The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland, established in 1957. It promotes social justice and human rights through six program areas: public education, arts and culture, health and mental health, Israeli democracy, Jewish life, and international human rights.
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein at a glance
In short: The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein gave $10.4M across 220 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), top state Maryland. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,449,607
- +15.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 220
- +14.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,498
- +1.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $123,064,044
- +0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (30 of 155, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website encourages prospective applicants to contact a program officer through the group’s contact form before submitting a proposal. After that correspondence, a program officer can provide the appropriate email address for submitting materials. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and are acknowledged within three weeks. The website says applicants may submit general-support or project proposals and should provide materials as PDFs. Eligible applicants are nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status; organizations with fiscal sponsors or agents may also apply. The foundation does not support grants or scholarships to individuals, unsolicited academic, scientific, or medical research proposals, direct mail, annual giving or membership campaigns, special events, or fundraising events. It makes few capital grants, generally when an established relationship exists. The 2024 filing lists a letter as the application material and no deadline.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Application contact: Michael J Hirschhorn Regan Ralph
Mailing address: Bpg One South Street 2900, Baltimore, MD 21202-3334
Phone: (410) 347-7201
Website: https://www.blaufund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation Grant
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
International Human Rights Grant Program
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation: Health & Mental Health and Strengthening Public Education Grant
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc ($1.3M across 27 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,019 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 648 grants of 1,019 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated program priorities include Baltimore City and the Baltimore region, as well as work in Israel and international human rights. In 2024, its grant dollars were reported as going to recipients in Maryland (36%), New York (29%), California (9%), Massachusetts (8%), and Washington, DC (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 220 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 155 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 159% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8.2M (2021) to $10.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 220 grants totaling $10.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | general support for the 2024 Annual Campaign | $650,000 |
| The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | general support for the 2024 Annual Campaign | $650,000 |
| Accelerate Change Boston, MA | general support for a challenge grant | $450,000 |
| Equis Institute Washington, DC | support for Equis Research | $200,000 |
| Ground Game Fund Austin, TX | support for DJs at the Polls | $200,000 |
| Ground Game Fund Austin, TX | support for the Focus for Democracy re-granting pool | $150,000 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc New York, NY | support for Sikkuy-Aufoq-For a Shared and Equal Society for activities in the Negev | $150,000 |
| Verified Voting Foundation Philadelphia, PA | general support | $150,000 |
| National Health Law Program Los Angeles, CA | support for efforts to secure and protect equitable access to public health care programs for low-income people and emergency support for hiring of additional attorneys | $115,000 |
| World Union for Progressive Judaism Ltd New York, NY | support for leadership development programs in the FSU | $110,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $123,064,044 | $15,459,255 | $11,903,429 | $10,449,607 | 220 | $11,389,923 | $12,155,743 | $7,152,060 |
| 2023 | $122,173,583 | $9,453,202 | $10,351,144 | $9,032,286 | 192 | $10,136,670 | $7,461,378 | $6,801,640 |
| 2022 | $123,546,469 | $5,730,918 | $10,156,889 | $8,652,853 | 189 | $9,515,472 | $3,686,555 | $7,154,236 |
| 2021 | $130,688,531 | $27,779,767 | $9,832,407 | $8,249,776 | 199 | $9,118,540 | $25,542,808 | $7,394,568 |
| 2020 | $114,202,524 | $7,284,042 | $9,697,689 | $8,506,820 | 219 | — | $11,139,234 | $6,296,265 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein reported a distributable amount of $7.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its work as animated by the Jewish value of tzedakah, or the obligation to be charitable. Its six program areas are:
- Strengthening Public Education: improving student outcomes and opportunities, and the quality of teaching and leadership in Baltimore City schools.
- Arts and Culture: supporting a robust cultural scene and access to the arts for children and underserved audiences in the Baltimore region.
- Health and Mental Health: expanding access to quality, affordable care for low-income Baltimore City residents and addressing environmental threats to human health.
- Strengthening Israeli Democracy: promoting shared society between Jewish and Arab citizens in the Negev, advancing higher-education and workforce opportunities for Israel’s ethnic minorities, and protecting Israel’s environment.
- Jewish Life: supporting “repairing the world,” progressive and inclusive approaches to Judaism, and nuanced discourse among American Jews about Israel.
- International Human Rights: advancing women’s and reproductive rights and protecting refugees and asylum seekers in the United States and other countries.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of supported work. The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore describes its mission as strengthening and nurturing Jewish life through community partners. Accelerate Change says it develops and tests scalable, financially sustainable models for citizen organizing, particularly in communities of color. Equis Institute describes its work as building understanding of Latinx communities and engaging and convening Latinx leaders. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 220 grants totaling $10,449,607. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $650,000, with a median of $35,000.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were two awards of $650,000 each to The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore for general support of its 2024 Annual Campaign; $450,000 to Accelerate Change for general support for a challenge grant; $200,000 to Equis Institute to support Equis Research; and $200,000 to Ground Game Fund to support DJs at the Polls. Other notable awards included $150,000 to Ground Game Fund for the Focus for Democracy re-granting pool, $150,000 to Verified Voting Foundation for general support, and $150,000 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds for activities in the Negev.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael J. Hirschhorn as President and Director; Barbara S. Roswell and Sarah H. Shapiro as Vice Presidents and Directors; Jennifer A. Pratt as Secretary; Regan E. Ralph as Assistant Secretary and Executive Director; Scott L. Soffen as Assistant Secretary; Stephen J. Bass as Treasurer; and Sandra L. Glock, Daniel B. Hirschhorn, and Anne L. Shelton as Assistant Treasurers.
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein is led by Michael J Hirschhorn, President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael J Hirschhorn
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$95K (2020) → $104K (2024)
Regan E Ralph
Assistant Secretary & Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
30 hrs/week
$80K (2024)
Barbara S Roswell
Vice President & Director
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sarah H Shapiro
Vice President & Director
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Arthur E Roswell
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Gina B Hirschhorn
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Judith R Weinstein
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Majorie B Roswell
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Anne L Shelton
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Daniel B Hirschhorn
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sandra L Glock
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephen J Bass
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jennifer A Pratt
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jennifer L Bove
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Scott L Soffen
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Betsy F Ringel (2020–2023) — Assistant Secretary & Executive Director
- Former: Anne A Patterson (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Jill R Robinson (2020–2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $104K, to Michael J Hirschhorn (President & Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein
How much does The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein give each year?
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein gave $10.4M across 220 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.0M across 192 grants.
What is The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's typical grant size?
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $47,498, across 220 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein that year got $61K on average.
Where does The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein give grants?
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's top state is Maryland, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (29%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (81 grants), New York, NY (56 grants), Washington, DC (13 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (7 grants).
Does The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (77 of 220) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Matching Gift" (26 grants).
Who are The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's largest grantees?
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's largest 2024 grantees include PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc ($1,336,000 across 27 grants), The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore Inc ($1,335,000 across 3 grants) and Accelerate Change ($450,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein?
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein reported $123.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein fund?
The foundation describes its work as animated by the Jewish value of tzedakah, or the obligation to be charitable. Its six program areas are: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein?
The foundation’s website encourages prospective applicants to contact a program officer through the group’s contact form before submitting a proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's EIN?
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6038382. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-jacob-and-hilda-blaustein-morg_0d4442f0044c47a7865ae51e8a85c626
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_526038382_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-jacob-and-hilda-blaustein-morg_0d4442f0044c47a7865ae51e8a85c626},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Jacob and Hilda Blaustein'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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