The Horizon Foundation of Howard County is Maryland's largest independent health philanthropy and the community health foundation for Howard County. Based in Columbia, Maryland, the Foundation was established in 1998 using proceeds from the sale of Howard County General Hospital to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to leading as an anti-racist, trust-centered philanthropy that works alongside community members to build power, advocate for policy change, and dismantle structural racism to achieve better health outcomes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$98.8M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+112.5% YoY
Grant Count
23
+91.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+10.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: A Howard County free from systemic inequities where all people live abundant and healthy lives.
Mission: The Foundation works side-by-side with community to build power, advocate for policy change and dismantle structural racism to achieve better health for everyone in Howard County and greater Maryland.
Core Values:
- Impactful: Acting with intentionality and drawing upon lived experience, research and data to drive positive health outcomes
- Trustworthy: Building relationships through sincerity and vulnerability
- Anti-Racist: Challenging and transforming policies, behaviors and beliefs that perpetuate systemic racism and other intersecting forms of oppression
- Catalytic: Building and sharing power to foster coalitions that advance health equity
- Courageous: Acknowledging and using privilege to influence others, dispel harmful narratives and demand change
Strategic Priority Areas:
Demand an Equitable Health Care System
- Increase access to compassionate and affordable health and mental health care
- Improve the health of birthing people and their children from preconception through post-natal time periods
- Uncover and dismantle structural racism negatively impacting health care coverage and delivery
Increase Affordability and Build Wealth
- Remove barriers to obtaining and sustaining affordable, high-quality rental housing and home ownership
- Address wealth inequality, particularly for Black and Brown residents
- Focus on reducing costs for housing and food, the most expensive monthly budget items for many residents
- Dismantle and reverse policies that have created hurdles for residents of color to build, maintain and pass on wealth
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's primary focus is Howard County and greater Maryland, with some grantmaking activity in Nebraska and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $98,806,463
- Total Annual Giving: $1,252,617
- Revenue: $6,650,191
- Expenses: $5,071,556
Endowment: Approximately $103 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $98,806,463 | $93,191,948 | $88,105,636 |
| Revenue | $6,650,191 | $5,160,566 | $6,341,900 |
| Expenses | $5,071,556 | $4,851,156 | $5,410,956 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $6,546,143 | $5,007,037 | $6,122,418 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
135 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Nikki Highsmith Vernick: President and CEO
- Dr. Glenn Schneider: Chief Program Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN HEPBURN | TRUSTEE | 0.31 | — |
| CATHERINE HAMEL | TRUSTEE | 0.17 | — |
| CELIAN VALERO-COLON | TRUSTEE | 0.22 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER FORTUNE | VICE CHAIR | 0.41 | — |
| DAVID WOLF | TRUSTEE | 0.44 | — |
| YVETTE ROOKS | TRUSTEE | 0.09 | — |
| GOPI SURI | SECRETARY | 0.26 | — |
| JONATHAN AHN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| JULIET N GILLIAM | TRUSTEE | 0.29 | — |
| LANLAN XU | TRUSTEE | 0.23 | — |
| LISA PEARSON | CHAIR | 0.34 | — |
| MARK CISSELL | TREASURER | 0.42 | — |
| NICOLETTE HIGHSMITH VERNICK | PRESIDENT & CEO | 39.84 | $440,716 |
| SEKOU MURPHY | TRUSTEE | 0.22 | — |
| SHARON HOOVER | TRUSTEE | 0.13 | — |
| YVONNE COMMODORE-MENSAH | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| ANNE BRINKER | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $166,723 |
| GLENN SCHNEIDER | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $188,573 |
| CAT HARMON | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $128,736 |
| KENITRA FOKWA KENGNE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $107,292 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has been actively engaged in advocacy and grantmaking around several key issues:
**Healthcare Access:** Advocating for the addition of 100 health care workers to help 130,000 Marylanders keep their healthcare coverage as new federal rules threaten coverage for 320,000 individuals.
**Housing Initiatives:** Released joint statements supporting recently announced initiatives to support renters in Howard County and the Howard County Housing Opportunities Trust Fund, working in collaboration with other local philanthropic organizations.
Joint Statement on Recently Announced Initiatives to Support Renters in Howard**Community Partnerships:** Awarded grants to organizations including Chase Brexton Health Care's Columbia Center to expand health services in the community.
Horizon Foundation Grant to Support Chase Brexton Health Care\u2019s Columbia\**Collaborative Advocacy:** Works alongside the Community Foundation of Howard County, United Way of Central Maryland, and the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County on shared priorities including racial equity, health, housing, criminal justice, and social services.
Joint Statement on Recently Announced Initiatives to Support Renters in HowardSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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