The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation based in Towson, Maryland. Incorporated in 1957 and tax-exempt since May 1959, the foundation has been supporting Maryland's nonprofits for more than 50 years. It is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax-deductible.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.8M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$940K
+0.4% YoY
Grant Count
98
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-6.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John J Leidy Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Social and economic welfare
- Arts and culture
- Health and human services
- Education
- Support for disabled persons
Recent grant distribution shows that 26% of giving goes to social and human services, 23% to arts and culture, and 14% to education.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not fund individuals, galas, special events, or advertising space in programs.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $185,000
Average Grant
$9,000–$11,000
Review Cycle
- Applicants must visit the foundation website to review guidelines
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
98% of grants stay in Maryland. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Maryland and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $6,397,158
- Total revenues: $471,525
- Total expenses: $1,085,938
- Total liabilities: $0
- Investment income and dividends: $400,002
- Annual grants made: $728,154–$936,275
Historical Growth:
- Total assets grew from $5.3 million in 2011 to $6.8 million in 2024
- Annual giving grew from $777,000 in 2020 to $2 million in 2022
Staffing:
- 1 employee (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,844,837 | $6,397,158 | $7,011,573 |
| Revenue | $1,541,768 | $471,525 | $1,038,129 |
| Expenses | $1,093,740 | $1,085,938 | $1,130,445 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $988,434 | $984,653 | $1,045,902 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,442,314 | $383,911 | $962,179 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,103,231 | $957,718 | $964,709 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare ($50,000), Irvine Natural Science Center Inc ($48,334), Associated Jewish Community Federation ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Philanthropy Network Baltimore, MD | Educational | $5,730 |
| Civil Justice Inc Baltimore, MD | Legal Aid Poor | $10,000 |
| Sexual AssaultSpouse Abuse Resource Center Bel Air, MD | Domestic Violence | $5,000 |
| Shepherd's Clinic Baltimore, MD | Health Care | $8,000 |
| Magical Experiences Arts Company Baltimore, MD | Disabled Persons | $6,000 |
| Cornerstone Community Housing Baltimore, MD | Housing | $10,000 |
| ARC of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Disabled Persons | $5,000 |
| Women's Law Center Towson, MD | Legal Aid Poor | $5,000 |
| Health Care for the Homeless Baltimore, MD | Health Care | $15,000 |
| St Vincent de Paul Society of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Educational | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: John J. Leidy
- Secretary/Treasurer: Claire A Pierson
- Vice President: W Michel Pierson
- Trustees: W. Michel Pierson and Robert L. Pierson
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W Michel Pierson | Vice-President | 0.5 | — |
| Claire A Pierson | Secr./Treas. | 1 | $6,000 |
Contact Information
Address: The John J Leidy Foundation Inc. c/o Pierson and Pierson 102 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 304 Towson, Maryland 21204 USA
Phone: 410-821-3006 Fax: 410-821-3007 Email: info@leidyfoundation.org Website: www.leidyfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • Social and economic welfare • Arts and culture • Health and human services • Education • Support for disabled persons Recent grant distribution shows that 26% of giving goes to social and human services, 23% to arts and culture, and 14% to education.
How do I apply for a grant from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant: $6,000–$7,000 • Average grant: $9,000–$11,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $185,000 • Total grants made: 328 grants totaling $3.5 million (based on available records) • Supported organizations: 133 unique organizations **Recent Notable Grants:** • $185,000 to Maryland Food Bank • $125,000 to Thread • $50,000 to Franciscan Center • $50,000 to Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare • $35,000 to The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore • …
Where does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc make grants?
98% of grants stay in Maryland. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Maryland and Connecticut.
What size grants does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The John J Leidy Foundation Inc awarded 98 grants totaling $940K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John J Leidy Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's EIN?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6034785. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Baltimore Community Foundation Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$314.3M
Grants
604
Total Given
$29.3M
T Rowe Price Program for Charitable
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$648.3M
Grants
2,900
Total Given
$132.5M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
The Abell Foundation Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$296.4M
Grants
391
Total Given
$13.4M
The United Way of Central Maryland Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$54.6M
Grants
293
Total Given
$7.7M
France-merrick Foundation Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$226.1M
Grants
217
Total Given
$9.2M
T Rowe Price Foundation
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$93.3M
Grants
249
Total Given
$11.7M
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
OWINGS MILLS, MD
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
872
Total Given
$127.8M
Annie E Casey Foundation Inc
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
1,462
Total Given
$93.1M
Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore
BALTIMORE, MD
Assets
$422.3M
Grants
505
Total Given
$30.1M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
More Funders in Maryland
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.