The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Betterton, Maryland. It supports arts and humanities, with a primary focus on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and also states interests in the Chesapeake Bay region’s natural environment and in the history and culture of Venice and the former Venetian Empire.
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc gave $70K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Maryland. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $69,820
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,491
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,250
- Total assets
- $449,484
- -14.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (5 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (100% 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 Hedgelawn Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Review Cycle
- The website says there are no application deadlines and that inquiries are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Deadline
- The website says there are no application deadlines and that inquiries are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 144, Betterton, MD 21610
Phone: (718) 208-9457
Website: https://www.hedgelawn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mainstay ($16K). Together the top 10 received $62K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 69 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies the Delmarva Peninsula, especially Maryland’s Eastern Shore, as a primary focus for its arts and humanities support, and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for its environmental support. It also identifies historical research and publication relating to Venice, Northeast Italy, and the former Venetian Empire. All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 19 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 85% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 282% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2021) to $70K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $70K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Rock Hall, MD | Music Venue: Classical/Bluegrass | $15,500 |
| Kent Cultural Alliance Chestertown, MD | Resident Artist Program | $10,000 |
| Kent County Public Library Chestertown, MD | Regional Acquisition-Rock Hall Branc | $7,500 |
| Washington College Chestertown, MD | Exhibit Sponsor - Green Room | $7,000 |
| Church Hill Theatre Church Hill, MD | Community Theatre | $5,000 |
| Choptank Tolomato Legacy Project Sudlersville, MD | Whitsitt: Artist Residency Program | $3,969 |
| Shorerivers Easton, MD | Event Sponsor | $3,600 |
| Garfield Center for the Arts Chestertown, MD | Jazzfest Music Festival | $3,100 |
| Kent County High School Band Worton, MD | Band Competition | $2,500 |
| Sultana Educational Foundation Chestertown, MD | Event Sponsor | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc?
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 | $449,484 | $19,899 | $95,553 | $69,820 | 20 | $69,820 | $969 | $24,790 |
| 2024 | $526,577 | $36,795 | $87,700 | $63,766 | 17 | $63,766 | $12,861 | $28,045 |
| 2023 | $581,651 | $93,304 | $80,803 | $58,633 | 15 | $58,633 | $71,134 | $29,688 |
| 2022 | $705,802 | $53,979 | $61,327 | $37,695 | 10 | $37,695 | $13,628 | — |
| 2021 | $713,150 | $190,428 | $50,951 | $32,580 | 7 | $32,580 | $13,803 | — |
| 2020 | $573,673 | $25,694 | $56,115 | $38,620 | 12 | — | $4,300 | — |
| 2019 | $541,280 | $59,653 | $64,370 | $35,811 | 9 | — | $5,599 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — 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 stated focus includes visual and performing arts, arts education, libraries and museums, and historical research and publication, particularly on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Its website also identifies support for stewardship, sustainability, and protection of natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and for historical research and publication relating to Venice, Northeast Italy, and the former Venetian Empire. The foundation says it values fairness and justice, variety and intersectionality, authentic representation, empowered participation, and full access.
Its 2025 filing describes its direct charitable activity as supporting arts and humanities, including Eastern Shore visual and performing arts, arts education, libraries and museums, and historical research and publications. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including arts and cultural groups, a library, a college, a school band, and environmental organizations. For example, Kent Cultural Alliance describes its mission as supporting arts and humanities activities in Kent County and the Upper Eastern Shore; an individual recipient Theatre says it works to increase access to performing arts in its rural community; and ShoreRivers says it protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $69,820. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $15,500, with a median of $2,250. Notable awards included $15,500 to Mainstay for a classical/bluegrass music venue; $10,000 to Kent Cultural Alliance for a resident artist program; $7,500 to Kent County Public Library for a regional acquisition; $7,000 to Washington College for an exhibit sponsor; and $5,000 to an individual recipient Theatre for community theatre.
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website nevertheless provides application instructions: proposals are to describe the organization and project, explain how the project fulfills the foundation’s mission, identify outcomes and beneficiaries, and include a project budget and sources of support. It requests proof of tax-exempt status, a board and senior staff list, and relevant publications or print materials, if available. The website says it does not fund building campaigns, endowment contributions, individuals, or indirect costs as individual grant components. Grantees must submit a final written report within three months of project completion; multi-year awards require annual updates and a final report. The foundation also requires acknowledgement in published materials and spoken acknowledgements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Benjamin G. Kohl Jr, President; Kimberley M. Kohl, Secretary/Treasurer; Meredith Hadaway, Vice President; John Schratwieser, Director; and Tara Gladden, Director.
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc is led by Benjamin G. Kohl Jr., President on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benjamin G. Kohl Jr.
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Schratwieser
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tara Gladden
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Hadaway
Vice President
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberley M. Kohl
Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Kimberly M. Kohll (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Thomas F. McHugh (2019–2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc
How much does The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc give each year?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc gave $70K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $64K across 17 grants.
What is The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,250, and its average grant was $3,491, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc give grants?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chestertown, MD (10 grants) and Easton, MD (3 grants).
Does The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Event Sponsor" (3 grants).
Who are The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Mainstay ($15,500), Kent Cultural Alliance ($10,000) and Kent County Public Library ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc reported $449K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $70K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated focus includes visual and performing arts, arts education, libraries and museums, and historical research and publication, particularly on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check hedgelawn.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0827025. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 16, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hedgelawn-foundation-inc-morg_df432bbf03b2456e9bb621e6a5a69574
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_550827025_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hedgelawn Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hedgelawn-foundation-inc-morg_df432bbf03b2456e9bb621e6a5a69574},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Hedgelawn Foundation Inc'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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