,105,923 |
| 2023 | $21,754,630 | $1,801,120 | $1,271,120 | $1,022,500 | 44 | $1,022,500 | $1,700,137 | $986,122 |
| 2022 | $19,622,920 | $2,197,161 | $1,240,578 | $1,012,500 | 42 | $1,012,500 | $2,114,636 | $1,005,728 |
| 2021 | $22,805,306 | $2,610,538 | $1,179,978 | $977,500 | 40 | $977,500 | $2,531,969 | $1,050,990 |
| 2020 | $20,671,432 | $542,537 | $1,258,947 | $1,053,500 | 43 | — | $1,157,141 | $952,725 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Deck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations working in areas such as humanitarian assistance, community services, food access, youth support, and literacy. For example, Bread for the City says it provides food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to Washington, D.C. residents living with low incomes. An Open Book Foundation says it connects D.C.-area students with authors, illustrators, and books to support literacy enrichment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 58 grants totaling $1,130,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest grants were $100,000 each to Doctors Without Borders and The Carter Center; $75,000 to Jill’s House; $50,000 to Yiddish Book Center; and $40,000 to Red Wiggler Farm. Other 2025 grants included $30,000 each to Just Tryan It, Cambridge Camping Association, Comfort Cases, Bread for the City, and Manna Food Center.
The grantees describe a range of services. Just Tryan It says it provides financial assistance to families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer. Comfort Cases says it provides youth entering foster care with cases filled with essential and comfort items. Manna Food Center says it works to end hunger through education, advocacy, and food distribution.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David Elkes, Elizabeth Carroll, and Katharine Elkes as trustees.
The Deck Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Elkes
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$88K (2020) → $103K (2025)
Elizabeth Carroll
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$88K (2020) → $103K (2025)
Katharine Elkes
Trustee
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
$12K (2024) → $19K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $103K, to David Elkes (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Deck Foundation
How much does The Deck Foundation give each year?
The Deck Foundation gave $1.1M across 58 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $973K across 47 grants.
What is The Deck Foundation's typical grant size?
The Deck Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,483, across 58 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Deck Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does The Deck Foundation give grants?
The Deck Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (27%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (21 grants), Rockville, MD (4 grants), Bethesda, MD (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Deck Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 58 grants with a stated purpose on The Deck Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (58 grants).
Who are The Deck Foundation's largest grantees?
The Deck Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Doctors Without Borders ($100,000), The Carter Center ($100,000) and Jills House ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Deck Foundation?
The Deck Foundation reported $23.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Deck Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations working in areas such as humanitarian assistance, community services, food access, youth support, and literacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Deck Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Deck Foundation's EIN?
The Deck Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3894869. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Deck Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Deck Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Maryland
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Washington, DC
The Greater Washington Community Foundation supports nonprofits working across areas such as economic opportunity, education, health, arts, and human services, with an emphasis on equity and economic justice. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, and it generally funds organizations serving DC, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and specified Northern Virginia communities; it offers scheduled open competitive grant rounds as well as invite-only opportunities.
Assets
$518.3M
Grants
1,417
Total Given
$116.9M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Washington, DC
The foundation funds arts and humanities, community services, education, environment, and health initiatives serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including DC and specified counties and cities in Maryland and Virginia. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $1.2 million, with a median of $35,000; it prefers general operating support when possible. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online portal.
Assets
$636.1M
Grants
451
Total Given
$23.7M
Annie E Casey Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
The Annie E. Casey Foundation funds U.S. nonprofits and other partners working to improve outcomes for children and young people, including family strengthening, child welfare, education, employment, community development and juvenile justice. In 2024, grants ranged from $50 to $1,185,000, with a median of $40,000. Grants are by invitation only; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
1,462
Total Given
$93.1M
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Owings Mills, MD
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation funds direct services, programs, general operations, and capital projects in housing, health, jobs, education, and aging for low-income and vulnerable people. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000; its Small Grants Program offers up to $50,000 over two years, with funding focused on Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, Israel, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. It awards grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
872
Total Given
$127.8M
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University funds a broad range of education, research, health, and community-related work, with 2025 grants ranging from $5,500 to nearly $95 million and a median of $100,000; many of the largest awards were sub-awards. Its grants went to organizations across the U.S., with the largest shares in California and Maryland, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$25.3B
Grants
813
Total Given
$594.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Maryland
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Deck Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-deck-foundation-morg_de5c72e19aa74e42894e78b0ac891102
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823894869_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Deck Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-deck-foundation-morg_de5c72e19aa74e42894e78b0ac891102},
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 The Deck 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.
The Deck Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?