The Herb Block Foundation
The Herb Block Foundation is a private foundation, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $55.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.4M. Net investment income was $5.2M.
The Herb Block Foundation at a glance
In short: The Herb Block Foundation gave $1.4M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.4M), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,389,000
- -21.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,389,000
- -21.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,389,000
- Total assets
- $55,326,127
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Herb Block Foundation
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Herb Block Foundation
Defending Basic Freedoms Grant
The Herb Block Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Encouraging Citizen Involvement Grant
The Herb Block Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Pathways Out of Poverty Grant
The Herb Block Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Herb Block Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
How The Herb Block Foundation gives
- Giving fell 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2025) to $1.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Statement See Statement, DC | General Support | $1,389,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,326,127 | $5,448,122 | $2,682,098 | $1,389,000 | 1 | $2,352,175 | $5,164,530 | $2,468,461 |
| 2024 | $51,222,180 | $3,315,150 | $3,490,153 | $1,762,500 | 1 | $3,150,571 | $3,013,873 | $2,348,130 |
| 2023 | $44,345,229 | $808,202 | $3,222,072 | $1,545,000 | 1 | $2,901,917 | $545,049 | $2,248,773 |
| 2022 | $42,182,161 | $3,611,990 | $3,417,228 | $1,818,000 | 1 | $3,118,547 | $3,381,515 | $2,446,578 |
| 2021 | $56,105,240 | $3,003,322 | $3,382,780 | $1,852,000 | 1 | — | $2,782,565 | $2,647,676 |
| 2020 | $48,187,864 | $2,732,470 | $3,178,096 | $1,581,000 | 1 | — | $2,451,138 | $2,349,893 |
| 2019 | $49,307,826 | $2,086,543 | $3,364,946 | $1,551,500 | 1 | — | $1,877,607 | $2,416,167 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Herb Block Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Herb Block Foundation is led by Marcela Brane, Co-President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marcela Brane
Co-President
President → Co-President, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$129K (2019) → $171K (2025)
Sarah Alex
Co-President
Executive Director → Co-President, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$122K (2019) → $171K (2025)
Laura Hutchison
Chairman
Director → Chairman Since, 2023
Chairman Since → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Athelia Knight
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Lacey
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clarence Page
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna McNulty
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill Stanley
Director
Chairman of the Board → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynda Bonieskie
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Rogers
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Marcus
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lalo Alcarez
Director
Director Since → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Harris
Director
Director Since → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Wuerker
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Asher
Board Member Emritus
Director → Board Member Emritus, 2024
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Robin Meszoly
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Strayer
Secretary
Director → Secretary Since, 2023
Secretary Since → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Dana Priest (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Matthew Wuerker (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Paul Delaney (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jean J. Rickard (2019–2021) — Executive Director Emerita
- Former: Raymond Bonieskie (2019) — Director
- Former: Robert Asher (2019) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $171K, to Marcela Brane (Co-President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Herb Block Foundation
How much does The Herb Block Foundation give each year?
The Herb Block Foundation gave $1.4M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 1 grant.
How large is The Herb Block Foundation?
The Herb Block Foundation reported $55.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (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.
Where does The Herb Block Foundation operate?
The Herb Block Foundation has awarded grants in District of Columbia.
What is The Herb Block Foundation's EIN?
The Herb Block Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0008276. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS December 17, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Herb Block Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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